health psychology

How would you describe your general overall health?

I am in excellent health

I am in good health

I am in average health

I am in poor health

“You, the individual, can do more for

your own health and well-being than

any doctor, any hospital, and drug,

any exotic medical service”

US Department of Health, Education, and Welfare

Disease v. Illness

• Disease is a diagnosable biological dysfunction or infection.

• Illness is an individual’s unique experience of pain and suffering.

What is Health?

Health is popularly defined in terms of absence of disease, but may be viewed as an illness/wellness continuum

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “a complete state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”.

Illness/Wellness Continuum

Health Psychology

• Study of social, behavioural, cognitive, and emotional factors that influence the:– Maintenance of health– Development of illness and disease– Course of illness or disease– Patient’s and family’s response to illness and

disease

Health Psychology

• What is health psychology?

“the aggregate of the specific educational, scientific, and professional contributions of the discipline of psychology to …– Promotion and maintenance of health (health habits)– Prevention and treatment of illness (clinical)– Identification of etiological and diagnostic correlates of

health and illness (research)– Analysis of the health care system and health policy

formation (political)

(Matazarro, 1982)

History

1900 1990

Changing patterns of illness

Summary

• 1900s - infectious diseases main cause of death (acute conditions)

• 1960s - degenerative diseases main cause of death (chronic conditions)

• 1990s - new infectious disease main cause of premature death (chronic condition)

Death rates from infectious and parasitic disease, 1907 to 1998

Acute vs. Chronic Disorders

Summary

• acute conditions = short-lived, curable – Etiology - Beyond individual control

• chronic conditions = long-lasting, no cure– Etiology - Partly influenced by behavior

Reasons for changed causes of death

• Improved hygiene (water supply, etc)

• Penicillin (antibiotics)

• Aging population (risk factor for degenerative disease)

• Health Behaviors– Activities to prevent or detect disease

Estimated contributions of behavior, medical care, genetics, and other factors to health status.

Behavior 40%

Models of Health

• Biomedical Model– Historically, dominant paradigm

– Suggests illness is a function of aberrant somatic processes

– Main Focus = cure (biology and medicine)

Models of Health

• Biopsychosocial Model– Current dominant paradigm

– All conditions of health and disease have mental and social components

– Main focus = health (prevention not cure)

Models of Health

• Biopsychosocial Model

“health (wellness and illness) is a function of biological, psychological, and social factors in continual interaction”

A “factors” approach

A “systems” approach

The Biopsychosocial Model from Factors and Systems Perspectives

Health Psychology

… vs. other health-related disciplines

• Psychosomatic medicine

• Behavioral medicine

Research Methods

• Experimental• Correlational• Quasi-experimental• Genetics Research