ReviewMultiple health behavior change research: An introduction and overview
Section snippets
Overview
In 2002, the Society of Behavioral Medicine formed a special interest group (SIG) to contribute to the development of a science of multiple health behavior change (MHBC) for health promotion and disease management. This multidisciplinary group of researchers and practitioners focuses on the interrelationships among health behaviors and interventions designed to promote change in more than one health behavior at a time. Recognizing that intervention on multiple behaviors presents a unique set of
Studies of MHBC interventions in populations
The idea of intervening on multiple risk behaviors concurrently became a focus of attention in the early 1970s as a means of preventing cardiovascular disease (CVD) (Labarthe, 1998). One early proposal was a factorial design to evaluate the independent and joint contributions of intervention on diet, physical activity, and smoking habits in a single trial named “Jumbo.” The proposal was deemed too costly, however, and the trial was never conducted. Large-scale multifactoral CVD risk factor
Methodological issues
Methodological challenges with multibehavioral interventions include design considerations, participant burden, and lack of agreement on how best to conceptualize and analyze multiple risk behavior change.
Conclusions
MHBC research is steadily increasing in sophistication, relevance, and impact. The editorial by J. O. Prochaska (2008) identifies future research needs and provides a vision of the developing MHBC field research. The prospects for the health of the individuals and populations we serve are considerable.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (#K23 DA018691), the State of California Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (#13KT-0152), the National Cancer Institute (#R01 CA109941), and the Hawaii Medical Service Association, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. The authors have no financial interests related to the material in the manuscript. We thank Andrea Kozak, PhD, James Prochaska, PhD, Wayne Velicer, PhD, and Ken Wallston, PhD
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- 1
A founding chair of the Society of Behavioral Medicine's (SBM) Special Interest Group on Multiple Health Behavior Change (MHBC).
- 2
A former co-chair of the SBM Special Interest Group on MHBC and current SBM President.
- 3
Is co-chair of the SBM Special Interest Group on MHBC.