lecture 7 Flashcards
(22 cards)
What is the World Health Organization’s definition of health, and why is it sometimes critiqued?
Health is defined as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Critics argue this is idealistic and fails to account for chronic conditions where individuals can manage illness yet feel healthy.
What are the core assumptions of the biomedical model of health?
The model assumes illness is due to biological malfunction, separates mind and body (dualism), sees psychology as a consequence—not cause—of illness, and supports treatment through physical interventions like medication or surgery.
What distinguishes the biopsychosocial model from the biomedical model?
: It integrates biological, psychological, and social factors, recognizes the interaction between mind and body, and treats health as a continuum rather than a binary (ill or healthy).
How can the concept of health vary across individuals and cultures?
Perceptions of health depend on context. For example, a fit athlete with an injury may feel unhealthy, whereas someone managing asthma might feel healthy. Definitions of health differ culturally and individually.
What is the primary focus of health psychology?
Understanding how psychological, behavioural, and social factors influence physical health and illness, including the causes, progression, and outcomes of both healthy and unhealthy behaviours.
What are the four main aims of health psychology?
(1) Promote and maintain health, (2) Prevent and treat illness, (3) Identify causes of health and illness, and (4) Improve healthcare systems and health policy.
Why is it important to study health behaviours in contemporary health psychology?
Many modern illnesses (e.g., heart disease, diabetes, cancer) are heavily influenced by behaviour such as diet, smoking, and exercise, making behaviour change essential for prevention and management.
What psychological principles are illustrated in the case study of Frances and her children’s eating habits?
Modelling, associative learning (snacks linked with car rides), reinforcement (using food as a reward), parental control, and situational constraints like time pressure.
How do health beliefs influence health-related behaviours?
Beliefs about susceptibility, severity, benefits, and barriers (from models like the Health Belief Model) can predict behaviours like vaccination uptake or smoking cessation.
What are the three main components of the COM-B model of behaviour change?
Capability (physical and psychological), Opportunity (social and physical), and Motivation (reflective and automatic processes).
How does “capability” affect behaviour in the COM-B model?
It refers to both physical ability (e.g., strength, stamina) and psychological ability (e.g., knowledge, cognitive functioning) to perform a behaviour.
What does “opportunity” encompass in the COM-B model?
External factors that make a behaviour possible, such as environmental resources (physical) or social support and norms (social).
Define “motivation” in the COM-B model and its two subtypes.
Reflective motivation involves deliberate planning and beliefs; automatic motivation includes habits, emotions, and impulses.
How did Eden et al. (2022) use the COM-B model in their study on sunbed use?
They found that psychological capability, physical/social opportunity, and reflective/automatic motivation influenced both the adoption and cessation of indoor tanning, except for physical capability.
: What is the difference between health psychology and clinical psychology?
Health psychology focuses on physical health and behaviours, while clinical psychology addresses mental health disorders. However, clinical health psychologists bridge both by applying psychological techniques to physical conditions.
What defines a chronic illness and what are some examples?
A condition lasting ≥3 months, often incurable but manageable. Examples: diabetes, asthma, chronic pain, heart disease, cancer.
What did Lunde et al. (2021) find about helicopter parenting and chronic pain in young adults?
Over-involved parenting complicates the transition to adult independence and may worsen psychological outcomes in young adults with chronic pain.
What is Illness Anxiety Disorder and how does it differ from general health concern?
A psychiatric condition characterized by persistent preoccupation with having a serious illness, despite little/no symptoms and medical reassurance. It is more intense and impairing than normal health worries.
What are the DSM-5 criteria for diagnosing Illness Anxiety Disorder?
Includes: (A) preoccupation with serious illness, (B) absent or mild somatic symptoms, (C) high health anxiety, (D) excessive health-related behaviours or avoidance, (E) persistent for 6+ months, and (F) not better explained by another disorder.
What is a leading psychological explanation for the development of Illness Anxiety Disorder?
Cognitive-behavioural theory suggests dysfunctional beliefs (e.g., “bodily changes = serious disease”) formed through past experiences, possibly combined with genetic predispositions.
