Multilevel Interventions

Interventions are intended to change behavior and sustain positive outcomes within a target audience. A multilevel intervention (MLI) is designed to target a specific audience on, within, and between two or more levels (e.g., individual, group, societal) to encourage and sustain behaviors. Because MLIs account for internal and external factors that influence human behavior, these interventions have the potential to more accurately depict real-life scenarios and provide a better understanding of individuals' barriers to [Page 901]healthier decision making. This entry discusses the theoretical underpinnings of MLIs, with a focus on five ecological levels, and highlights the challenges of designing and implementing MLIs.