ABSTRACT
Many chronic illnesses and health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, and diabetes can be managed and prevented by behavioral means (World Health Organization, 2008). Epidemiological research has identified a “suite” of four key health behaviors associated with reduced risk of chronic illness: Taking sufficient physical activity, eating healthily, moderate-to-low consumption of alcohol, and refraining from smoking tobacco. Engaging in these behaviors has the impact of causing a nine-to 11-year delay in all-cause mortality (Ford, Zhao, Tsai, & Li, 2011). Furthermore, many other behaviors can promote better health outcomes such as handwashing for infection control, using sunscreen, and using barrier contraception. The development of large-scale initiatives to promote health behavior engagement at the population level or in key at-risk groups has, therefore, been identified as a priority by governments and health organiza tions (Michie & West, 2013; World Health Organization, 2008). Such initiatives have included media campaigns and advertisements, web-based programs, oneon-one consultations, and initiatives based in schools, the workplace, community organizations, and universities (e.g., Hagger et al., 2012; Hardcastle, Taylor, Bailey, & Castle, 2008). However, many interventions have not been optimally effective and fail to lead to expected changes in health-related behavior in the target population. Interventionists have therefore advocated evidence-based practice in behavioral intervention design and have highlighted the fields of health psychology and behavioral medicine as areas with considerable potential to inform the devel - opment of more effective interventions based on social psychological theory (Michie, Churchill, & West, 2011).
