Scope of Health Psychology

 Introduction

          Health psychology, also known as medical psychology or behavioral medicine, is a subfield of psychology in which the main concern is how biology, psychology, behaviour and social factors are involved in one’s physical health and illness (psychologynoteshq.com). It emphasizes the role of mind on the health in context to cause and prevention of illness.

          It claims that illness can be caused by a combination of biological (e.g., a virus), psychological (e.g., behaviours, beliefs) and social (e.g. employment) factors. This approach reflects the bio-psycho-social model of health and illness, which was developed by Engel (1977, 1980).

Questions addressed by Health Psychology:     

          (i)       why illness occurs?

          (ii)      response to illness, How?

          (iii)     recovery from illness or adjustment to illness, How?

          (iv)     staying healthy, How?

Scope

          Health psychology covers following areas:

1.      Health – Maintenance, Prevention, Treatment, Follow-up and Promotion.

          (i)       Stress and Coping,

          (ii)      Identification of psychological variables responsible for illness.

          (iii)     Health and illness relationship.

          (iv)     Health related behaviour.

                    (a)      Health Promoting behaviour &

                    (b)      Health deteriorating behaviour.

          (v)      Patient-Physician Relationship.

          (vi)     Management of health and illness.

          (vii)    Relationship between mind and body in context of health.

          (viii)   Lifestyle choices.

          (ix)     Behavioural Intervention techniques.

          (x)      Research on origin and correlates of illness.

          (i)      Stress and Coping – The pattern of responses as an organism     makes to stimulus event that disturbs the equilibrium and exceeds a    person’s ability to cope. Stress refers to the physiological responses    that occur when an organism fails to respond appropriately to       emotional or physical threats. Various techniques such as           mindfulness, cognitive therapy, meditation, yoga, natural medicine,    deep breathing music, pets, nature helps in coping up with stress.

          (ii)     Identification of psychological variables responsible for illness          Such as stress, life style, health related beliefs etc.

         (iii)    Health and illness relationship - Health as ‘a state of complete     physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of   disease or infirmity’ (WHO 1946). Illness (or sickness) is related to     personal experience of a disease (AIHW 2010).

          (iv)    Health related behaviour.

                    (a)      Health Promoting behaviour – Health promotion is                               achieved through modification in human behaviour through                           adopting healthy   life     style such as physical activity,                           nutrition, interpersonal relations, commitment etc.

                    (b)      Health deteriorating behaviour – The behaviour that                               compromise the health such as sedentary life style, junk food,             poor sleep, psychological pollution etc.

         (v)     Patient-Physician Relationship – This relationship is based on     mutual trust, ethical practices and professional relation which are all         governed by psychological principles and theories.

(vi)    Management of health and illness – Managing health and illness is coordinated activity that involves patient, physician and care givers.

(vii)   Relationship between mind and body in context of health – The mind body relationship signifies effect of emotions, thoughts, beliefs, attitude on the physical health.

(viii) Lifestyle choices – Lifestyle is major contributor in health and illness. Health psychology helps in selecting lifestyle that promote total health (Psychological and physical).

(ix)    Behavioural Intervention      techniques – The behaviour intervention techniques are designed to reinforce positive behaviours through rewards and feedback which plays decisive role in health.

(x)     Research on origin and correlates of illness – Health psychologists explore the psychological correlates of illness in order to understand the underlying psychological causes. And their role in initiating illness.

References:

1.       https://www.mheducation.co.uk/openup/ chapters/0335214878.pdf.

2.       http://web.fu-berlin.de/age/2000/chap23.pdf.

3.       https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/fc2c053f-7707-437e-90b3-227818bba0a5/1_1-health-illness.pdf.aspx.

4.       Ogden, J. (2012). Health Psychology: A Textbook (5th ed.). Maidenhead, UK: Open University Press.

5.       Schwarzer R. & Guti´errez-Do ˜Na, B. Health Psychology, Chap 23.

                                                               
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