Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Health and Behavior: A Multidisciplinary Perspective

Health and Behavior: A Multidisciplinary Approach recognizes that health is impacted by multiple systems–ranging from the individual to the international. While providing current information in common areas addressed in health psychology such as stress, chronic pain, cigarette smoking and sleep disorders, the book examines cross-cultural dimensions in wellness and health care as well as health communication ranging from clinician and patient to the social marketing models used in public health. The book departs from traditional health psychology and health behavior textbook with its attention to public policy and international dimensions of health care. Topics include an international comparison of health care systems, a history of health care funding in the United States including the Affordable Care Act, the role of Federal Social Security Disability policy in chronic pain management, international medical tourism, and health care disparities in the United States. Each chapter begins with a “conversation” with the author relating the topic to real world problems as well as the student’s life experience. Review Searight (psychology, Lake Superior State Univ.) employs a systems approach to examine behavior and health as action and outcome at macro and micro levels. In a format accessible to undergraduates, he focuses his systems-based analysis on the US health care system, health disparities, and diversity and communications. Communication is examined considering "what is said" and "by whom," "what is understood," and "what happens afterwards." The author defines the communication dyad as the dialog between the health consumer and the medical provider; he argues that the dialog should be responsive to biology, epidemiology, culture, and language. Each chapter contains an introduction, learning objectives, examples, and summary. Embedded in each chapter is the construct that health and well-being are distinct from disease, and that behavior can be seen as what is done as well as what is not done. Chapter 5, "Health Communications and Behavior Change," presents theoretical models by which behavior is assessed, including but not limited to the health belief model, the theory of reasoned action, the social cognitive model, diffusion of innovation, and the transtheoretical model. The final chapters examine how individuals and communities are impacted by stress, coping, chronic pain, smoking, obesity, sleep, and psychosexual disorder. Summing Up: Recommended. Undergraduates.--CHOICE About the Author H. Russell Searight is currently Professor of Psychology at Lake Superior State University in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan. He received his PhD in Clinical Psychology from Saint Louis University and later received a Master’s in Public Health from the Saint Louis University School of Public Health. Dr. Searight was involved in medical education for eighteen years as a faculty member in a family medicine residency as well as at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. He has published widely in the areas of medical ethics; primary care medicine, and cross-cultural issues in health care.