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Using Communication Infrastructure Theory to Consider Built Environment Factors within Health Communication Interventions

Fri, May 25, 8:00 to 9:15, Hilton Prague, Floor: LL, Roma

Abstract

Persuasion theories fail to account for the structural contexts that may impede performance of health behaviors. The built environment are manmade features of the environment that may impact health behaviors. This paper proposes that communication infrastructure theory offers a way for health communication scholars to consider the role of the built environment within health promotion intervention efforts. The theory suggests that every community has a communication infrastructure that consists of a storytelling system and a communication action context. The built environment is part of the communication action context, affecting not only health outcomes, but individuals’ ability to connect to neighborhood storytelling agents. Considerations for communication infrastructure based interventions are discussed.

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