Theoretical Foundations
Ecological Systems Theory (EST) consisted of how many levels of environmental influence?
5
This SEM level looks at the influence of social relationships like family, peers, and friends.
Interpersonal Level
This SEM level explains how a person's peers and family influence their choice to adopt healthier eating habits.
Interpersonal Level
A key limitation of the Social Ecological Model is the complexity of implementing interventions at multiple levels, which can make them both time-consuming and costly. What is this limitation called?
omplexity and cost
This key strength of the Social Ecological Model emphasizes the importance of considering multiple levels of influence on behavior rather than focusing solely on individual factors.
multi-level approach
This is the year when the Ecological Systems Theory was introduced.
1979
This level of SEM includes policies, structures, and resources within organizations like schools and workplaces that impact behavior.
Organizational Level
A teenager compares themselves to influencers online, leading to low self-esteem and body image issues. This SEM level explains the personal impact of social media on the teen.
Individual Level
Some researchers believe that SEM places too much focus on the role of environmental factors, potentially overshadowing an individual’s active role in their own development. This critique is called an overemphasis on what?
context
Interventions based on SEM tend to have longer-lasting impacts because they focus on modifying the environment, social structures, and policies. This leads to what type of change?
sustainable change
This psychologist is best known for developing Ecological Systems Theory, which explains how environmental systems influence child development.
Urie Bronfenbrenner
This level of the SEM involves larger societal factors such as laws, regulations, and policies that influence behavior on a broad scale.
Public Policy Level
In the UK, the Body Image Bill requires influencers to label digitally altered images in ads and publications to protect youth from body image issues. This intervention is an example of a policy at this SEM level.
Public Policy Level
Due to its broad and multi-level nature, SEM can be difficult to operationalize and test specific hypotheses in certain fields, such as public health or social policy. What is this limitation known as?
lack of specificity
The flexibility of SEM allows it to be applied across various fields such as public health, education, and violence prevention. This adaptability is one of its key strengths, making it useful in a variety of contexts. What is this strength called?
flexibility across different contexts
The Social Ecological Model (SEM) was developed further for use in public health, education, and community development by these researchers.
McLeroy and his colleagues
This level of the Social Ecological Model (SEM) focuses on personal factors such as a person's knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors.
Individual Level
A community park offering free fitness classes every weekend is an example of a community-based intervention at this SEM level.
Community Level
Interventions using SEM may face challenges when trying to target multiple levels of influence at once, leading to fragmented or poorly coordinated efforts. This is a limitation related to the need for what?
coordination and integration
This strength of the Social Ecological Model helps ensure that interventions are comprehensive and address root causes of issues, leading to more effective public health strategies.
focus on root causes
These were the original names of the 5 Levels of Ecological Systems Theory.
Microsystem, Mesosystem, Exosystem, Macrosystem, Chronosystem
This level of the SEM looks at broader community conditions, including cultural norms and neighborhood environments that influence behavior.
Community Level
In some online games, this type of intervention is made to reduce toxic behavior, such as implementing voice filters and reporting systems.
Organizational Level
The complexity of SEM can sometimes make it difficult for families or organizations to pinpoint which level of influence to prioritize for maximum effect, potentially leading to inefficient interventions. What is this called?
clarity in prioritization
This long-term strength of SEM refers to its ability to sustain change by addressing multiple factors simultaneously, making behavior changes more likely to endure over time.
long-term sustainability