Introduction to Health

Psychology
PSY – 375

Adapted from Health Psychology: Understanding the Mind-Body Connection (3rd ed) by
Catherine A. Sanderson. (2019) Publisher: SAGE Publications, Inc
Ogden, J. (2012) Health Psychology , Open University Press;
Taylor, S. (2018). Health Psychology 10th e. McGraw-Hill Education
Learning outcomes
 Understanding changes in the definition of health
 The background to health psychology
 Biomedical model vs biopsychosocial model – detailed
characteristics of the models
 How the biopsychosocial model can be used to understand
a patient’s condition
 Define the interactions of the three components of the
biopsychosocial model
 The dual pathway model - The indirect and direct
pathways –giving examples
 Maryam is thirty-five years old and has worked as a patient service representative at an outpatient medical clinic for the past ten

years. She is married and has two children and describes herself as a happy, successful person. One half-day per week she

volunteers at her daughter's school, is active in her church, has many friends and is very close to her extended family. People who

know Maryam typically describe her as a happy person with an infectious laugh and as someone that they love to be around

because of her positive outlook. Maryam has been managing her Type 2 diabetes for the past fifteen years by regularly testing her

blood-sugar levels and taking insulin through an insulin pump that she wears under her clothing. Occasionally, she finds that she is

The case
too tired ofwork and, on those days, she stays home and rests, though she has never exceeded her allotted sick days at work.
to go to

Mariam
Although it does not seem to interfere with her daily living, Maryam's physician recently told her that she has hypertension and

would benefit from losing weight and increasing her physical activity.

Given this information about diabetes and about Maryam, would you say that:

Maryam is healthy (1)

Maryam is ill (2)

A shift in thinking ………

Health is not just the absence of illness.

What is
A positive state of physical, mental, and social health?
well-being.

Health, Well-being and Happiness !

 “A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and
not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (WHO, 1948)

WORLD
HEALTH ”health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-
being. ... “ (WHO, 1986)

ORGANIZATI
ON (WHO) Health can be defined as physical, mental, and social wellbeing,
and as a resource for living a full life. It refers not only to the
absence of disease, but the ability to recover and bounce back
HEALTH from illness and other problems (WHO, 2017)

If we want to define health in 2021, we need to focus on having

a healthy interaction with our surrounding world and adapt to the
challenges of our ever-changing environment.
 • Health and illness are not separate

• Health and illness are not linear

• Process between the two is fluid and dynamic

Views health
and illness as a
continuum

© Open University Press, 2012

A continuum ……..

© Open University Press, 2012

Health Through History
 A Change in the Meaning of Health

World Health Organization definition of “health”

Positive Psychology
The
Development of
Changing Patterns of Disease and Death
Health
Psychology Escalating Costs of Health Care

Evolving View of Health

SANDERSON, HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY, 3E. © SAGE PUBLICATIONS, 2019. 9

 Leading causes
of death,
United States,
1900.
The prevalence of acute infectious
disorders, such as tuberculosis,
influenza, measles, and poliomyelitis,
has declined because of treatment
innovations and changes in public health
standards, such as improvements in
waste control and sewage.
Leading causes
of death,
United States,
2000
Shift of causes of death
Now, chronic illnesses—especially heart disease, cancer, and
respiratory diseases—are the main contributors to disability and
death, particularly in industrialized countries.

Chronic illnesses are slowly developing diseases with which

people live for many years and that typically cannot be cured
but rather are managed by patient and health care providers.
Data are from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
https://www.nejm.org/na101/home/literatum/publisher/mms/journals/content/nejm/2012/nejm_2012.366.issue-
25/nejmp1113569/20130730/images/img_large/nejmp1113569_f2.jpeg
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30925-9/fulltext http://www.healthdata.org/united-arab-emirates
 An Increase in Chronic Conditions

The Few people die from infectious

Development of diseases
Health
Psychology Shift from acute/infectious illness to
chronic

Primary prevention

SANDERSON, HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY, 3E. © SAGE PUBLICATIONS, 2019. 17

