title: Using narrative communication as a tool for health behavior change: a conceptual, theoretical, and empirical overview.
abstract: Narrative is the basic mode of human interaction and a fundamental way of acquiring knowledge. In the rapidly growing field of health communication, narrative approaches are emerging as a promising set of tools for motivating and supporting health-behavior change. This article defines narrative communication and describes the rationale for using it in health-promotion programs, reviews theoretical explanations of narrative effects and research comparing narrative and nonnarrative approaches to persuasion, and makes recommendations for future research needs in narrative health communication.
authors.affiliation: Health Communication Research Laboratory and Center for Cultural Cancer Communication, School of Public Health, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA.
authors.forename: Leslie J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Hinyard
authors.forename: Matthew W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Kreuter
mesh_terms: D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012944:Social Support