Introduction to Health Psychology PDF

INTRODUCTION TO HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad-0598999371 1 DEFINITION OF HEALTH Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. World Health Organization....

INTRODUCTION TO HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad-0598999371 1 DEFINITION OF HEALTH Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. World Health Organization. 2 THE STUDY OF HUMAN HEALTH Find yourself on the continuum with regard to your health at this moment. 3 THE STUDY OF HUMAN HEALTH (CONTINUED) Think about it!  Would you say you are healthy today?  How do you know if you are healthy or not?  What do you think is meant by the concept health? 4 THE STUDY OF HUMAN HEALTH (CONTINUED) What factors affect your health?  Biological or physiological factors?  Emotions or your affective state?  Your relationships with family, friends, fellow students, and coworkers?  Your current living conditions? Do all of these factors influence your health? 5 THE STUDY OF HUMAN HEALTH (CONTINUED) Health depends on several factors. 6 THE STUDY OF HUMAN HEALTH (CONTINUED) Health Psychology Definition: The study of how biological, psychological, and social factors interact and influence people’s biological, psychological, and socio-cultural health. 7 THE STUDY OF HUMAN HEALTH (CONTINUED) Health psychology includes the scientific study of:  Lifestyles or what people do and how they act that prevents or causes an illness and injury  How people manage or cope with illness, injury, and pain when it does occur  How people react to and manage stress in their lives 8 THE STUDY OF HUMAN HEALTH (CONTINUED) Two ways to approach human health: 1.A biomedical viewpoint— illness and injury are biological problems that are solved through biomedical processes. People who hold this view assume that when someone is ill or injured only the physical self is affected and must be treated. 9 THE STUDY OF HUMAN HEALTH (CONTINUED) Two ways to approach human health: 2. A health psychology viewpoint—illness and injury result from a combination of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors. These issues are best solved by addressing all elements or taking a biopsychosocial approach.  Emphasises on broader understanding of health, illness, injury, recovery by taking into account all three perspectives biological, psychological, and socio-cultural factors. 10 HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY- BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL APPROACH TO HEALTH  Health reflects and generates biological, psychological, and sociocultural issues for each person.  It searches for multiple causes and multiple solutions to health problems and understands the complexity of health, disease, injury and healing. 11 BIO-PSYCHOSOCIAL APPROACH - SYSTEMS THEORY Bio-Psychosocial Approach is a Systems Theory approach. Human events, such as illness and injury, exist within several interconnected systems which influence each other. eg: Network of relationships of parents, care takers, neighbourhood, peer groups, media, education institutes etc can influence individuals health and development. 12 AN INNOVATIVE MEDICAL MODEL As early as 1977, George Engel suggested that patients should be viewed within their social contexts and that physicians should use patients’ social support systems to aid in their treatment and recovery. 13 HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY’S BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL APPROACH  Focal points for health psychology are the broad range of determinants of health including:  Biology or the physiology underlying health  Psychology or the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors underlying health  Society or the influence of culture on health BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL MODEL OF DISEASE Biology Pathogens Genetic Germs variability Toxins Anatomy Physiology Social Family Society Behavioral risk Friends, etc. factors Diet Exercise Smoking Safe sex Wearing seat belts in the car, etc. THE RELATIONSHIP OF BIOLOGICAL ISSUES AND PHYSICAL HEALTH  Genetic Background can influence health.  eg: A person with genetically strong immunity has less risk of infections.  eg: A person with genetic risk for cardiovascular diseases, obesity, cancers etc. Physical Changes will effect health.  eg: Aging influence on health  eg: Sickness influence on health etc. 16 THE RELATIONSHIP OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES AND PHYSICAL HEALTH  Emotions (what people feel), Cognitions (How people think) Perceptions (what people believe), Behaviours etc which are all basically psychological, can affect the brain, nervous system, endocrine and immune systems.  eg: Impact of fear, anger and stress on BP  eg: Beliefs about health foods can influence the dietary patterns.  eg: eating behaviours, physical activity behaviours etc. 17 THE RELATIONSHIP OF SOCIO- CULTURAL ISSUES AND PHYSICAL HEALTH  Social and Cultural issues will effect health.  eg: Poverty, Environment, Cultural Perspectives of Weight, Health etc. 18 SOME TERMS IN HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY Behavioral health is a subfield within the field of behavioral medicine; it emphasizes the maintenance of health, including prevention of both physical and emotional illness. 19 SOME TERMS IN HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY Cognition (What People Thinks)  The act or process of knowing, and products of the process such as problem solving.  In health psychology, cognitions affect perception of stressors. Changing a person’s thinking about stressors can positively benefit his or her health. 20 SOME TERMS IN HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY Emotion  Affective consciousness including feelings such as joy, sadness, fear, and hate.  In health psychology, emotional support from others is helpful in recovery illness and injury.  Coping from stress may require emotion management. 21 SOME TERMS IN HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY Culture Shock  Emotional upset and even illness due to significant changes in living conditions.  It particularly occurs when people experience a drastic change in their surroundings. eg: Immigration to new geographical areas. eg: Moving from rural to urban area. 22 THREE MAIN AREAS IN HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY  Stress and coping: The examination of the biopsychosocial determinants of stress and how we cope  Health behaviors: The examination of exercise, smoking, and diet  Issues in health care: The examination of chronic and terminal illness and doctor- patient interactions BENEFITS OF USING BIO- PSYCHOSOCIAL MODEL OF HEALTH  Chronic diseases are the major cause of death today in the world which are related to lifestyle choices or human behaviours.  Health Psychology emphasizes the beneficial role played by healthy lifestyles and positive mental attitudes in the prevention and treatment of illness and injury. 24 BENEFITS OF USING BIO- PSYCHOSOCIAL MODEL OF HEALTH Useful in studying and changing behaviours that affect health and illness. Keep people healthy rather than waiting to only treat them when they become ill. Helps people in shifting to healthier choices by addressing the psychological and socio-cultural issues. SUMMARY What you could learn from this course:  Lifestyle choices are the major cause of illness, injury, and premature death.  Health care is very costly and some costs may be avoided by choosing healthier lifestyles.  Healthier choices include exercise, eating, and stress management behaviors. 26 SUMMARY (CONTINUED)  How to use a continuum to discuss various aspects of health 0% ______________________________100% 27 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS  Think back to your most recent injury or illness.  List the cause or causes of the illness or injury.  Did stress cause or influence the event? Did stress influence your recovery?  Did any other people contribute to your illness or injury and to your recovery? 28