Week One - Understanding Health Psychology

Question 1

WHO definition of health overlooks what aspects of health?

Answer 1

psychological, cultural and economic.

Question 2

What is meant by the term, psychosocial?

Answer 2

The description of human behaviour and experience as an influence on wellbeing

Question 3

What does Health Psychology challenge?

Answer 3

The mind-body split by suggesting a role for the mind in both the cause and treatment of illness.

Question 4

Health Psychology suggests illness is caused, how?

Answer 4

By a multitude of factors (biological, psychological and social) and not just a single cause.

Question 5

Health Psychology proposes who is responsible for illness?

Answer 5

Individual is no longer solely responsible but behaviour plays a role.

Question 6

Health Psychology proposes what about how illness should be treated?

Answer 6

The whole person should be treated by using behaviour change, encouraging belief changes and compliance with medicine.

Question 7

Health Psychology proposes that who is responsible for treatment?

Answer 7

Patient themselves

Question 8

What is the relationship between health and illness?

Answer 8

They exist on a continuum, progressing to and from both health and illness.

Question 9

What is the relationship between the mind and body?

Answer 9

The mind and body interact.

Question 10

What is the role of psychology in health and illness?

Answer 10

Psychological factors are possible causes of illness but contribute to illness at all stages along the continuum.

Question 11

Health Psychology emphasizes the role of psych factors in what of health and illness?

Answer 11

The cause, progression and consequences of health and illness.

Question 12

What are the 2 main aims of Health Psychology?

Answer 12

To develop and test a theory of health behaviour

To put theory into practice

Question 13

How does health psychology aim to achieve the development and testing of a theory of health behaviour?

Answer 13

Evaluating the role of behaviour in the etiology of illness

Predicting unhealthy behaviours

Evaluating the interaction between psych and physiology

Understanding the role of psych in the experience of illness

Evaluating the role of psych in the treatment of illness

Question 14

How does Health Psychology aim to put theory into practice?

Answer 14

Promoting healthy behaviour

Preventing illness

Question 15

Theory in Health Psychology is underpinned by what four frameworks?

Answer 15

BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL MODEL

HEALTH AS A CONTINUUM

DUAL (DIRECT/INDIRECT) PATHWAY

VARIABILITY

Question 16

What is the Biopsychosocial Model?

Answer 16

An attempt to integrate the psychological and environmental aspects into the traditional biomedical models of health.

Question 17

Explain the Health as a Continuum Model

Answer 17

Psychology is present throughout the course of illness:

• onset (e.g., beliefs)
• adaptation (e.g., help seeking)
• outcomes (e.g., quality of life)

Question 18

Explain the Dual Pathway Model

Answer 18

There are both direct and indirect pathways toward health.

DIRECT: The way a person experiences their life has a direct impact upon their body, influencing their health.

INDIRECT: The way a person thinks influences their behaviour which impacts their health.

Question 19

Explain the concept of Variability

Answer 19

There is variability between people regarding health and behaviour.

Two people might know that smoking is bad but only one stops.

Knowledge does not always predict behaviour.

Illness severity does not always predict outcome.