Table 2.

Social Ecological Framework

Levels of influence	Description	Application to current study
Intrapersonal	Personal attributes such as attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge that shape health behaviors	Age, education, household income, employment status, self-reported health, and ability to care for one’s self
Interpersonal	Relationships with family, friends, colleagues, and others which contribute social support and help to define identity	Marital status, usual source of care (regular doctor), talking with doctor about family history of cancer, and social support
Organizational	Groups to which one belongs and/or informal social institutions and processes which influence health behaviors	Health insurance
Community	Formal or informal systems with corresponding social norms among people, groups, and organizations	Church membership and paid sick-leave availability
Public policy	Laws and practices at the local, state, and national levels that promote or regulate health behavior	N/A

Adapted from Robinson,¹⁸ p. 398.