BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY (B.S.)
Course Information
Bachelor of Science in Health Psychology (B.S.)
Health psychology is a specialty area that focuses on how biology, psychology, behavior, and social factors influence health and illness. Other terms, including medical psychology and behavioral medicine, are sometimes used interchangeably with health psychology.
A wide variety of factors influence health and illness. While contagious and hereditary diseases are common, many behavioral and psychological factors can impact overall physical well-being and various medical conditions.
Division 38 of the American Psychological Association is devoted to health psychology. According to the division, their focus is on a better understanding of health and illness, studying the psychological factors that impact health, and contributing to the health care system and health policy.
The field of health psychology emerged in the 1970s to address the rapidly changing field of healthcare. Today, life expectancy in the U.S. is around 80 years, and the leading causes of mortality are chronic diseases often linked to lifestyle. Health psychology helps address these changes in health.
By looking at the patterns of behavior that underlie disease and death, health psychologists hope to help people live better and healthier lives.
How Is Health Psychology Unique?
Because health psychology emphasizes how behavior influences health, it is well-positioned to help people change the behaviors that contribute to health and well-being. For example, psychologists in this field might conduct applied research on preventing unhealthy behaviors such as smoking and look for new ways to encourage healthy actions such as exercising.
For example, while most people realize that eating a diet high in sugar is not suitable for their health, many continue to engage in such behaviors regardless of the possible short-term and long-term consequences. Health psychologists look at the psychological factors that influence these health choices and explore ways to motivate people to make better health choices.
The World Health Organization statistics show that 70% of deaths globally occur due to chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer. Seventy-five percent of these deaths are preventable by living a healthier lifestyle. Moreover, it has recently been estimated that one in five early deaths worldwide is associated with poor dietary habits. Proper nutrition, exercising, and avoiding smoking and drinking alcohol can prevent these deaths.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death; cancer remains second; chronic lower respiratory diseases, primarily chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis; drug poisonings including overdoses and then fatal falls among an increasingly elderly population.
Current Issues in Health Psychology
Health psychologists work with individuals, groups, and communities to decrease risk factors, improve overall health, and reduce illness. They conduct research and provide services in areas including:
Stress reduction
Weight management
Smoking cessation
Improving daily nutrition
Reducing risky sexual behaviors
Hospice care and grief counseling
Preventing illness
Understanding the effects of illness
Improving recovery
Teaching coping skills
The Biosocial Model in Health Psychology
Today, the primary approach used in health psychology is known as the biosocial model. According to this view, illness and health result from a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors.
Biological factors include inherited personality traits and genetic conditions.
Psychological factors involve lifestyle, personality characteristics, and stress levels. Social factors include social support systems, family relationships, and cultural beliefs.
Health Psychology in Practice
Health psychology is a rapidly growing field. As increasing numbers of people seek to take control of their health, more and more people are seeking health-related information and resources. Health psychologists are focused on educating people about their health and well-being, so they are ideally suited to fill this rising demand.
Many health psychologists work specifically in prevention, focusing on helping people stop health problems before they start.
This may include helping people maintain a healthy weight, avoid risky or unhealthy behaviors, and maintain a positive outlook that can combat stress, depression, and anxiety.
Another way that health psychologists can help is by educating and training other health professionals. By incorporating knowledge from health psychology, physicians, nurses, nutritionists, and other health practitioners can better incorporate psychological approaches into how they treat patients.
Upon completing this course, and your payment plan has been completed, you will be conferred a Bachelor of Science in Health Psychology (B.S.), and you will be professionally recognized as a Certified Health Psychologist (CHP), and a Certified Behavioral Medicine Psychologist (CBMP). You will be Board Certified by the American University of Holistic Sciences' Holistic Health and Wellness Certification and Accreditation Board . Details will be included with your course materials.
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Textbooks and Course Materials are included with this purchase.