Health Psychology represents the educational, scientific and professional contributions of psychology to: 1) the promotion and maintenance of health; 2) the prevention and treatment of illness; 3) the aetiology of health and illness; 4) the healthcare system and health policy. In this module, you will be introduced to core theoretical perspectives and ‘best practice’ models for these four core areas. In particular, you will understand that health and illness are the result of complex interactions between psychological, social and biological influences. This module aims to provide you with an overview of Health Psychology theories and constructs, and to show how they are applied to explain and predict commonly studied health-related behaviours and health outcomes. Moreover, an aim is to encourage an understanding of the psychological, social and biological influences on health and healthcare delivery.

After taking this module, you will be able to


	Describe, critically evaluate and compare different models of health behaviour
	
	
	Show an appreciation of the effect of individual differences, biology, genetics, ethnicity, gender, culture and class on the psychology of health and healthcare
	
	
	Understand how Health Psychology has contributed to the prevention and management of common diseases, such as obesity and cardiovascular disease
	
This is an advanced module for Year 3 students on the BSc Population Health Sciences programme, running in Term 2. There is limited availability for UCL elective students from other departments. Places are allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis on Portico when the module selection opens. Spaces are limited.

The teaching for this module will include theoretical lectures, along with applications to understanding particular diseases (such as obesity and cardiovascular disease), healthcare delivery and well-being. There will also be interactive small group seminars, as well as independent research and reading.

Module leads: Dr Yasemin Hirst, and Dr Megan Armstrong

Selected Reading List


	Ayers S, Baum A, McManus C, Newman S, Wallston K, Weinman J & West R (2007). Cambridge Handbook of Psychology, Health and Medicine (2nd ed) Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
	
	
	Conner M & Norman P (2005). Predicting Health Behaviour, (2nd ed). Open University Press.
	
	
	Corcoran N. (2007). Communicating Health: Strategies for Health Promotion. London: Sage.
	
	
	De Ridder D & de Wit J (2006). Self-Regulation in Health Behaviour. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons.
	
	
	French D, Vedhara K, Kaptein AA & Weinman J (Eds., 2010). Health Psychology (2nd ed). Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 978-1405194600.
	
	
	Gurung RAR. (2010). Health Psychology. A Cultural Approach. CA: Cengage Learning.
	
	
	Helman CG. (2007). Culture, Health and Illness (5th ed). New York: OUP.
	
	
	Ogden J (2007). Health Psychology: A Textbook (4th ed). Buckingham: Open University Press.
	
	
	Petrie K & Weinman J (1997). Perceptions of Health and Illness: Current Research and Applications. Harwood Academic Publishers.
	
	
	Radley A. (1994). Making Sense of Illness. Buckingham: Open University Press.
	
	
	Sarafino EP (2008). Health Psychology: Biopsychosocial Interactions (5th ed). New York: John Wiley & Sons.
	
	
	Steptoe A. (2006). Depression and Physical Illness. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
	
	
	Steptoe A (Ed) (2010). Handbook of Behavioural Medicine. New York: Springer.
	
	
	Taylor S (2008). Health Psychology (7th ed). New York: McGraw-Hill.