Health and Behavior

Searight (psychology, Lake Superior State Univ.) employs a systems approach to examine behavior and health as action and outcome at macro and micro levels. In a format accessible to undergraduates, he focuses his systems-based analysis on the US health care system, health disparities, and diversity and communications. Communication is examined considering "what is said" and "by whom," "what is understood," and "what happens afterwards." The author defines the communication dyad as the dialog between the health consumer and the medical provider; he argues that the dialog should be responsive to biology, epidemiology, culture, and language. Each chapter contains an introduction, learning objectives, examples, and summary. Embedded in each chapter is the construct that health and well-being are distinct from disease, and that behavior can be seen as what is done as well as what is not done. Chapter 5, "Health Communications and Behavior Change," presents theoretical models by which behavior is assessed, including but not limited to the health belief model, the theory of reasoned action, the social cognitive model, diffusion of innovation, and the transtheoretical model. The final chapters examine how individuals and communities are impacted by stress, coping, chronic pain, smoking, obesity, sleep, and psychosexual disorder. Summing Up: Recommended. Undergraduates. * Choice Reviews *