Social & Behavioural Health Research
The Division of Social and Behavioural Health Research (SBHR) explores a facet of issues that concern the social, cultural and psychological factors in health and illness. Social science theories and methods are applied to produce new knowledge and communicate our findings to the public health community, researchers, medical practitioners and policy makers.
There are currently two major areas of research in the SBHR:
“Social and cultural determinants of health” is concerned with issues of health inequalities, social change and cultural diversity. It addresses specific topics such as health literacy/Gesundheitskompetenz and health relevant cultural and social capital. This area is developed by Thomas Abel in conjunction with ISPM’s research group “Social Environment”.
The research group “Mental Health” studies mental health as outcome in empirical investigations. Primary and secondary data of psychotherapy outcome studies are used to evaluate the impact of psychological interventions on mental health. In addition to that, research projects deal with the impact of psychological factors on the course of somatic disorders. Psychological resources for health such as self-efficacy and social support are investigated. This research is carried out by Jürgen Barth in conjunction with the ISPM research group “Mental Health”.
The division also operates two special units that support public health research and which offer scientific services for customers from the University of Bern, and elsewhere. Our Health Survey Unit (HSU) is run by Sabine Bucher. The unit conducts health surveys using telephone calls and questionnaires, and offers expert advice and technical services on all aspects of data collection.
Our Evaluation Support Unit (ESU), headed by Heinz Bolliger runs both small and large scale evaluation studies in health services research and public health. It also provides expert advice on evaluation project in public health and health care research.
SBHR is the home of the International Journal of Public Health. Thomas Abel leads the journal as the editor in chief since 2000 and we host IJPH’s editorial office. IJPH publishes original papers with a distinct focus on health surveys and surveillance and health promotion research.
We collaborate with national and international partners in a number of research projects and communicate our knowledge and expertise through our own and co-authored scientific publications. Our researchers are engaged in teaching at the medical school of the University of Bern, in post-graduate public health courses, and at nursing schools.
- New research program 2010 - 2016: Social Inequality and resources for health (PDF 11 KB)
- Cultural capital and social inequality in health (PDF 186 KB)
- Cultural Capital in Health Promotion (PDF 2 MB)
- Gesundheitskompetenz (PDF 50 KB)
