Health Communication Theory

Assembles the most important theories in the field of health communication in one comprehensive volume, designed for students and practitioners alike

Health Communication Theory is the first book to bring together the theoretical frameworks used in the study and practice of creating, sending, and receiving messages relating to health processes and health care delivery. This timely volume provides easy access to the key theoretical foundations on which health communication theory and practice are based. Students and future practitioners are taught how to design theoretically-grounded research, interventions, and campaigns, while established scholars are presented with new and developing theoretical frameworks to apply to their work.

Divided into three parts, the volume first provides a summary and history of the field, followed by an overview of the essential theories and concepts of health communication, such as Problematic Integration Theory and the Cultural Variance Model. Part Two focuses on interpersonal communication and family interaction theories, provider-patient interaction frameworks, and public relations and organizational theories. The final part of the volume centers on theories relevant to information processing and cognition, affective impact, behavior, message effects, and socio-psychology and sociology. Edited by two internationally-recognized experts with extensive editorial and scholarly experience, this first-of-its-kind volume:

• Provides original chapters written by a group of global scholars working in health communication theory
• Covers theories unique to interpersonal and organizational contexts, and to health campaigns and media issues
• Emphasizes the interdisciplinary and collaborative nature of health communication research
• Includes overviews of basic health communication theory and application
• Features commentary on future directions in health communication theory

Health Communication Theory is an indispensable resource for advanced undergraduate and graduate students studying health communication, and for both new and established scholars looking to familiarize themselves with the area of study or seeking a new theoretical frameworks for their research and practice.

Teresa L. Thompson is Professor of Communication at the University of Dayton, Ohio. She has been the Editor of the journal Health Communication for more than 27 years, and has edited the Routledge Handbook of Health Communication and Sage Encyclopedia of Health Communication. Dr. Thompson is esteemed for both her contributions to the field and for her proficiency in coordinating the work of other scholars and editorial staff. 

Peter J. Schulz is Professor at the University of Lugano, Switzerland, where he is Director of the Institute of Communication and Health, supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation. Together with Paul Cobley, London, he is  Editor of the Series Handbooks of Communication Science (HoCS, 42 volumes, Berlin: DeGruyter & Mouton). Since 2017 he is also Honorary Professor at ANU (Australian National University, Canberra). 

  Part I: Perspectives on the Field of Health Communication

Ch. 1: Basics of Health Communication Theory

Teresa Thompson and James D. Robinson

Ch. 2: Segmenting Priority Audiences Employing Individual Difference Variables to Improve Health Promotion Efforts

Brian Quick, Tobias Reynolds-Tylus, Salah H. Al-Ghaithi, and Michael Mackert

Ch. 3: When Theory and Methods Intertwine

Jill Yamasaki

Part II: Perspectives on Dyads and Groups

Ch. 4: Interpersonal Health Communication Theories

Maria Brann, Jennifer Bute, Maureen Keeley, Sandra Petronio, Rachyl Pines, and Bernadette Watson

Ch. 5: Families Interacting in the Health Care Context

Maureen Keeley and Hannah Jones

Ch. 6: Theoretical Frameworks of Provider-Patient Interaction

Peter J. Schulz and Shaohai Jiang

Part III: Perspectives on Influence Processes

Ch. 7: Information-Processing and Cognitive Theories

Monique Mitchell Turner, Youjin Jang, and Shawn Turner

Ch. 8: Theories of Affective Impact

Robin Nabi

Ch. 9: Theories of Behavior

Marco Yzer and Rebekah Nagler

Ch. 10: Theories of Message Effects

James Robinson, Yan Tian, and Jeanine Warisse-Turner

Part IV: Perspectives on Organisations and Society

Ch. 11: Social Psychological Influences on Health Communication: An Examination of Four Theories

Yanqin Liu and Anthony Roberto

Ch. 12: Theories of Public Relations

Arunima Krishna

Ch. 13: Theories of Uncertainty

Austin S. Babrow, Marianne S. Matthias, Sarah M. Parsloe, and Anne M. Stone

Ch. 14: Cultural Theories of Health Communication

Evelyn Ho and Barbara Sharf

Ch. 15: Effects of Digital Media Technology on Health Communication

Shyam Sundar and Maria D. Molinar

Part V: Perspectives on the Future

Ch. 16: Directions in Health Communication Theory

Dannielle Kelley and Brian Southwell

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