Pandemics, substance abuse, natural disasters, obesity, and warfare: these are not only health crises but social crises as well. Now a panel of leaders in global health explores the vital but understudied social theories behind the practice of health promotion, including cultural capital, risk and causality, systems theory, and the dynamic between individual and community.

Social Theory and Health Education brings together health education scholarship with a diverse range of social theories to demonstrate the value and impact of their application to associated health and education contexts. For the first time, this book draws together cutting-edge research that demonstrates the productive and impactful ways social theory can be applied to the diversity of research in this field. Topics covered include digital health, health education in sexuality, gender and health, food and nutrition, mental health and wellbeing, environment, and alcohol and drug use. In exploring these topics, each author utilises different theorists and concepts to compellingly demonstrate their application to a range of health education research contexts. This collection provides examples for both students, early career and established scholars that showcase ways that social theory can be utilised in empirical and theoretical research. The collection also highlights how health education scholarship can be enhanced by engaging with social theory. It also explores the viability of various theories for work in this field, and their potential to generate new approaches for research.

This fully updated edition will help students and professionals develop an understanding of the core health promotion theories.

"Having so many theories put together thoughtfully, proximally, in a single book will help the field come to grips with what the role is of theories as we go forward and address the individual actions, and societal and community influencers of individual action, that promote healthy behaviors." --Jim Marks, director, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention New and longstanding threats to public health, such as violence, drug misuse, HIV/AIDS, and homelessness are creating an ever greater demand for innovative theories that are responsive to the changes in the larger social environment. This important work is designed to fill the demand by assembling a careful selection of new and emerging health promotion theories into a single volume, written with an emphasis on practical application of theory to health promotion and health education programs.

"It offers a more critical perspective of existing health promotion theories and challenges the student to create new theoretical frameworks for understanding human health and wellbeing. This unique text guides the reader to reflect on the process of thinking theoretically and provides practical strategies for applying theory to research and practice. The author employs a narrative perspective and writes in an informal, first-person style."--[Source inconnue].

"Here is a 'must-read' for all health promotion researchers and practitioners eager to stay one step ahead of the pack. A panoply of insightful and promising new approaches is presented for consideration and exploration in our contemporary behavioral science arsenal." — M. Elaine Auld, MPH, CHES, Chief Executive Officer, Society for Public Health Education "This book is an essential addition to the health practice and research literature, concentrating on theories that have not been extensively covered elsewhere and that have great currency. It provides an up-to-date rendition on the interplay among contemporary public health concerns, sound public health practice, and the theoretical bases for practice."— Robert M. Goodman, PhD, MPH, Dean and Professor, School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, Indiana University "The authors of Emerging Theories provide vivid descriptions of the state of the science in health promotion and presents an exciting map for future research. Understanding and using theories is the hallmark of an excellent practitioner. Creating and elaborating theories is the mark of an excellent researcher. This text will be very valuable for both." — Noreen M. Clark, PhD, Myron E. Wegman Distinguished University Professor; Director, Center for Managing Chronic Disease, University of Michigan "Emerging Theories captures the dynamic growth in theories of health promotion and illustrates how divergent theoretical perspectives are being integrated into richer explanatory and practice models." — Matthew W. Kreuter, PhD, MPH, Professor of Social Work and Medicine; Director, Health Communication Research Laboratory, Washington University in St. Louis

Grounded in public health practice, this text offers a comprehensive study of the health behavior theories that are the foundation of all health education and promotion programs. Your students will come away with a clear understanding of essential relationships between human behavior and health, as well as the practical application of theory and approaches to health promotion research and practice. Designed for graduates or upper level undergraduates, the book maintains a consistent, single voice and offers many examples throughout. Contents: Section I. Theory in Context: 1. Health Behavior in the Context of Public Health 2. A Social Ecological Perspective 3. Theories of Motivation and Behavior: A Brief History and Contemporary Perspectives Section II. Cognitive and Social Theories of Motivation and Behavior 4. Expectancy Value Models 5. Operant Conditioning, Self-Regulation, and Social Cognitive Theory 6. Social Influence Theory: The Effects of Social Factors on Health Behavior 7. Diffusion of Innovations Theory Section III. Behavior Change Theories 8. Learning, Teaching, and Counseling 9. Self-Determination Theory and Motivational Interviewing 10. Stage Models 11. Health Communication and Social Marketing 12. Communities and Health Promotion

The use of social media in public health education/promotion has been increasing due, in part, to its ability to remove physical access and geographical barriers for users. Specifically, social media provides an outlet to increase and promote translational health communication strategies and the effective dissemination of health information and data in ways that allow users to not only utilize, but also to create and share pertinent health information. Although social media applications in public health and health promotion have yielded success in terms of generating support structures and networks for effective health behavior change, there are challenges and complications associated with use of social media that also need to be addressed (e.g., managing misinformation, ensuring compliance with privacy protection regulations). This Special Issue aims to explore social media as a translational health promotion tool by bridging principles of health education and health communication. Broadly, this Special Issue is seeking original submissions that examine: (1) the method with which social media users access, negotiate, and create health information that is both actionable and impactful for diverse audiences; (2) strategies for overcoming challenges to using social media in health promotion; and (3) best practices for designing, implementing, and/or evaluating social media campaigns and forums in public health. Special interest will be given to innovative submissions that expand and build upon traditional health education approaches with health communication theories and models. Other manuscript types of interest include relevant position papers, brief reports, and commentaries.

Health research, education and provision have become increasingly interdisciplinary over the last few years, leading health professionals to broaden their knowledge beyond technical aspects of care. Practitioners now need a clear understanding of how society can affect health, and an appreciation of how societal structures can drive healthcare practices. In a clear, systematic and accessible style, this timely text looks at the social context of health and healthcare by: - Analysing a wide range of classic and contemporary theories; - Identifying the relevance of each theory to health; - Showing how theory has been used in research - Outlining the impact of theory on health and health provision. Specifically written for health professionals and those engaged in health studies research, this book will help students and practitioners alike understand the sociology of health and illness, and enable them to critically assess health issues, policies and practices.