module specification

N.B. from 2012-13 this module will be taight at the Holloway Road building.

This module focuses on the context of health psychology such as the background to its development and the systems within which it operates as well as the ways that health psychology theory can be applied in practitioner settings.

None

• To introduce health psychology as an academic and professional discipline;
• To place health psychology concepts and methods meaningfully within a broad framework including biological mechanisms that mediate psychological influences on health, social and economic factors that influence health and healthcare, and working within multidisciplinary settings;
• To explore the application of psychology to health outcomes and processes;
• To critically assess the limitations of psychological approaches to health.

Health, health behaviours and health psychology; the historical development of health psychology; biostatistics and epidemiology; biological, behavioural and social effects on health and health behaviours; policy, society and health psychology; the role of culture in health and health behaviours; the role of health psychology interventions.

Eleven,  3 hour, class-based sessions with lectures, presentations and seminar work. As part of this module students are required to engage in problem based learning through research of relevant topics. Students will also be required to carry out substantial independent learning.

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:

1. Understand the main social, cultural and economic influences on health;
2. Understand how to develop appropriate strategies for improving health;
3. Explain the historical development, the current status and the priorities of health psychology;
4. Understand the main biological systems that influence health;
5. Evaluate health psychology approaches to promoting improved health.

The module is assessed in three ways:
1. A coursework essay of approximately 2000 words. This assesses in-depth understanding, argumentation and evaluation of an important broad-ranging issue in health. Students will choose an essay title from two or more options that relate to key issues or areas of material covered by the module.
2. A problem based learning exercise 1500-2,000 words. This is based around the design of a health promotion leaflet. The leaflet is conceived and designed in groups and students are required to individually write up their contribution to the work.
3. In addition students will be assessed on attendance at all classes. Students are expected to attend all scheduled sessions. If for legitimate reasons (eg sickness) a student cannot attend all then up to 2 sessions may be missed.

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Bennett, P. & Murphy, S. (1997). Psychology and health promotion. Buckingham: Open University Press.
Bowling, A. (1998). Measuring health: A review of quality of life measurement scales, 2nd edition. Buckingham: Open University Press.
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Carroll, D. & Davey Smith, G. (1997). Health and socio-economic position. Journal of Health Psychology, 2, 275-282.
Graham, H. (2007) Unequal Lives:  health and socioeconomic inequalities OUP
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