Theory-supported cusp catastrophe modeling in analyzing public health data

Further advancement in public health research required new paradigm and analytical methods beyond the continuous approaches to encompass nonlinear and complex systems. Many healht behaviors behaviors, such dietary, exercise, drug use, risky sex and condom use, cannot be adequately described with commonly used methods. This is becuase the dynamics of these behaviors are both continuous and discrete in nature like the light ray that contains both continuous waves and dicrete particles.  Such characteristics can only be adequately modeled using quantum approaches. Achievements in nonlinear modeling, particularly cusp catastrophe modeling, make it possible to characterize quantum character of health behaviors. Theories related to behavioral dynamics provide foundations supporting cusp catastrophe modeling, including (1) the dual process theory, consisting of System 1 (implicit, intuitive, and automatic) for non-calculated, sudden and discrete change and System 2 (explicit, analytical, and consciousness) for calculated, gradual and continuous change, and (2) the construal-level theory, describing concrete and context-dependent cognitive processes at low construal levels for rapid and discrete changes, and abstract and viewpoint-dependent cognitive processes at high construal levels for gradual and continuous changes. Examples are used to illustrate the use of the cusp catastrophe modeling with the support of these theories. REcommendation of the application of this approach has been made in using this method to analyze public health data