Health psychology is a relatively recent yet fast- growing sub-discipline of psychology. It is best understood by answering the following questions:
* What causes illness and who is responsible for it?
* How should illness be treated and who is responsible for treatment?
* What is the relationship between health and illness, and between the mind and body?
* What is the role of psychology in health and illness?
Human beings are complex systems and illness can be caused by a multitude of factors, not just a single factor such as a virus or bacterium. Health psychology attempts to move away from a simple linear model of health and looks at the combination of factors involved in illness – biological (e.g. a virus), psychological (e.g. behaviours, beliefs) and social (e.g. employment). This reflects the biopsychosocial model of health and illness that was developed by Engel (1977,1980). Because, in this model, illness is regarded as the result of a combination of factors, the individual is no longer simply seen as a passive victim of some external force, such as a virus. Acknowledging the role of behaviours such as smoking, diet and alcohol, for example, means that the individual may be held responsible for their health and illness.
According to health psychology, the whole person should be treated, not just the physical changes that occur due to ill health. This can include behaviour change, encouraging changes in beliefs and coping strategies, and compliance with medical recommendations. Because thepartly responsible for their treatment. For example, she may have a responsibility to take medication, and to change beliefs and behaviour. No longer is the patient seen as a victim.
From this perspective, health and illness exist on a continuum. Rather than being either healthy or ill, individuals progress along a continuum from healthiness to illness and back again. Health psychology also maintains that the mind and body interact. It sees psychological factors as not only possible consequences of illness (after all, being ill can be depressing), but as contributing to all the stages of health, from full healthiness to illness.
Contents
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
INTRODUCTION
HEALTH BELIEFS AND BEHAVIOURS
Behaviour and mortality
The role of health beliefs
Integrated models
ILLNESS BELIEFS
The dimensions of illness beliefs
A model of illness behaviour
Health professionals’ beliefs
THE STRESS–ILLNESS LINK
Stress models
Does stress cause illness?
CHRONIC ILLNESS
Profile of an illness
Psychology’s role
FINAL THOUGHTS
SUMMARY
REVISION QUESTIONS
FURTHER READING
Download PDF Ebook
* What causes illness and who is responsible for it?
* How should illness be treated and who is responsible for treatment?
* What is the relationship between health and illness, and between the mind and body?
* What is the role of psychology in health and illness?
Human beings are complex systems and illness can be caused by a multitude of factors, not just a single factor such as a virus or bacterium. Health psychology attempts to move away from a simple linear model of health and looks at the combination of factors involved in illness – biological (e.g. a virus), psychological (e.g. behaviours, beliefs) and social (e.g. employment). This reflects the biopsychosocial model of health and illness that was developed by Engel (1977,1980). Because, in this model, illness is regarded as the result of a combination of factors, the individual is no longer simply seen as a passive victim of some external force, such as a virus. Acknowledging the role of behaviours such as smoking, diet and alcohol, for example, means that the individual may be held responsible for their health and illness.
According to health psychology, the whole person should be treated, not just the physical changes that occur due to ill health. This can include behaviour change, encouraging changes in beliefs and coping strategies, and compliance with medical recommendations. Because thepartly responsible for their treatment. For example, she may have a responsibility to take medication, and to change beliefs and behaviour. No longer is the patient seen as a victim.
From this perspective, health and illness exist on a continuum. Rather than being either healthy or ill, individuals progress along a continuum from healthiness to illness and back again. Health psychology also maintains that the mind and body interact. It sees psychological factors as not only possible consequences of illness (after all, being ill can be depressing), but as contributing to all the stages of health, from full healthiness to illness.
Contents
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
INTRODUCTION
HEALTH BELIEFS AND BEHAVIOURS
Behaviour and mortality
The role of health beliefs
Integrated models
ILLNESS BELIEFS
The dimensions of illness beliefs
A model of illness behaviour
Health professionals’ beliefs
THE STRESS–ILLNESS LINK
Stress models
Does stress cause illness?
CHRONIC ILLNESS
Profile of an illness
Psychology’s role
FINAL THOUGHTS
SUMMARY
REVISION QUESTIONS
FURTHER READING
Download PDF Ebook
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