28th July 2026
The Behavioural Science & Health (BSIH) Lab is pleased to share two recent media contributions by Lab Director Angelos Kassianos, discussing prevention, public health behaviour, and digital habits in contemporary society.
🎙️ Science Talks – UCLan Cyprus
With Dr Vasiliki Christodoulou
This discussion explored the role of prevention in shaping healthier societies. Key themes included:
- Prevention beyond information: Evidence suggests that knowledge alone is often insufficient to change behaviour. Individuals may interpret the same data differently depending on prior beliefs.
- Risk perception: During the COVID-19 pandemic, behavioural responses were strongly influenced by how people perceived risk, rather than by data alone.
- The role of trust: Trust in the source of information can be as important as the message itself in influencing decisions.
- Environmental influences: Behaviour is shaped not only by individual choice, but also by physical, social, and digital environments.
- Long-term perspective: Building healthier societies may require early investment in education and values that promote collective responsibility and social cohesion.
- Policy relevance: The discussion also highlighted the potential value of establishing a dedicated behavioural insights unit in Cyprus to support data-informed public health responses and policymaking.
📺 Alpha TV Cyprus – Discussion on Screen Use
With Aspasia on Alpha TV Cyprus
The second appearance focused on screen use and its behavioural implications. Key points included:
- Individual thresholds: There is no universal “correct” amount of screen time; individuals may benefit from identifying personal limits where use becomes detrimental.
- Children and screen exposure: Available evidence supports minimizing or avoiding screen use in early childhood.
- Cognitive and emotional load: Screen-based activities often require sustained cognitive engagement and may involve emotionally stimulating content, challenging the idea that screen use is inherently restful.
- Habit formation: Screen use follows common behavioural patterns (cue → response → reward). Changing habits may involve identifying alternative responses to common triggers such as boredom.
- The value of boredom: Periods of boredom may support creativity and self-awareness, offering a counterbalance to constant digital engagement.
Across both engagements, a consistent message emerges: understanding behaviour—rather than relying solely on information provision—is central to improving health outcomes. Behavioural science offers practical insights for designing interventions, shaping environments, and supporting more effective public health strategies.
For more updates from the BSIH Lab, stay tuned to our website and media channels.
