Abstract

The present study critically reviews the recent development of the social cognitive theories on health behavior and also provides some important empirical studies based on these theories. Thus far, social cognitive theories have been trying to explain systematically the process between major contributing factors and health behaviors. With this task in mind, the present study deals with most important social cognitive theories which has been revised and expanded until recently. More specifically, the major theories dealt with in the present article were health behavior model, health locus of control model, health self-efficacy model, protection motivation model, planned behavior model, and self-regulation model on health behavior. Each model was discussed for its unique contributions and its strengths and weaknesses, then, if there were contradictories among models, possible solutions were proposed based on their similarities and dissimilarities. Finally, some feasible tasks are discussed and suggested for future research in terms of theoretical and/or empirical advancement in this area.