Health Psychology

health psychology

The scientific study of psychological, social, and behavioral aspects of health and illness 

biopsychosocial model

• Assumes that health and illness result from the interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors 

• Assumes that health and illness cause biological, psychological, and social factors 

• Assumes that these biological, psychological, and social impacts can also influence the course or outcomes of illness, as well as other parts of a person's health 

acute stress

normal during times of emeregency

chronic stress

harmful effects on the body and brain

biological effects of chronic stress

• Harmful effects of chronic stress are linked to chronic release of cortisol: 

• Long-term high blood pressure 

• Stomach ulcers 

• Inhibition of the immune system 

• Accelerated aging 

coping

Thoughts and behaviors used to manage the internal and external demands of stressful situations 

What are the characteristics of coping?

• Not a one-time activity 

• Encompasses a broad range of activities, behaviors, and thinking strategies 

• Some coping strategies are more effective than others 

• Coping is impacted by both the person and their situation 

problem-focused coping

• involves reducing the stressors 

• Risk: Often can magnify emotional distress 

emotion-focused coping

• involves reducing the emotional impact of stress 

• Risk: Could be ignoring the problem 

problem-focused example

working out a conflict or tackling a difficult project head on 

emotion-focused example

getting support, comfort, and perspective from others 

problem-focused most effective when:

trying to change something that’s difficult or impossible to change like another person’s traits 

emotion-focused most effective when:

we perceive the stressor as something we cannot change 

resilience

• The process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, or stress 

• Resilience is not a trait, but a series of thoughts and behaviors that can be learned and adopted 

optimism

• Tendency towards a positive outlook and positive expectations 

• A significant predictor of physical health 

• Associated with subjective symptom and health scores 

• Optimists are more likely to seek out social support 

control

Beliefs about the capacity to influence and shape outcomes in our lives 

self-efficacy

Belief in our ability to determine our own behavior and control our own environment 

role of choice

Our actual ability to determine our own behavior and control our own environment 

learned helplessness

Belief that one is powerless to change a negative situation, even if it is controllable 

Be able to explain the method of the study (learned helplessness) and what they found 

• Dogs with no escape from the shock box was less likely to try to escape when they were placed in a box with a way to get out 

• People that are used to a negative situation are less likely to try to get out or see a way out when there is an opportunity for better 

emotion regulation

the processes by which individuals influence which emotions they experience, when they experience them, and how they experience and express them, ultimately aiming to manage and modulate emotional experiences 

mindfulness and health

paying attention to the present moment without judgment, focusing on thoughts, feelings, and sensations as they arise

cognitive reframing

Changing your thoughts about a situation to minimize loss 

social support

information from others that one is loved and cared for, esteemed and valued, and part of a network of communication and mutual obligation 

How social support is related to health

• having close relations (even a few) is associated with improved health, immune functioning, and longevity 

• Social support, including from pets as well as laughing 

How is exercise related to positive mental health? 

• Aerobic exercises refer to sustained activity that raises heart rate and oxygen consumption 

• Aerobic exercise the expression of genes which guard against more than 20 chronic disease and conditions 

• Aerobic exercise reduces the risk of heart disease, cognitive decline and dementia, and early death