University College Roosevelt Academy Middelburg - Social Science

SSC 226 Medical and Health Psychology

Content

The main goal of this course is to introduce the student to the basic concepts, issues and methods in the field of Medical and Health Psychology, which is concerned with the role of psychological and social factors and treatment methods in health and illness and the place of psychological experts and expertise in medical settings. This course will address six subject areas:

1) Attitudes, behavior and lifestyle factors affecting health and disease;

2) Stress and the related personality factors and social processes associated with disease development and progression;

3) Social and psychological factors involved in the illness experience;

4) Long-term social and psychological implications of chronic illness (e.g., heart disease, cancer);

5) Relevance of psychological interventions in medical settings;

6) Psychological methods and programs for the prevention of diseases and the protection of health.

The students should also come away from this course with a better appreciation of his/her own health as well as the health of others, and of the understanding of the importance of examining issues related to health and disease from a bio-psycho-social perspective.