Individual-level theories

This chapter offers a snapshot of six commonly used individual health behavior theories: social cognitive theory, health belief model, theory of planned behavior, transtheoretical model (stages of change), and the relapse prevention model. It provides a summary of the origins and primary components for each. The chapter describes their empirical application and the results of meta-analyses or reviews that lend insight into their value. It makes note, where applicable, of critical attention that a theory has received, including noteworthy limitations or recommendations for future directions. In addition, the chapter provides an overview of the growing application of individual theories to eHealth and mHealth interventions. The chapter also discusses overlap among theories and useful dimensions on which to compare individual theories. It concludes with a discussion of recent observations on the state of health behavior theory research.