Re-Thinking Health Behaviour Change Models From an Integrated Perspective

Abstract

Scientific evidence indicates that theory-based health interventions are more effective in promoting health behavior change (BC) and in maintaining health changes over time. Previous work identified more than 80 BC theories; however, there is little guidance on how to best choose between them. More than creating new theories, an essential challenge now is to integrate these theories to reach a more complete understanding of the BC process. The chapter is an effort to integrate some of the most central theories in this field, aiming to reach an integrated framework by 1) identifying and merging similarities between theories, reducing conceptual complexity, and by 2) building from dissimilarities as key aspects to overcome limitations. This framework is a practical visual tool that intends to support researchers and practitioners working in the field, guiding on the crucial constructs to address in interventions to promote health BC. This framework also integrates the ACP model as an approach that offers valuable insights to support communication in health interventions.