The science of sustaining health behavior change: the health maintenance consortium

Am J Health Behav. 2010 Nov-Dec;34(6):647-59. doi: 10.5993/ajhb.34.6.2.

Abstract

Objective: To enhance understanding of the long-term maintenance of behavior change, as well as effective strategies for achieving sustainable health promotion and disease prevention through the Health Maintenance Consortium (HMC).

Methods: This introductory research synthesis prepared by the resource center gives context to this theme issue by providing an overview of the HMC and the articles in this journal.

Results: It explores the contributions to our conceptualization of behavior change processes and intervention strategies, the trajectory of effectiveness of behavioral and social interventions, and factors influencing the long-term maintenance of behavioral and social interventions.

Conclusions: Future directions for furthering the science of maintaining behavior change and reducing the gaps between research and practice are recommended.

Publication types

  • Introductory Journal Article

MeSH terms

  • Health Behavior*
  • Health Promotion / methods*
  • Humans
  • Models, Psychological
  • Multicenter Studies as Topic
  • Research Design*
  • Risk-Taking