Introduction to Social and Behavioral Sciences in Public Health
(Key concepts, frameworks, and applications for quick reference)
1. Why Social & Behavioral Sciences Matter in Public Health
| Aspect |
Public‑Health Relevance |
| Determinants of health |
Social, economic, cultural, and environmental factors explain >80 % of health outcomes. |
| Population‑level impact |
Behaviors (e.g., tobacco use, diet, physical activity) affect millions; small changes can yield huge health gains. |
| Policy & program design |
Understanding how people think, decide, and act guides effective interventions and legislation. |
| Equity |
Social science reveals how power, stigma, and structural barriers create health disparities. |
2. Core Concepts & Terminology
| Term |
Definition |
Example in Public Health |
| Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) |
Conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age. |
Access to safe housing, quality education, income security. |
| Behavioral Determinants |
Individual actions that directly influence health risk or protection. |
Smoking, vaccination uptake, hand‑washing. |
| Health Belief Model (HBM) |
Predicts health actions based on perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, cues to action, and self‑efficacy. |
Designing a flu‑vaccine campaign that emphasizes personal risk and ease of access. |
| Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) |
Intentions are shaped by attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. |
Understanding why adolescents may or may not use condoms. |
| Social Ecological Model (SEM) |
Multi‑level framework: individual → interpersonal → organizational → community → policy. |
A tobacco‑control program that combines counseling (individual), peer support (interpersonal), smoke‑free workplaces (organizational), community media (community), and taxation (policy). |
| Diffusion of Innovations |
How new ideas spread through social systems over time. |
Adoption curve of mobile‑health apps for diabetes self‑management. |
| Cultural Competence |
Ability of providers and programs to deliver services that are respectful of and responsive to cultural differences. |
Translating health messages into multiple languages and using culturally relevant symbols. |
| Stigma & Discrimination |
Social processes that devalue certain groups, leading to reduced access to care and poorer outcomes. |
HIV‑related stigma hindering testing and treatment. |
| Social Capital |
Resources embedded in social networks (trust, reciprocity, norms) that facilitate collective action. |
Community groups mobilizing for clean water projects. |
3. Major Theoretical Frameworks
| Framework |
Core Elements |
Typical Use in Public Health |
| Health Belief Model |
Perceived threat, benefits, barriers, cues, self‑efficacy. |
Designing screening reminders. |
| Theory of Planned Behavior |
Attitude, subjective norm, perceived control → intention → behavior. |
Predicting condom use, recycling habits. |
| Social Cognitive Theory |
Observational learning, outcome expectations, self‑efficacy, reinforcement. |
School‑based nutrition programs. |
| Transtheoretical Model (Stages of Change) |
Precontemplation → contemplation → preparation → action → maintenance → termination. |
Tailoring smoking‑cessation counseling. |
| Social Ecological Model |
Interacting layers of influence. |
Comprehensive obesity‑prevention strategies. |
| Diffusion of Innovations |
Innovation, communication channels, time, social system. |
Roll‑out of HPV vaccine. |
| **COM‑ |
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