 The Rising Cost of Health Care (Costs have risen
in last 50 years)

People live longer, develop more chronic

illnesses
The
Development of
Increasing technological advancements
Health
Psychology
Growth of genetics

Understand brain activity and health-related

behaviors

SANDERSON, HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY, 3E. © SAGE PUBLICATIONS, 2019. 18

The Broad
Influence of MEDICINE PSYCHOSOMATIC
MEDICINE
Health
Psychology
(increasing role for
psychology in health)

BEHAVIORAL BEHAVIORAL
MEDICINE HEALTH
SANDERSON, HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY, 3E. © SAGE PUBLICATIONS, 2019. 19
 Sociology
Medical sociology
Cultural and social factors influence health
Cultural and social factors influence health care
The Broad
Influence of
Health Anthropology
Psychology Medical anthropology
Cultures vary in how they define health
How people respond to health-promoting messages

SANDERSON, HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY, 3E. © SAGE PUBLICATIONS, 2019. 20

 What is Health The aggregate of the specific
Psychology (HP)? educational, scientific and professional
contribution of the science of
Psychology to the promotion and
(division 38 – APA) maintenance of health, the promotion
and treatment of illness and related
In 1978, the Division of dysfunction (Matarazzo, 1980)
Health Psychology was
formed within the APA
◦ Applying psychological knowledge
and techniques to health promotion
and treatment of illness
 “Health psychology examines how biological,
social and psychological factors influence health
and illness. Health psychologists use
psychological science to promote health,
What is Health prevent illness and improve health care
systems.”
Psychology?
American Psychology Association, 2016
http://www.apa.org/action/science/health/educ
ation-training.aspx
 Health Psychology
Studies psychological influences on people
◦ How do they stay healthy ?
◦ Why do they become ill ?
◦ How do they respond when they get ill ?
Health psychologists study such issues and develop
interventions to help people stay well or recover from
illness

Taylor, S. (2018). Health Psychology 10th e. McGraw-Hill Education

 1. To understand, explain, develop
and test theory
◦ Why do some people smoke even
though they know the risks?
◦ How does behavior relate to CHD?
Aims of Health
◦ How does stress cause illness?
Psychology
◦ How do people cope with illness?
◦ Why do some people go to the
doctor when nothing is wrong whilst
others avoid going even though they
have serious symptoms?

© Open University Press, 2012

 2. To put theory into practice
◦ How can behaviors be
predicted and changed?
◦ How can illness be
Aims of Health prevented?
Psychology ◦ How can the consequences of
illness be minimized?
◦ How can health professionals
improve their management of
patients?

© Open University Press, 2012

 1. Health psychologists focus on health promotion and
maintenance (i.e. how to promote good habits ?)
2. Health psychologists study the psychological aspects of
the prevention and treatment of illness (i.e. stressed
at work?)
3. A health psychologist might work with people who are
already ill to help them follow their treatment
Focus of Health regimen (i.e. did you ever miss a pill?)

Psychologists 4. Health psychologists also focus on the etiology and

correlates of health, illness, and dysfunction (i.e. do
you wear your seat belts?)
5. Health psychologists analyze and attempt to
improve the health care system and the formulation of
health policy (i.e. do you have any recommendations
for improving health care at your institution?)
 Health psychologists study the factors that
allow people to be healthy, recover from
an illness or cope with a chronic condition.
They are experts in the intersection of
What do Health health and behavior and are in demand as
Psychologists do? a part of integrated health care delivery
teams — working with other doctors to
provide whole-person health care.”

https://www.apa.org/action/science/healt
h/index.aspx
What Is Health Psychology Training For?

Health care Occupational

Social work Dietetics
practitioners therapy

Physical Academic
Public health Private practice
therapy research

Management of Treatment Occupational

health care settings health settings
 * The biopsychosocial model of
health
* Health as a continuum
The focus of
HP
* Direct and indirect pathways
between psychology and health
* Focus on variability
VIDEO QUESTIONS