Course Description
Why do some habits make us healthier while others put our health at risk? How does stress affect the body? Why do some people cope with illness more effectively than others? And how can psychology help us live healthier lives?
Health Psychology explores the powerful connection between the mind, body, behavior, and health. You’ll discover how biological systems work together, how everyday behaviors influence health, and how psychologists help people develop healthier habits and make meaningful changes.
You’ll explore the science of stress, coping, resilience, and social support, including the fascinating field of psychoneuroimmunology—the study of how psychological processes interact with the nervous and immune systems. You’ll also examine pain and discomfort, chronic illness, and major health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and Type 2 diabetes.
Beyond understanding illness, you’ll investigate what happens when people interact with the healthcare system—from patient-provider relationships and treatment decisions to navigating healthcare and advocating for your own health. The course also explores difficult but important topics such as terminal illness, death, and dying, before looking toward the future of health psychology and the ways psychology can contribute to healthier individuals and communities.
Ultimately, Health Psychology asks a powerful question: What can we do to improve health—not just by treating illness, but by understanding the people behind it?
Benefits of Taking the Course
- Build a foundation for health-related majors and careers.
- Prepare for advanced coursework in psychology, health sciences, public health, nursing, and related fields.
- Explore careers at the intersection of psychology and healthcare.
- Learn how psychological science can be applied to promote health and prevent illness.
- Develop practical strategies for managing stress, building resilience, and maintaining healthy behaviors.
- Gain insight into healthcare systems and patient-provider relationships.
Learning Objectives
- Develop an understanding and appreciation of the complex interplay between one’s physical well-being and a variety of biological, psychological, and social factors.
- Learn how psychological research methods, theories, and principles can be applied to enhance biomedical approaches for promoting health and treating illness.
- Learn the nature of the stress response and its impact in the etiology and course of many health problems.
- Discover how behavioral and cognitive methods can help individuals cope with stress.
- Develop skills for designing programs to improve one’s own and others’ personal health habits and lifestyles.
- Acquire an understanding of the difficulty patients experience in deciding whether or when to seek treatment for disturbing symptoms.
- Become aware of the experiences of patients in the hospital setting, factors that affect adherence to medical regimens, and sources of problems in patient/practitioner relationships.
- Determine how psychological and medical methods for relieving pain differ and are often combined to enhance treatment effectiveness.
- Become aware of the impact that disabling or life-threatening illnesses have on patients and their families.
- Discover how psychological methods and principles can be applied to help patients manage and cope with chronic illness.
Summary of Topics Covered
Introduction to health psychology, biological systems, health behaviors, health promoting behaviors, health compromising behaviors, stress, coping/resilience and social support, psychoneuroimmunology, using health systems, patient/provider and treatment, pain and discomfort, chronic health disorders, heart disease/stroke and type 2 diabetes.
