Humans often fail to make rational decisions that affect their health. This course seeks to heighten understanding of the social and behavioral factors that contribute to health decisions and behaviors, with an ultimate goal of learning how to utilize these factors in improving public health efforts.
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Through a set of experiential learning exercises, students will learn to apply the science of health behavior change in their own lives. The course is appropriate for students interested in health care and public health, as well as individuals who are interested in learning to apply the science of behavior change to improve their personal wellbeing.
What You Will Learn
- Identify social, behavioral, and psychological factors that influence health and health care.
- Inform clinical care, public health programs, and health policy through results of empirical studies.
- Utilize best practices from clinical psychology and public health to make informed health decisions and to optimize health behaviors.
- Apply theory, methods, and research results in the social and behavioral sciences to public health practice and policy.
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Welcome to the course
How do we define health? What social and behavioral factors contribute to health outcomes? How can we apply some of the key theories of behavior change to improve our nutritional, physical, and mental health?
WEEK 2
Nutrition Part 1
How does our diet affect our health? What are some effective interventions for improving our dietary choices?
WEEK 3
Nutrition Part 2
How do we define obesity? What role does personal responsibility play in nutritional health? How does food marketing affect our dietary choices?
WEEK 4
Physical Activity Part 1
What are the health benefits of exercise? Why is it difficult to measure physical activity levels? How can we encourage more active lifestyles?
WEEK 5
Physical Activity Part 2
What factors contribute to regular physical activity? Why is it important for older adults to have active lifestyles? What works and doesn’t work when it comes to physical activity promotion?
WEEK 6
Mental Health Part 1
How prevalent are mental disorders? What is the impact of depression on both the individual and on society? What are some effective treatments for depression?
WEEK 7
Mental Health Part 2
Can positive affect impact health? How can we diagnose and treat anxiety disorders? What role does stress play in our overall health?
WEEK 8
Conclusion
What happens when students undergo behavior change experiments? What can we learn from the research findings?
This course, Health Behavior Change: From Evidence to Action, has provided an introduction to behavioral theory, as it pertains to health and health care delivery. We explored the social and behavioral factors that contribute to health decisions and behaviors across three domains: nutrition, physical activity, and mental health. Most importantly, we engaged in personal behavior change projects that helped us understand the challenges in promoting and sustaining long-term behavior change at both the individual and global levels.
