Encyclopedia of Health and Behavior Book

Anderson (American Psychological Association; he was long affiliated with the Harvard U. School of Public Health), along with six associate editors, has edited a notable new resource on the topic of health and behavior. Topics of the alphabetically arranged entries were chosen for their relevance to theories and methods, biopsychosocial interactions and basic behavioral and social processes, epidemiology of risk and protective factors, health promotion and disease prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, and policy and organizational issues. (A reader's guide indexes the entries according to these themes.) A random sample of individual topics: ecological momentary assessment, effect modification, erectile dysfunction, peptic ulcers and stress, social marketing, theory of reasoned action, asthma and stress, the Framingham Heart Study, behavioral risk factor surveillance system, self-reported health, and eating disorders. Each entry includes a basic definition followed by a detailed description, a summary, a thorough list of cross-references, and a list for further reading. Both volumes contain appendices that feature an annotated list of online resources and health and behavior organizations and a 67-page bibliography. Volume 2 contains both a subject and an author index. The signed entries are authored by specialists who practice and carry out research mainly in the US. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Library Journal

Since the 1980s, health and behavior research has focused on the interaction of "behavioral, psychological, emotional, social, cultural, and biological factors with physical outcomes." Current reference and consumer health books (e.g., Encyclopedia of Public Health, Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine) focus on only some of the above. Anderson (Emotional Longevity) has compiled about 200 articles that introduce American biobehavioral medicine, policies, and practice largely through individual scientific reviews. The result is a collection of "snapshots" of current biomedical thought in behavioral medicine. Arranged alphabetically by topic, the articles are also categorized by broad subjects, listed in a reader's guide. A third of them focus on specific risk and protection factors (e.g., asthma, cancer, happiness). Others cover basic process, theory and methods (e.g., health beliefs and self-efficacy), assessment and treatment (e.g., behavior analysis, health care costs), biopsychosocial interactions (e.g., anger measurement and exhaustion), and health promotion/disease prevention (e.g., complementary medicine and violence prevention). Most essays include research summaries, hypotheses (often conflicting), suggestions for further study, and reading lists. The 280 authors are listed with affiliations but not credentials. Bottom Line Although entries on risk behavior, individual development, environmentally induced gene expression, and general research methodologies are lacking, this is otherwise a comprehensive treatment of the subject. Recommended for medium to large academic and medical libraries and large public libraries.-Janice Flahiff, Medical Coll. Lib. of Ohio, Toledo Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.