An Ecological Perspective on Health Promotion Programs

Abstract

During the past 20 years there has been a dramatic increase in societal interest in preventing disability and death in the United States by changing individual behaviors linked to the risk of contracting chronic diseases. This renewed interest in health promotion and disease prevention has not been without its critics. Some critics have accused proponents of life-style interventions of promoting a victim-blaming ideology by neglecting the importance of social influences on health and disease. This article proposes an ecological model for health promotion which focuses attention on both individual and social environmental factors as targets for health promotion interventions. It addresses the importance of interventions directed at changing interpersonal, organizational, community, and public policy, factors which support and maintain unhealthy behaviors. The model assumes that appropriate changes in the social environment will produce changes in individuals, and that the support of individuals in the population is essential for implementing environmental changes.

Concept analysis of impressionability among adolescents and young adults

“…Theories including social learning theory (Bandura & McClelland, 1977), ecological perspectives on health behaviours (McLeroy et al, 1988; Sallis et al, 2006), and empirical research study findings (Gwon et al, (2018); Gwon & Jeong, 2016) support this explanation.…”

Exploring coping strategies and mental health support systems among female youth in the Northwest Territories using body mapping

“…Body mapping was a guided activity that encouraged participants to reflect on their interpersonal relationships with partners, family members, peers, and others. As well, body mapping encouraged participants to depict characteristics of the intrapersonal self, internal resources, and personal resiliency [16]. Body mapping provided space for participants’ introspection regarding their body, health, and interpersonal relationships.…”

Perceptions of the Neighborhood Environment and Children’s Afterschool Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity

“…(53) However, national surveillance studies suggest that the majority of children (58%) do not meet this guideline. (47) The social ecological model (29, 42) suggests that factors at multiple levels (e.g. individual, social, environmental) influence PA behavior, and research indicates that the neighborhood environment may be an important setting for increasing children’s PA.(13, 26) In addition to the influence of neighborhood, other social and behavioral factors (e.g., parent support and outdoor PA) may play an important role with regard to children’s MVPA.…”