Population Health: Behavioral and Social Science Insights

Robert M. Kaplan · Michael L. Spittel · Daryn H. David

Jul 2015 · Government Printing Office

About this ebook

The purpose of this book is to gain a better understanding of the multitude of factors that determine longer life and improved quality of life in the years a person is alive. While the emphasis is primarily on the social and behavioral determinants that have an effect on the health and well-being of individuals, this publication also addresses quality of life factors and determinants more broadly. Each chapter in this book considers an area of investigation and ends with suggestions for future research and implications of current research for policy and practice. The introductory chapter summarizes the state of Americans’ health and well-being in comparison to our international peers and presents background information concerning the limitations of current approaches to improving health and well-being. Following the introduction, there are 21 chapters that examine the effects of various behavioral risk factors on population health, identify trends in life expectancy and quality of life, and suggest avenues for research in the behavioral and social science arenas to address problems affecting the U.S. population and populations in other developed and developing countries around the world.

Undergraduate and graduate students pursuing coursework in health statistics, health population demographics, behavioral and social science, and heatlh policy may be interested in this content.  Additionally, policymakers, legislators, heatlh educators, and scientific organizations around the world may also have an interest in this resource.

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About the author

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) mission is to produce evidence to make health care safer, higher quality, more accessible, equitable, and affordable, and to work within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and with other partners to make sure that the evidence is understood and used. The co-editors of this book are leading experts in the field of behavioral and social science research. Robert Kaplan is AHRQ's Science Director and the former director of the Office of Behavioral and Social Science Research (OBSSR) within the Office of the Director at the National Institutes of Health. Michael Spittel and Daryn David are affiliated with OBSSR.