Ecological
Melissa Cowart
Week 4 Discussion – Ecological Models
Top of Form
Health and health behaviors are determined by influences at multiple levels. It is important to develop an ecological model that promotes health because our lives and behaviors are interdependent. It provides a framework of behaviors that play a role in a certain health outcome. Dr. Simons-Morton stated that “health is best understood within an ecological context” (Simons-Morton, 2013). Ecological models are important because they can assist in providing a complete perspective of the factors that affect specific health behaviors. They can be used to develop comprehensive intervention methods that aim to change mechanisms at each level of influence.
Reference
Simons-Morton B. (2013). Health behavior in ecological context. Health education & behavior : the official publication of the Society for Public Health Education, 40(1), 6–10. https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198112464494
Bottom of Form
Katherine Molina
week 4 discussion 1
Top of Form
An ecological model is important in understanding and modifying health behaviors because these models are structured on internal and external factors that are categorized as levels. Those levels are known as intrapersonal, interpersonal, institutional, community, and societal. For example, intrapersonal are things from within a person such as knowledge, beliefs, and perception. When we talk about the community level it refers to the community characteristics. Things such as age diversity, participation in team sports, and behavioral norms towards certain topics like the one of tobacco use. The societal level encompasses laws, rules, social and cultural norms. All these levels work together and kind of influence each other in individual’s health behavior. They are interconnected in that one part affects the other parts since it is a part of a whole. For this reason is that it is important in understanding what an ecological model is and how each part plays a role in that particular level.
Reference:
Advanced Solutions International, I. (n.d.). Ecological Model. https://www.acha.org/healthycampus/healthycampus/ecological_model.aspx.
Bottom of Form
Complete Answer:
