Several key research areas benefit from the integration of social and behavioral sciences in epidemiology: 1. Mental Health: Social and psychological factors significantly impact mental health. Understanding these can inform prevention and treatment strategies. 2. Chronic Diseases: Behaviors such as physical inactivity and unhealthy eating contribute to chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease. Social contexts influence these behaviors. 3. Infectious Diseases: Social behaviors, such as vaccine acceptance and adherence to public health guidelines, are crucial for controlling infectious diseases.
