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PS20152: Health psychology

[Page last updated: 02 August 2022]

Academic Year: 2022/23
Owning Department/School: Department of Psychology
Credits: 6 [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 120
Level: Intermediate (FHEQ level 5)
Period:
Semester 1
Assessment Summary: ES 33%, EX 67%
Assessment Detail:
  • Coursework (ES 33%)
  • Examination (EX 67%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites: Before taking this module you are advised to take PS10086 AND take PS10087
Learning Outcomes:
* Understand how concepts in health can be assessed.
* Understand the concepts around what it means to be healthy, well and have good quality of life.
* Know about the range of methods appropriate to measuring and evaluating outcomes in health psychology.
* Appreciate some of the key interventions designed by health psychologists for use in clinical and non-clinical settings, in chronic disease.
* Be able to set the psychology of health within a broad multidisciplinary context in the health and social sciences.
* Be able to appraise the dynamics of organising psychological care within the health care system.

Aims: To introduce students to concepts, theory, methods and applications of health psychology, using the concepts of social psychology and psychobiology.

Skills:
* Recognises the inherent variability and diversity of psychological functioning and its significance. (T/F A)
* Can demonstrate systematic knowledge and critical understanding of a range of influences on psychological functioning and how they interrelate. In addition it is expected that students will gain knowledge of conceptual and historical perspectives in psychology. (T/F A)
* Can reason scientifically, understand the role of evidence and make critical judgements about arguments in psychology. (T/F A)
* Can adopt multiple perspectives and systematically analyse the relationships between them. (T/F A)
* To effectively and efficiently apply principles of psychological analysis within a variety of environments. (T/F A)
* Can communicate ideas and research findings both effectively and fluently by written, oral and visual means. (T/F A)
* Can undertake self-directed study and project management in order to meet desired objectives. (T/F)
* Is able to take charge of their own learning, and can reflect and evaluate personal strengths and weaknesses for the purposes of future learning. (T/F)

Content: Health psychology interventions for major chronic diseases e.g. cardiovascular, pain. An appraisal of the process of health reporting and health care from the detection of symptoms, decision to consult, through the consultation to adherence to treatment. An appreciation of key concepts; stress, uncertainty, social support. The impact of care. Health promotion and education practices covering smoking, sex, disability, exercise, diet, etc.

Programme availability:

PS20152 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Psychology

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2022/23 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2023/24 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2022/23.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.