Abstract for: Behavioral Change Modeling in Infectious Diseases: A Review of Reviews

Modeling the spread of an infectious disease is highly complex. Drawing the boundaries of the model and what to consider endogenously can be confusing; an element to consider is behavior. The intertwined relationship between human behavior and disease is necessary to capture the mechanics of infection. Our behavior affects the unfolding of a pandemic; In the same sense, the course of an outbreak drives sociological behavior changes in our daily lives. While most successful modelers acknowledge this feedback loop, only a few represent it accordingly. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the issue, there are vast differences in approaches and ways of incorporating behavior. To bring these ideas together, we conducted a review of review articles analyzing 14 papers for the final synthesis. By doing so, we discuss the challenges of capturing dynamics of behavior in infectious disease models and argue how a more holistic view of these approaches can be beneficial. Finally, we introduce two new classifications based on interrelationships of behavior within itself and how they interact with the disease. These classifications help us move past the limitations of previous classes and see the behavioral feedback loop differently, which may be the key to several current global concerns.