ABSTRACT
Numerous health behavior theories (HBTs), each which attempt to explain
why individuals engage in (or fail to engage in) health-related behaviors,
exist in the literature. While much attention has been devoted to testing
individual theories, little attention has been paid to issues that arise in the
selection of theories. The current article has three goals. First, to describe
some of the most widely used individual-level HBTs. Second, to discuss
the application of these theories to successful health promotion efforts. And
finally, to compare and contrast numerous HBTs and provide an example
for how a selected theory might be applied to a health education program.
The overriding goal is to provide guidance to researchers, health educators
and other interventionists with regard to the important decision of which
theory to use as a basis for one’s health promotion efforts.
A HEALTH EDUCATOR’S GUIDE TO THEORIES OF HEALTH BEHAVIOR