what is health psychology
branch of psychology that concerns individual behaviors and lifestyles affecting a persons physical health (formal definition)
what do health psychologists do
engage in academic research, professional practice and education and training across an array of health care settings
-health promotion, disease prevention, research in etiology and consequences, healthcare policy and suggestions
what are the factors that influence health
biological, psychological, behaviors, family, culture, environment, spirituality, and health system and policies
what is health
WHO: the state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease
definition has changed overtime: went from gods and spirits to absence of disease
what does the definition of health imply
that a person with a chronic illness could be healthier than a person without one
what are the main models of health
biopsychosocial, wellness model, and social ecological model
what is the biopsychosocial model
recognizes illness is a result of microorganisms (bacteria-> disease) and the influence of other health detriments
what are the criticisms of the biopsychosocial model
explain the wellness model
-includes spirituality: not necessarily referring to any type of god or religion, but spirituality in this sense takes a broader meaning (life has a broader purpose)
explain the social ecological model
considers environment and health system and policy
what is the interdisciplinary view of health
parts of holistic health pie -> biological, psychological, sociological, environmental and health system/policy
what is important for health psychology from biological demographics? (factors that influence health and well being)
what is multifactorial inheritance
caused by a combination of environmental factors and mutations in multiple genes
what are family behaviors that influence health
-things you learn from your family (ex. mimicking your family’s drinking or smoking behaviors)
what are environmental factors that influence health
ex. Flint water crisis
what are sociological class factors that influence health
what are sociological beliefs that can influence health
-what is important for maintaining good health?
washing hands, vitamins, eat veggies, going to dentist (not everyone has that luxury)
what are sociological supports that can influence health
what are psychological things that can influence health
what are health systems and how can they influence health
ex. Affordable Care Act- directly affects one’s care and well being
- ability to get ambulance
- short and long term care
what is health policy and how can it influence health
- wash hands at restaurants
what things that influence health are nature related and which things are nurture
nature: biological
nurture: sociological, environmental, health systems and policy
psychology is both
how has the leading cause of death changed
went from infectious disease to chronic disease from 1990-2000
how has life expectancy changed
-went from 47-74 from 1900-2000
-increased because of:
the decrease in infant mortality as an indirect result of several other factors (vaccinations, access to early care, what mothers should eat and do when expecting, and knowledge)