DEREE COLLEGE SYLLABUS FOR: 3/0/ 3
PS 4 719 HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY LEVEL 6 (Previously PS 4219) UK CREDITS: 15 (Updated Spring 2019)
PREREQUISITES: PS 1000 Psychology as a Natural Science – Level 4 PS 1001 Psychology as a Social Science – Level 4 PS 2047 Analysis of Behavioral Data – Level 4 PS 2207 Developmental Psychology Preschool Years – Level 4 PS 2236 Human Learning & Memory – Level 4 BI 1000 Introduction to Biology I – Level 4 PS 3630 Biopsychology – Level 5
CATALOG This module offers a critical understanding of the role of behaviour DESCRIPTION: in health and illness utilizing both quantitative and qualitative research findings. Current issues in health promotion and illness prevention, with emphasis on an integrated holistic approach. Stress and physical illness, hospitalisation, doctor-patient relationship, biopsychosocial aspects of pain, chronic illness, death and dying.
RATIONALE: The discipline of health psychology has grown rapidly in recent years, allowing a resurgence of interest in developing approaches to the study of health and illness alternative to the traditional biomedical views. A module for senior psychology majors which utilizes the biopsychosocial model to describe how psychology and health are ultimately interconnected by presenting current research and controversies in the field, including the claims of contemporary qualitative research.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: As a result of taking this course, the student should be able to: 1. Critically evaluate the application of the field based on systematic knowledge of the body's physical systems and the psychological factors influencing their function. 2. Demonstrate an understanding of effect of stress on various organic illnesses 3. Critically evaluate health-related behaviours: how they develop, and how they are maintained. 4. Discuss and evaluate the doctor-patient relationship and the reactions to hospitalisation, the impact of chronic disease on patients as well as the methods of coping with pain and stressful medical procedures. 5. Apply the principles of the biopsychosocial model in the aetiology and treatment of major illnesses such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and AIDS, synthesizing evidence from current research. 6. Synthesize and summarize evidence from current quantitative as well as qualitative research in the field of health psychology
METHOD OF TEACHING AND In congruence with the teaching and learning strategy of the LEARNING: college, the following tools are used: Class lectures and discussions In-class experiential exercises Office hours Use of Blackboard Site
ASSESSMENT: Summative: Portfolio: 60% 1. Self-reflective health status diary 2. Qualitative research position paper In -class final examination (2 hours): 40% Essay questions (choice 3 out of 5).
Formative: Class participation in weekly in-class 0% exercises
The formative test aims to prepare students for the final examination. The portfolio assesses Learning outcome 1, 2, 3, 5 & 6. The final examination tests Learning Outcomes 1, 4, and 5 with an emphasis on 4.
INDICATIVE READING: REQUIRED READING: Dimatteo, M.R, & Martin, L.R. (2001) Health Psychology . Allyn and Bacon (Pearson Education Company)
RECOMMENDED READING: Highly Recommended: Lyons, A. C. and Chamberlain K. (2011). Health psychology: a critical introduction. Cambridge University Press ISBN-13: 9780521005265.
Marks, D. F. and L. Yardley (Eds) (2004). Research Methods for Clinical and Health Psychology . Sage ISBN: 0 7619 7191 2
Murray, M. and Chamberlain K. (Eds.) (2010). Qualitative Health Psychology: Theories and Methods . Sage ISBN: 0 7619 5661 1.
Rohleder, P. and Lyons, A. (2014). Qualitative Research in Clinical and Health Psychology . Palgrave Macmillan ISBN: 9781137291042
Further Reading: Readings to supplement the basic material covered in the textbook. Baum A., Revensen, T. A. and Singer, J. (Eds) (2011). Handbook of health psychology 2/e, 2nd Ed. Psychology Press.
Chamberlain, K. Murray M. (1999). Qualitative health psychology: theories and methods . Sage Publications Ltd.
Christensen, A.I., Martin, R., Smyht, I.N. (Eds )(2004). Encyclopedia of Health Psychology . New York: Kluwer.
Freidson, E. (1961). Patients’ views of medical practice . New York: Wiley.
Johnson, J. E. (1986). Life events as stressors in childhood and adolescence . Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Kubler-Ross. E. (1969). On death and dying . New York: McMillan.
La Place, J. (1984). Health . 4th ed. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Robinson, O. C., Smith J. A. (2010). Investigating the form and dynamics of crisis episodes in early adulthood: the application of a composite qualitative method. Qualitative Research in Psychology , 7, 170-191.
Senior, V., Smith, J. A., Michie, S., Marteau, T. (2002). Making sense of risk: an interpretive phenomenological analysis of vulnerability to heart disease. Journal of Health Psychology , 7, 125-130.
Smith J. A., Flowers P. Larkin, M. (2009). Interpretive phenomenological analysis: theory, method, research. London, Sage Publications.
Smith, T.W., Orleans, C.T., Jenkins, C.D. (2004). Prevention and Health Promotion: decades of progress, new challenges and an emerging agenda. Health Psychology , 23, 126-131.
Williams, A.C.C., Eccleston , C., Morley, S., Palermo, T., Lweandowski, A. (2009). Systematic review and meta-analysis of psychological treatments for persistent or recurrent pain in children and adolescents. European Journal of Pain , 13(1), 248S.
INDICATIVE MATERIAL: REQUIRED MATERIAL: N/A (e.g. audiovisual, digital material, etc.)
RECOMMENDED MATERIAL: British Journal of Health Psychology Health Psychology Journal of Health Psychology International Journal of Qualitative Methods Qualitative Health Research Qualitative Research in Psychology Social Science and Medicine Qualitative Inquiry The Qualitative Report Education for Health Health Psychology Update
COMMUNICATION Individual project submitted in Word REQUIREMENTS: Academic use of English, both oral and written. SOFTWARE Blackboard, MS Office, search engines REQUIREMENTS:
WWW RESOURCES: American Psychological Association (APA) www.apa.org
The British Psychological Society (BPS) www.bps.org.ac.uk
Internet Mental Health www.mentalhealth.com
SAGE www.sagepub.com/journals
American Psychological Association Division 38: Health Psychology www.health-psych.org
American Psychological Association: Health Psychology www.apa.org/pubs/journals/hea/
INDICATIVE CONTENT: 1. Introducing Health Psychology: the field, the methods, the perspectives, mind and body connections
2. Controlling the body, perceiving and comprehending bodily experience, the role of stress and lifestyles. Behaviour change
3. Being ill: The health care system, interacting with health professionals and managing symptoms and medical procedures. The patient’s perspective and the role of qualitative research data
4. Being ill: Chronic and life-threatening conditions, death and dying, the hospice
5. Relocating the field: criticism and future directions. Socio-medical ethics.