ABSTRACT
The environment can impact on health behaviors in different ways: directly, indirectly (mediated route) or by interacting with other factors (moderated route). Policy-based interventions can also have meaningful impacts on health behavior. In the first half of this chapter, we consider types of environmental manipulations that could directly impact health behaviors such as those that alter the accessibility, availability or size of products (e.g., foods, cigarettes, alcohol) and strategies (e.g., social norms approaches) that could have mediated effects. In addition, we also examine socioeconomic status and health behavior relations and how these might be mediated or moderated. In the second half of the chapter, we consider various policy-based (including fiscal and legal strategies) to influence various behaviors including seat-belt use, drunk driving, texting and driving, tobacco, food and drink-related purchases, as well as social marketing approaches to behavior change.
