About
Aims
The International Journal of Health Behavior and Social Epidemiology (IJHBSE) aims to advance the scientific understanding of how social, cultural, and environmental factors shape health behaviors and influence the distribution of chronic diseases across populations. The journal provides a rigorous, open-access platform for multidisciplinary research that integrates social epidemiology, behavioral science, and public health intervention design. By focusing on the upstream determinants of health, IJHBSE seeks to inform evidence-based policies and programs that promote health equity and prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and respiratory conditions. The journal prioritizes studies that explicate mechanisms linking social contexts—including socioeconomic status, neighborhood environments, social networks, and cultural norms—to individual and collective health behaviors. It also encourages the evaluation of behavioral interventions that are scalable, sustainable, and sensitive to the lived experiences of diverse populations, particularly those in low- and middle-income countries. Through the dissemination of high-quality original research, reviews, and commentaries, IJHBSE endeavors to bridge the gap between social epidemiology and practical health promotion, ultimately contributing to the global reduction of chronic disease burden.
Scope
IJHBSE covers a broad spectrum of topics at the intersection of health behavior, social epidemiology, and chronic disease prevention. The journal invites contributions that explore the dynamic interplay between social determinants and behavioral pathways to health. Specific areas of interest include, but are not limited to:
• Social and economic inequalities in health behavior and chronic disease risk
• Lifestyle epidemiology: diet, physical activity, sleep, and substance use
• Psychosocial factors (stress, social support, discrimination) and behavioral outcomes
• Neighborhood and built environment influences on health behaviors
• Behavioral interventions for NCD prevention: design, implementation, and evaluation
• Digital health and mHealth approaches to behavior change
• Cultural determinants and health behavior in diverse populations
• Life-course perspectives on the development of health behaviors
• Policy and structural interventions addressing social determinants of health
• Methodological advances in social epidemiological and behavioral research
Article Types
IJHBSE accepts the following article types:
• Original Research Articles
• Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
• Brief Reports
• Methodological Papers
• Commentaries and Perspectives
• Study Protocols
• Editorials (by invitation)
Audience
IJHBSE serves a diverse readership including public health researchers, epidemiologists, behavioral scientists, health psychologists, sociologists, policy makers, health educators, and practitioners working in chronic disease prevention and health promotion. The journal is particularly relevant for those engaged in the study of social determinants of health and the development of effective, equitable interventions.