title: A New Frontier: Integrating Behavioral and Digital Technology to Promote Health Behavior.
abstract: Modifiable behavioral risk factors such as cigarette smoking, physical inactivity, and obesity contribute to over 40 % of premature deaths in the USA. Advances in digital and information technology are creating unprecedented opportunities for behavior analysts to assess and modify these risk factors. Technological advances include mobile devices, wearable sensors, biomarker detectors, and real-time access to therapeutic support via information technology. Integrating these advances with behavioral technology in the form of conceptually systematic principles and procedures could usher in a new generation of effective and scalable behavioral interventions targeting health behavior. In this selective review of the literature, we discuss how technological tools can assess and modify a range of antecedents and consequences of healthy and unhealthy behavior. We also describe practical, methodological, and conceptual advantages for behavior analysts that stem from the use of technology to assess and treat health behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Florida, P. O. Box 112250, Gainesville, FL 32611 USA.
authors.forename: Jesse
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dallery
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Florida, P. O. Box 112250, Gainesville, FL 32611 USA.
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kurti
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Florida, P. O. Box 112250, Gainesville, FL 32611 USA.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Erb
keywords: Behavioral assessment; Contingency management; Health behavior; Technology; mHealth