Skip Navigation



Health Education Research Advance Access published online on January 4, 2005
Health Education Research, doi:10.1093/her/cyg113
This Article
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
20/3/275    most recent
cyg113v1
Right arrow E-letters: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when E-letters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Related articles in Health Educ. Res.
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Noar, S. M.
Right arrow Articles by Zimmerman, R. S.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Noar, S. M.
Right arrow Articles by Zimmerman, R. S.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Health Education Research © Oxford University Press 2004; All rights reserved
Received December 17, 2003
Accepted June 9, 2004

Original article

Health Behavior Theory and cumulative knowledge regarding health behaviors: are we moving in the right direction?

Seth M. Noar 1* and Rick S. Zimmerman 1

1 Department of Communication, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506-0042, USA

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Seth M. Noar, E-mail: snoar2{at}uky.edu


  Abstract

Although research on Health Behavior Theory (HBT) is being conducted at a rapid pace, the extent to which the field is truly moving forward in understanding health behavior has been questioned. This issue is examined in the current article. First, we discuss the problems within the HBT literature. Second, we discuss the proliferation of HBT and why theory comparison is essential to this area of research. Finally, we reflect on ways that the field might move forward by suggesting a new agenda for HBT research. It is argued that increased recognition of the similarity of health behavior constructs as well as increased empirical comparisons of theories are essential for true scientific progress in this line of inquiry.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?

Related articles in Health Educ. Res.:

Commentary: It's a difference of opinion that makes a horserace..
Claudio R. Nigg and Patricia J. Jordan
Health Educ. Res. 2005 10.1093/her/cyg124. [Abstract]  

Commentary: Revitalizing research on health behavior theories
Neil D. Weinstein and Alexander J. Rothman
Health Educ. Res. 2005 10.1093/her/cyg125. [Abstract]  

Behavioral and social sciences theories and models: are they used in unintentional injury prevention research?
L. B. Trifiletti, A. C. Gielen, D. A. Sleet, and K. Hopkins
Health Educ. Res. 2005 10.1093/her/cyg126. [Abstract]  



This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J Health PsycholHome page
R. C. Plotnikoff, R. E. Rhodes, and L. Trinh
Protection Motivation Theory and Physical Activity: A Longitudinal Test among a Representative Population Sample of Canadian Adults
J Health Psychol, November 1, 2009; 14(8): 1119 - 1134.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Health Educ BehavHome page
S. Kobrin, K. L. Hall, and R. T. Croyle
Advancing Theory in Cancer Screening and Beyond: A Conversation Across Fields
Health Educ Behav, October 1, 2009; 36(5_suppl): 7S - 10S.
[PDF]

Home page
 Health Educ BehavHome page
A. J. Rothman
Capitalizing on Opportunities to Refine Health Behavior Theories
Health Educ Behav, October 1, 2009; 36(5_suppl): 150S - 155S.
[PDF]

Home page
 SociologyHome page
C. May and T. Finch
Implementing, Embedding, and Integrating Practices: An Outline of Normalization Process Theory
Sociology, June 1, 2009; 43(3): 535 - 554.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 West J Nurs ResHome page
C. Keller, J. Fleury, S. Sidani, and B. Ainsworth
Fidelity to Theory in PA Intervention Research
West J Nurs Res, April 1, 2009; 31(3): 289 - 311.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Health Educ ResHome page
B. Schuz, F. F. Sniehotta, N. Mallach, A. U. Wiedemann, and R. Schwarzer
Predicting transitions from preintentional, intentional and actional stages of change
Health Educ. Res., February 1, 2009; 24(1): 64 - 75.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Qual Health ResHome page
R. E. Watkins, F. C. Cooke, R. J. Donovan, C. R. MacIntyre, R. Itzwerth, and A. J. Plant
Tackle the Problem When It Gets Here: Pandemic Preparedness Among Small and Medium Businesses
Qual Health Res, July 1, 2008; 18(7): 902 - 912.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Health Educ ResHome page
C. Manfredi, Y. I. Cho, K. S. Crittenden, and T. A. Dolecek
A path model of smoking cessation in women smokers of low socio-economic status
Health Educ. Res., October 1, 2007; 22(5): 747 - 756.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Health Educ ResHome page
E. de Vet, J. de Nooijer, N. K. de Vries, and J. Brug
Comparing stage of change and behavioral intention to understand fruit intake
Health Educ. Res., August 1, 2007; 22(4): 599 - 608.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Health Educ ResHome page
W. B. Hansen, L. Dusenbury, D. Bishop, and J. H. Derzon
Substance abuse prevention program content: systematizing the classification of what programs target for change
Health Educ. Res., June 1, 2007; 22(3): 351 - 360.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Health Educ ResHome page
J. R. Sorenson
Theory and health behavior: are we making progress?
Health Educ. Res., June 1, 2005; 20(3): 274 - 274.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.