Psychology of Behavioural Interventions and Pandemic Control is a unique text that examines the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to population risk factors and the efficacy of non-pharmaceutical interventions deployed by many governments around the world to bring the pandemic under control. The book presents critical and insightful lessons that can be drawn up to assess governments’ performance in relation to the pandemic and to guide the construction of effective measures to put in place in readiness for any future public health crises on this scale. It starts by examining lessons learned from historical pandemics and then turns to early epidemiological modelling that influenced the decision of many governments to implement wide-ranging interventions designed to bring public behaviour under close control. It also examines the findings of research that tried to understand pre-existing population risks factors which had some mediating influences over COVID-19, mortality rates, and the effects of interventions. Early modelling work is critiqued, and the discussion also identifies weaknesses in early modelling research. The author, Barrie Gunter, goes on to consider ways in which multiple disciplines can be triangulated to produce more comprehensive models of risk. He also offers suggestions on how future pandemic-related research might be constructed to deliver more powerful analyses of the effects of interventions and the role played by different population risk factors. This insight might then deliver better policies for pandemic control and for safe release from that control. This is essential reading for students and researchers in psychology, public health and medical sciences. It would also be of interest to policy makers assessing government strategies, responses and performance.

In August, 1985, the 2nd International Conference on Illness Behaviour was held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The first International Conference took place one year previous in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. This book is based on the proceedings of the second conference. The purpose behind this conference was to facilitate the development of a single integrated model to account for illness experience and presentation. A major focus of the conference was to outline methodological issues related to current behaviour research. A multidiscipl~nary approach was emphasized because of the bias that collaborative efforts are likely to be the most successful in achieving greater understanding of illness behaviour. Significant advances in our knowledge are occurring in all areas of the biological and social sciences, albeit more slowly in the latter areas. Marked specialization in each of these areas has lead to greater difficulty in integrating new knowledge with that of other areas and the development of a meaningful cohesive model to which all can relate. Thus there is a major need for forums such as that provided by this conference.

One in five people in the United States had a sexually transmitted infection (STI) on any given day in 2018, totaling nearly 68 million estimated infections. STIs are often asymptomatic (especially in women) and are therefore often undiagnosed and unreported. Untreated STIs can have severe health consequences, including chronic pelvic pain, infertility, miscarriage or newborn death, and increased risk of HIV infection, genital and oral cancers, neurological and rheumatological effects. In light of this, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, through the National Association of County and City Health Officials, commissioned the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to convene a committee to examine the prevention and control of sexually transmitted infections in the United States and provide recommendations for action. In 1997, the Institute of Medicine released a report, The Hidden Epidemic: Confronting Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Although significant scientific advances have been made since that time, many of the problems and barriers described in that report persist today; STIs remain an underfunded and comparatively neglected field of public health practice and research. The committee reviewed the current state of STIs in the United States, and the resulting report, Sexually Transmitted Infections: Advancing a Sexual Health Paradigm, provides advice on future public health programs, policy, and research.

Already, the COVID-19 pandemic has left a deep mark on all levels of human activity and sentiment. As far as the best possible management of the situation is concerned, it is not only up to governments and experts in health systems, but ultimately up to each individual to act appropriately. Understanding the psychological background and the societal context is essential. This essential is also intended to make a contribution in the sense of joint and successful coping. This Springer essential is a translation of the original German 1st edition COVID-19 und Psychologie by John G. Haas, published by Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden GmbH, part of Springer Nature in 2020. The translation was done with the help of artificial intelligence (machine translation by the service DeepL.com). A subsequent human revision was done primarily in terms of content, so that the book will read stylistically different from a conventional translation. Springer Nature works continuously to further the development of tools for the production of books and on the related technologies to support the authors.

This volume examines the topic of compliance with COVID-19 restrictions, and the non-pharmaceutical measures taken by governments in attempts to bring the pandemic under control. Discovery that COVID-19 was largely transmitted through the air meant that public health strategies were needed to limit close physical contact between people. Epidemiological modelling offered initial interventions to tackle the rate of spread, but to be effective these measures were dependent on widespread public adoption and compliance. This book examines the key theories and empirical approaches to behavioural change and compliance, and reviews research on their relative effectiveness in driving public behaviour. Author Barrie Gunter considers four principal models used: nudge theory, social identity-group processes theory, theory of planned behaviour and the capability-opportunity-motivation-behaviour (COM-B) model. Gunter weighs the pros and cons of each, offers commentary on lessons that can be learned from their application during the pandemic, and what they may have to offer in a triangulated approach, theoretically, methodologically and in terms of policy making. Examining not just the extent of compliance but also the psychological drivers of this behaviour over time, this is essential reading for students and researchers in psychology, public health and medical sciences, and policy makers assessing government strategies, responses and performance.