Glossary
Socioecological Model
What is a socioecological model?
A socioecological model organizes possible influences on behavior across levels, from the individual to relationships, institutions, and broader policy. Different versions use different levels.
A public-health version
McLeroy and colleagues identify individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and public-policy targets. They emphasize that social environments can sustain behavior, while changing those environments also requires support from individuals.
Levels of the social ecological model
- Individual: A person’s knowledge, abilities, beliefs, and behavior.
- Interpersonal: Relationships with family, friends, and other people.
- Organizational: Rules and practices in schools, workplaces, or other institutions.
- Community: Relationships and resources across the wider community.
- Public policy: Laws and policies that affect opportunities and constraints.
Socioecological model example
To investigate a walking program, consider the participant’s ability, possible walking partners, work schedules, local routes, and rules governing access to those routes. These are different places to look for constraints.
Why it matters
The framework helps you look beyond a single level when investigating a problem. It does not establish that an intervention becomes better each time another level is added.
This public-health formulation is also distinct from other ecological theories of human development. A shared name does not make the models interchangeable.