Health behavior determinants and health *policy in the United States and Western Europe

The study examined determinants of health-promoting behavior in the areas of breast cancer early detection and physical activity in six European nations (Germany, Finland, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, and Spain) and the United States. A model was used that assesses the impact of sociodemographic characteristics, internal resources (knowledge about how to promote health, knowledge of health policies, health beliefs), and external resources (perceived opportunities, perceived social environment) on individual health behavior across nations. Results of multivariate data analysis indicate that knowledge of how to promote one's health and the perceived support from family and friends to engage in health-promoting behavior are significant determinants of such behaviors across nations.;For the area of breast cancer screening, pronounced associations were found between perceived opportunities to receive screenings from physicians and the actual screening behavior. On the other hand, perceived opportunities were not found to be associated with the engagement in physical activity. The model did not explain national variations in health-promoting behavior. The second part of the analysis addressed national programs and policies for breast cancer early detection and promotion of physical activity and how national policies might be able to mediate health-promoting behavior beyond individual perception and, thus, might partly explain differences across nations.