Behavior Matters: The Relevance, Impact, and Reach of Behavioral Medicine

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Growing evidence suggests behavioral interventions that target a few key behaviors may be effective at improving population-level health outcomes; health status indicators; social, economic, and physical environments; personal capacity; and biological outcomes. A theoretical framework that targets both social and cognitive mechanisms of behavioral interventions is outlined as critical for understanding "ripple effects" of behavioral interventions on influencing a broad range of outcomes associated with improved health and well-being. METHODS/RESULTS: Evidence from randomized controlled trials is reviewed and demonstrates support for ripple effects-the effects that behavioral interventions have on multiple outcomes beyond the intended primary target of the interventions. These outcomes include physical, psychological, and social health domains across the lifespan. CONCLUSIONS: Cascading effects of behavioral interventions have important implications for policy that argue for a broader conceptualization of health that integrates physical, mental, and social well-being outcomes into future research to show the greater return on investment.