Ringvorlesungen - Gesundheitswissenschaften und Gesundheitspolitik

Montag, 26. April 2021 - 16.15 Uhr
Ass.-Prof. Dr. Jennifer Inauen*, Universität Bern, Institut für Psychologie

https://unilu.zoom.us/j/63797028866?pwd=RFYwK2RyL0R5NFZhNTF2R0xzY1M4QT09
Meeting-ID: 637 9702 8866
Kenncode: 147342

Changing Health Behavior: From Mechanisms to Action
Health behavior, such as eating a balanced diet, being sufficiently active, or adhering to protective measures during a pandemic are important determinants of personal and public health and well-being. It has been estimated that 40% of premature deaths can be attributed to personal decisions. But how can we promote health behavior change most effectively? In this talk, I aim to illustrate that understanding the principles of behavior change provides an invaluable foundation for evidence-based health promotion and disease prevention at the personal and population level. To this end, I will present the results of a series of randomized-controlled trials related to promoting healthy eating, physical activity as well as hand washing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

*Jennifer Inauen (PhD) is Assistant Professor (tenure track) of Health Psychology in the Department of Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine at the Insitute of Psychology at the University of Bern. Her research aims to understand the principles of behavior change, which she studies at the example of healthy eating, hygiene, safe water consumption and more. Based on these insights, she aims to develop more effective behavior change interventions.

Montag, 3. Mai 2021 - 16.15 Uhr
Prof. Dr. Urte Scholz*, Universität Zürich, Institut für Psychologie

https://unilu.zoom.us/j/65040345637?pwd=NjdiandjTUhCaklyNDJWYjA0N0R4Zz09
Meeting-ID: 650 4034 5637
Kenncode: 862074

Is everything better together? The role of others in health behavior change
Health-related behaviors usually happen in a social context. Most of the standard theories of health-behavior change, however, strongly focus on individual self-regulation and neglect health behavior’s social side. Recent theories highlight the importance of going beyond the individual and of focusing on social and dyadic influences on behavior. In this talk, I will emphasize the need for concise theories and systematic research of dyadic health behavior change. I will present research from randomized controlled trials, and intensive-longitudinal studies highlighting the role of social support, social control, companionship for different health-behaviours and related outcomes. Moreover, I will address the benefits, but also the challenges and the complexity of dyadic health-behavior change research.

*Urte Scholz (PhD), is full professor in the department of psychology at the University of Zurich and head of the applied social and health psychology unit. Her main research focus is on health behaviour change. She is most interested in examining self-regulation, and social and dyadic processes as well as the combination thereof in individuals and dyads (e.g., romantic partners, best friend dyads) for behaviour change in people’s everyday lives. In her research Dr. Scholz follows a theory-based approach, and is doing observational and intervention studies in people’s everyday lives with the help of new technologies and objective assessments of behavior. Her work has been continuously funded by different national and international funding agencies, such as the Swiss National Science Foundation, the leading funding agency in Switzerland.
In recognition of her work, she was awarded the Early Career Award of the Stress and Anxiety Research Society and was elected fellow of the European Health Psychology Society and the International Association of Applied Psychology. She served as President of the Division of Health Psychology of the International Association of Applied Psychology and is currently President of the Swiss Society of Health Psychology. She has served as Associate Editor of “Anxiety Stress and Coping”, and the “British Journal of Health Psychology” and is editorial board member in leading journals of her field.