Shaping the Future of Health Education: From Behavior Change to Social Change*

doi:10.1177/109019817800600404

Paper

Shaping the Future of Health Education: From Behavior Change to Social Change*

Published Dec 1, 1978 · N. Freudenberg

Health Education & Behavior

UNKNOWN SJR score

26

Citations

2

Influential Citations

Full textSemantic Scholar

Abstract

The view that individual behavior change is the primary goal of health education presents several serious problems. Although individual behavior does contribute to health and disease, social organization is perhaps a more powerful influence. The use of behavior change as the primary tool for health education raises grave ethical issues. Health education which seeks to change individual behavior has also failed to have a significant impact on public health. An alternative strategy is health education for social change. The goal of this approach is to involve people in collective action to create health promoting environments and life-styles. Several contemporary models for and principles characteristic of health education for social change are described.

Study Snapshot

Key takeawayHealth education for social change, rather than individual behavior change, offers a more powerful and ethical approach to promoting health-promoting environments and lifestyles.

PopulationOlder adults (50-71 years)

Sample size24

MethodsObservational

OutcomesBody Mass Index projections

ResultsSocial networks mitigate obesity in older groups.

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Shaping the Future of Health Education: From Behavior Change to Social Change*

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