Integrating social-psychological frameworks for health behavior research.
OBJECTIVE
To review the social-cognitive theories that have predominated in research on determinants of healthbehaviors.


METHODS
Based on a literaturesearch,the theorieswere compared and critically analyzed.


RESULTS
Although the theories are somewhat successful in predicting health behaviors, the social-cognitive perspective is restricted to a unidirectional, nondynamic view of behavioral change and neglects the fact that individuals may differ with respect to the life goals they pursue.


CONCLUSIONS
Health behavior research should adopt a more integrative approach, including insights from stage and goal theories. The health behavior goal model is described as an example of such an approach.
Gebhardt
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Leiden University, The Netherlands. Gebhardt@FSW.Leidenuniv.nl
Maes
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D006040:Goals; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012107:Research Design; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012931:Social Environment