About this Course

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Humans often fail to make rational decisions that affect their health. This course seeks to heighten understanding of the social and behavioral factors that contribute to health decisions and behaviors, with an ultimate goal of learning how to utilize these factors in improving public health efforts. Through a set of experiential learning exercises, students will learn to apply the science of health behavior change in their own lives. The course is appropriate for students interested in health care and public health, as well as individuals who are interested in learning to apply the science of behavior change to improve their personal wellbeing.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 15 hours to complete

English

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What you will learn

Identify social, behavioral, and psychological factors that influence health and health care.
Inform clinical care, public health programs, and health policy through results of empirical studies.
Utilize best practices from clinical psychology and public health to make informed health decisions and to optimize health behaviors.
Apply theory, methods, and research results in the social and behavioral sciences to public health practice and policy.

Skills you will gain

health practices
behavioral psychology
Public Health
Mental Health
health psychology

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 15 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.77/5 (125 Ratings)

Marney White

Professor of Public Health and Epidemiology (Social and Behavioral Sciences) and of Psychiatry

24,212 Learners

1 Course

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating98%(2,780 ratings)

Week

1

Week 1

3 hours to complete

Welcome to the course

3 hours to complete

12 videos (Total 55 min), 5 readings, 1 quiz

12 videos

1.1 - Course Intro and Bio of Dr. White5m

1.2 - Course orientation6m

1.3 - Week 1 Introduction42s

1.4 - Definition of Health5m

1.5 - Challenges to embracing social and behavioral factors3m

1.6 - Leading Causes of Death12m

1.7 - The Health Belief Model3m

1.8 - Behaviorism7m

1.9 - Prompting3m

1.10 - Stimulus Control2m

1.11 - Boosting Behavioral Compliance1m

1.12 - Conclusion2m

5 readings

Welcome to Health Behavior Change10m

Contribute to the Science of Health Behavior Change!10m

Setting your preferences to see feedback from teaching staff10m

Week 1 Reading30m

Tell us about YOU!10m

1 practice exercise

Week 1 Quiz30m

Week

2

Week 2

1 hour to complete

Nutrition Part 1

1 hour to complete

6 videos (Total 28 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

Week

3

Week 3

1 hour to complete

Nutrition Part 2

1 hour to complete

7 videos (Total 39 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

Week

4

Week 4

2 hours to complete

Physical Activity Part 1

2 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 43 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

Week

5

Week 5

2 hours to complete

Physical Activity Part 2

2 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 44 min), 1 reading, 2 quizzes

9 videos

5.1 - Week 5 Introduction52s

5.2 Factors Contributing to Regular Physical Activity6m

5.3 - Physical Activity in Older Adults3m

5.4 - Physical Activity Interventions3m

5.5 - Social Interventions4m

5.6 - National Physical Activity Plan5m

5.7 - Challenges to Physical Activity Promotion4m

5.8 - Physical Inactivity as Target for Intervention11m

5.9 - Week 5 Conclusion1m

1 reading

Week 5 Reading30m

1 practice exercise

Week 5 Quiz6m

Week

6

Week 6

2 hours to complete

Mental Health Part 1

2 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 61 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

Week

7

Week 7

1 hour to complete

Mental Health Part 2

1 hour to complete

7 videos (Total 37 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

Week

8

Week 8

3 hours to complete

Conclusion

What happens when students undergo behavior change experiments? What can we learn from the research findings?

This course, Health Behavior Change: From Evidence to Action, has provided an introduction to behavioral theory, as it pertains to health and health care delivery. We explored the social and behavioral factors that contribute to health decisions and behaviors across three domains: nutrition, physical activity, and mental health. Most importantly, we engaged in personal behavior change projects that helped us understand the challenges in promoting and sustaining long-term behavior change at both the individual and global levels.

3 hours to complete

14 videos (Total 67 min), 4 readings, 1 quiz

14 videos

8.1- Week 8 Introduction1m

8.2 - Introduction to Study 113m

8.3 - Nutrition Summary and Results of Study 14m

8.4 - Mental Health Summary and Results of Study 17m

8.5 - Physical Activity Summary and Results of Study 14m

8.6 - Limitations and Benefits of Study 15m

8.7 - Introduction to Study 26m

8.8 - Nutrition Summary and Results of Study 23m

8.9 - Mental Health Summary and Results of Study 25m

8.10 - Physical Activity Summary and Results of Study 22m

8.11 - Perceptions of Health - Study 23m

8.12 - Lessons Learned7m

8.13 - Week 8 Conclusion2m

8.14 - Final Words37s

4 readings

Invitation to personally contribute to the science of health behavior change!10m

Week 8 Reading30m

Reviews

4.8

89 reviews

5 stars
85.55%
4 stars
10.37%
3 stars
2.22%
2 stars
1.48%
1 star
0.37%

TOP REVIEWS FROM HEALTH BEHAVIOR CHANGE: FROM EVIDENCE TO ACTION

by BAAug 2, 2020

It was a wonderful experience. Thanks again for introducing this course. I will look forward for more, especially, health behavior practice in children and young adults.

by GGMar 3, 2022

Amazing Course. Very organized, evidence-based findings and practical application. I recommend this course to anyone interested in Behavior Change.

by SVJan 17, 2021

Excellent course! Professor White is a great lecturer and provides invaluable tools and resources that are applicable to my day-to-day life.

by DNDec 9, 2021

Wonderful course especially for whom who are interesting in health care sector to help people by holding the quotation "Prevention is better than cure!"

View all reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

Health Behavior Change: From Evidence to Action