Group and Macro-Social Interventions in Health-Related Behavior Change Programs: Opportunities and Limitations

Abstract

The goal of changing health-related lifestyles and behaviors in prevention and rehabilitation does not currently have a single solution and requires a combination of different interventions and different levels of interventions. The aim of present paper was to review and discuss opportunities of group and macro-social models of health-related behavior change. Frequently rehabilitation initially starts in a group context, which requires competent facilitation of the current patients’ interactions. It was shown that social support, social comparison, identification with the group are the most important predictors of successful changes in health-related behavior in groups. Taking into account the existing experience of health psychology and rehabilitation in the development of social networks by the type of attracting "natural" helpers and facilitating the development of groups can contribute to greater efficiency of socio-psychological programs for changing health-related behavior. The importance of appraisal of current social networks and differentiating those functions that are important for effective rehabilitation, as well as the possibility of using the SHOWED model as a methodological basis for group work with health-related behavior, is discussed. Opportunities of using the priming model and prototype-readiness model in prevention and rehabilitation are considered, as they emphasize the importance of updating positive stereotypes and attitudes related to the health behavior.