The influence of the social environment on health behavior

Close personal relationships with friends, family, and romantic others represent one of the primary arenas in which health behaviors occur and in which acute health situations are navigated. Despite the important role of close relationships in a range of health behaviors and outcomes, much research to date has focused on either individual-level processes or the role of macro-level social influences such as public policy, culture, and characteristics of the built and physical environment. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a broad overview of the current evidence for the role of close relationships in supporting (or thwarting) health promoting behaviors and the role of close relationships in navigating acute health challenges. We conclude with a call for additional research that characterizes the dyad as a unit and more proximal forms of social influence.