Health Psychology

The major aim of Health Psychology is to investigate behaviors and habits of mind that lead to a HEALTHIER lifestyle!  Sounds great right!  It is!

“The Way you think and the way you act can transform your experience of stress” –Kelly McGonigal (Stanford)

This unit has 3 sub units with unique learning outcomes and the one or more of the following topics can be used to demonstrate / illustrate the learning outcomes listed below: 

• stress

• addiction

• obesity

• chronic pain

• sexual health

1. Determinants of Health

   Biopsychosocial model of health and well-being

   Dispositional factors and health beliefs

   Risk and protective factors

2. Health Problems

   Explanations of health problem(s)

   Prevalence rates of health problem(s)

   3. Promoting Health 

   Health promotion

   Effectiveness of health promotion programme(s)

Unit Google Doc: Study Guide to Studies: 

PDF of Bandura’s Social Cognitive Model of Healthy Behaviour: Bandura Self Efficacy social cognitive Health Model

Bandura on Health belief model chart

Here is a chart in which he breaks down the different elements of the major competing theories of health related behavior:

Complete the Learning Activity below as our introduction to Stress: 

Understanding Stressors and investigating coping

• Psychology Today on How to Reduce Stress Hormones
• The NY TImes on “How to be Better at Stresss” 
• The NY Times, “Stress Makes you sick, this is how to prevent it”