Introduction to Health Psychology

About the Authors Val Morrison is a Professor of Health Psychology at Bangor University. She has taught health psychology since 1992 whilst publishing her research, investigating the psychosocial aspects of patient and carer illness experience and outcomes.Paul Bennett is an Emeritus Professor of Clinical Health Psychology at the University of Swansea. He has published several books on health and clinical psychology, as well as multiple academic papers, and is presently working as a clinical psychologist with people who have psychological trauma after having health problems following the COVID-19 vaccination.

• Preface PART I BEING AND STAYING HEALTHY Chapter 1 What is health? Learning outcomesChapter outlineWhat is health? Changing perspectives Individual, cultural and lifespan perspectives on healthWhat is health psychology?Summary Further readinChapter 2 Health inequalities Learning outcomesChapter outlineHealth differentialsMinority status and healthGender and healthSummary Further readingChapter 3 Health-risk behaviour Learning outcomesChapter outlineWhat is health behaviour?Smoking, drinking and illicit drug useUnprotected sexual behaviourUnhealthy diet ObesitySummaryFurther readingChapter 4 Health-protective behaviour Learning outcomesChapter outlineAdherence behaviourHealthy diet ExerciseHealth-screening behaviourImmunisation behaviourSummaryFurther readingChapter 5 Explaining health behaviour Learning outcomesChapter outlineDistal influences on health behaviourModels of health behaviourSocio-cognitive models of behaviour changeStage models of behaviour changeSummaryFurther readingChapter 6 Changing behaviour: mechanisms and approaches Learning outcomesChapter outlineDeveloping public health interventionsStrategies for changing risk behaviourSummaryFurther readingChapter 7 Preventing health problems Learning outcomesChapter outlineWorking with individualsUsing the mass media Environmental interventionsPublic health programmesSummaryFurther readingPART II BECOMING ILL Chapter 8 The body in health and illness Learning outcomesChapter outlineThe behavioural anatomy of the brainThe autonomic nervous systemThe immune systemThe digestive systemThe cardiovascular systemThe respiratory systemSummaryFurther readingChapter 9 Symptom perception, interpretation and response Learning outcomesChapter outlineHow do we become aware of the sensations of illness?Symptom perceptionSymptom interpretationPlanning and taking action: responding to symptomsSummaryFurther readingChapter 10 The consultation and beyond Learning outcomesChapter outlineThe medical consultationFactors that influence the process of consultationMoving beyond the consultationSummaryFurther readingChapter 11 Stress, health and illness: Theory Learning outcomes Chapter outlineConcepts of stressTypes of stressStress as a physiological responseThe stress and illness linkSummaryFurther readingChapter 12 Stress and illness moderators Learning outcomesChapter outlineCoping defined Stress, personality and illnessStress and cognitionsStress and emotionsSocial support and stressSummaryFurther readingChapter 13 Managing stress Learning outcomesChapter outlineStress theory: a quick reviewStress management trainingThe third wave therapiesPreventing stressMinimising stress in hospital settingsSummaryFurther readingPART III BEING ILL Chapter 14 The impact and outcomes of illness: patient perspective Learning outcomesChapter outlineThe impact of illnessCoping with illnessIllness and quality of lifeMeasuring quality of lifeSummaryFurther readingChapter 15 The impact and outcomes of illness: families and informal caregivers Learning outcomesChapter outlineIllness: a family affairExpectancies of careFamily systems and family membersConsequences of caring for the caregiverInfluences on caring outcomesSummaryFurther readingChapter 16 Pain Learning outcomes Chapter outlineThe experience of painBiological models of painA psychobiological theory of painFuture understandings of pain: the neuromatrixHelping people to cope with painSummaryFurther readingChapter 17 Improving health and quality of life Learning outcomesChapter outlineCoping with chronic illnessReducing distressManaging illnessPreventing disease progressionSummaryFurther readingPART IV FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE Chapter 18 From theory to practice Learning outcomesChapter outlineThe need for theory-driven practiceGetting evidence into practice...and finally, be positiveSummaryFurther readingGlossary References Index