When aiming to change a health behavior by addressing both a person's beliefs and their workplace policies, which specific model guides the creation of such interconnected, multi-level interventions?

The specific model that guides the creation of interconnected, multi-level interventions addressing both a person's beliefs and their workplace policies is the Socio-ecological Model. This model posits that health behaviors are influenced by multiple interacting levels of influence, ranging from individual factors to broad societal policies, emphasizing that health is a product of these complex interactions. For sustainable change, interventions must target influences at various levels simultaneously, as factors at one level can influence and be influenced by factors at other levels.

Key levels within the Socio-ecological Model relevant to this question include:

First, the Individual Level encompasses a person's intrinsic characteristics. This is where a person's beliefs, attitudes, knowledge, skills, and personal history reside. For example, an individual's belief in their ability to adopt a healthy diet or their perception of the risks associated with sedentary behavior would be considered at this level.

Second, the Organizational Level refers to the settings where people spend significant time, such as workplaces, schools, or community groups. This level includes the rules, regulations, structures, and policies within these organizations that can support or hinder health behaviors. Workplace policies, for instance, could include the provision of healthy food options in a cafeteria, offering wellness programs, subsidizing gym memberships, or implementing flexible work schedules that allow for physical activity. These policies directly impact the environment in which individuals operate.

Third, the model emphasizes the interconnectedness of these levels. This means that an intervention targeting workplace policies (organizational level) can directly influence an individual's beliefs (individual level) about the feasibility or importance of a healthy behavior, and vice versa. For example, a workplace policy encouraging regular breaks for stretching (organizational level) might lead an employee to develop a stronger belief (individual level) in the importance of physical activity for productivity. Conversely, a collective shift in employee beliefs about health might eventually pressure an organization to adopt new policies. The Socio-ecological Model guides intervention design by ensuring that strategies consider this reciprocal influence, creating a comprehensive approach that reinforces individual efforts with environmental and policy support for lasting health behavior change.