Policy on Editors Publishing in the Journal of Health Promotion and Behavior

Policy on Editors Publishing in the Journal of Health Promotion and Behavior  

“Can an editor submit and publish their own research in a journal where they serve as an editor?”

Yes. Editors, including the Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board members, may submit their own scholarly work to the Journal of Health Promotion and Behavior (JHPB). However, holding an editorial position does not entitle an editor to preferential treatment or guarantee publication. To protect editorial independence, transparency, and publication integrity, any manuscript submitted by an editor must undergo the same rigorous peer-review standards and publication criteria applied to other submissions. The submitting editor must not participate in the editorial assessment or publication decision concerning their own manuscript.

This policy is established in accordance with the relevant guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and recognized best practices in scholarly publishing, and other major academic publishers. Its purpose is to prevent conflicts of interest, ensure fair and independent editorial handling, and maintain trust in the journal's editorial and peer-review processes.

The management of JHPB recognizes that the Editor-in-Chief, Editorial Board members, and other members of the editorial team may submit their own scholarly work for consideration in the journal. Such submissions may be considered for publication, provided that they undergo the same rigorous evaluation standards applied to other submissions and that appropriate safeguards are implemented to protect editorial independence, fairness, and transparency.

Eligibility for Publication

The Editor-in-Chief, Editorial Board members, and other members of the editorial team may submit manuscripts to JHPB, provided that their submissions comply with the journal's aims and scope, author guidelines, publication ethics policies, and applicable research integrity standards. Editorial positions shall not confer preferential treatment, guarantee acceptance, or exempt any submission from the journal's established editorial procedures.

 

Independent Editorial Handling

Any manuscript authored or co-authored by the Editor-in-Chief, an Editorial Board member, or another member of the editorial team must be handled by an independent editor who has no relevant competing interests. The submitting editor shall not participate in the selection of reviewers, evaluation of reviewer reports, editorial deliberations, or publication decision concerning their own manuscript.

The submitting editor must not influence the handling editor or reviewers, access confidential information about reviewer identities or deliberations beyond what is available to an ordinary author, or intervene in the editorial process. Where necessary, the journal management shall arrange for an independent editor to handle the submission.

 

Peer Review and Publication Decisions

Editor-authored manuscripts shall undergo the journal's standard peer-review process and meet the same scientific, ethical, and editorial requirements as other submissions. Research articles should normally be evaluated by at least two external and independent reviewers, in accordance with JHPB's peer-review policy.

The independent handling editor shall assess the manuscript, consider reviewer reports, and make an editorial recommendation or decision within their delegated authority. The Editor-in-Chief shall not participate in the decision-making process for their own manuscript. Where the Editor-in-Chief is the submitting author, final editorial responsibility shall be assigned to an appropriately authorized independent editor.

Declaration of Competing Interests

Editors submitting manuscripts to JHPB must disclose their editorial position and any other relevant competing interests at submission. The disclosure must be included in the published article, where applicable, to ensure transparency regarding the author's relationship with the journal.

Transparency in Published Articles

For manuscripts authored or co-authored by an editor that are accepted for publication, the journal shall include a statement identifying the independent editorial handling and confirming that the author did not participate in the peer-review or publication decision for their own manuscript.

A recommended statement is:

“The author is a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Health Promotion and Behavior. The author did not participate in the peer-review process or editorial decision-making for this manuscript. The manuscript was handled independently by an editor without relevant competing interests.”

 

The wording shall be adapted as appropriate to reflect the author's editorial role and the actual handling arrangements.

Conflicts of Interest and Research Integrity

Editors must declare any actual, potential, or perceived competing interests involving their own submissions, co-authors, reviewers, or other individuals involved in the editorial process. Manuscripts involving close personal relationships, recent research collaborations, or other relationships that could compromise impartiality must be assigned to an independent editor.

All parties involved must maintain confidentiality and comply with JHPB's policies on publication ethics, authorship, competing interests, and research integrity.

Responsibilities of the Journal Management

The journal management is responsible for ensuring that appropriate procedures are in place for the independent handling of editor-authored manuscripts. The management shall monitor compliance with this policy, document the independent handling arrangements, and address any concerns regarding editorial interference or preferential treatment.

If an independent editor cannot be appointed, the journal management shall arrange an appropriate alternative mechanism before the manuscript proceeds through editorial assessment. No manuscript shall receive preferential consideration solely because its author holds an editorial position.

This policy shall be implemented in accordance with COPE guidance and established publishing practices and reviewed periodically to ensure its continued effectiveness in protecting the fairness, credibility, and integrity of JHPB's editorial and peer-review processes.