Promoting Behavioral Change to Improve Health Outcomes

Overview & Synopsis

Health promotion and illness prevention interventions play a pivotal role in promoting healthier behaviours and reducing the prevalence and burden of disease across the world. These interventions utilise a multifaceted approach that includes education and awareness campaigns, behavioural techniques to influence individual and collective choices, and system changes to support citizens in making healthier choices. This Special Issue focuses on research studying such behaviours and is particularly interested in the prevention agenda; that is, the way in which the adoption of healthy behaviours can delay or even prevent future illness and chronic disease. The studies reported herein encompass a diverse range of health behaviours, from addiction and physical activity sustainability to medical adherence, mental health, and sleep. The reprint will be of particular interest to researchers interested in behaviour change, and those looking for examples of how theory can be used effectively in both understanding complex challenges and in applied settings. The benefits of these interventions are twofold: individuals lead healthier, longer lives, and the societal costs associated with treating preventable diseases are considerably reduced.