Department of Kinesiology and Public Health, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California (Dr Alber); Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, California (Dr Green); Health Administration Department, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Dr Gambescia); Department of Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas (Dr McLeroy); Health Department, The State University of New York Cortland, Cortland, New York (Dr Sofalvi); and Society for Public Health Education, Washington, District of Columbia (Ms Auld).
J Public Health Manag Pract. 2021;27(6):E220-E227. doi: 10.1097/PHH.0000000000001114.
Social and behavioral sciences, a cross-disciplinary field that examines the interaction among behavioral, biological, environmental, and social factors, has contributed immensely to some public health achievements over the last century. Through collaboration with community organizations and partners, social and behavioral scientists have conducted numerous program interventions involving community engagement and advocacy efforts at the local, state, federal, and international levels.
This article traces select historical underpinnings of the applications of social and behavioral sciences theories and evidence to public health and highlights 4 areas in which health education specialists have distinctly contributed to public health achievements by building on theory and evidence. Applied social and behavioral sciences have formed the basis of various health education interventions. These 4 areas include the following: (1) Theory, Model Development, and the Professionalization of Health Education; (2) Participation and Community Engagement; (3) Health Communication; and (4) Advocacy and Policy.
We present contemporary challenges and recommendations for strengthening the theory, research, and practice of health education within the context of social and behavioral sciences in addressing emerging public health issues.
社会和行为科学是一个跨学科领域，研究行为、生物、环境和社会因素之间的相互作用，在上个世纪为一些公共卫生成就做出了巨大贡献。通过与社区组织和合作伙伴合作，社会和行为科学家在地方、州、联邦和国际各级开展了许多涉及社区参与和宣传工作的项目干预措施。
本文追溯了社会和行为科学理论和证据在公共卫生中的应用的一些历史基础，并强调了健康教育专家在以下 4 个领域通过理论和证据为公共卫生成就做出了独特贡献：（1）理论、模型开发和健康教育的专业化；（2）参与和社区参与；（3）健康传播；（4）倡导和政策。
我们提出了在社会和行为科学背景下加强健康教育的理论、研究和实践的当代挑战和建议，以应对新出现的公共卫生问题。
