Applied Health Psychology

Biopsychosocial Model

Genetics, illness, hormones, immune systems, physical health

Psychological Model

Thoughts, emotions, stress, personality

Social Model

Family, friends, culture

Health Psychologists Study

1- when people engage in health and unhealthy behaviors

2- hoe stress affect their body

3- how people cope with illness

4- how to improve treatment adherance

5- how patients and providers communicate

6- how psychological interventions can improve health

Health

Overall physical, mental, and social wellbeing of a person

Illness

Experience or perception of being unwell

Disease

Identifiable biological and physical problems

Health Behaviors

Behaviors and actions that affect our health

Self Efficacy

Belief that you are capable of successfully completing a behavior

High Self Efficacy

More likely to attempt to maintain behavior

Low Self Efficacy

More likely to give up or avoid the behavior

Mindfulness Meditation

Intentionally paying attention to the present moment, a practice designed to increase awareness and attention

Mindfulness and Health

Helps with stress, anxiety, emotion regulation, attention, sleep, pain management

Nervous System

Controls communication throughout the body

Central nervous system

Brain and spinal coard

Peripheral nervous system

Nerves throughout the body

Sympathetic nervous system

Fight or flight, activates when you are stressed or threatened

Immune system

Protects your body against virus, bacteria, other threats

Cardiovascular System

Transport oxygen and nutrients throughout the body

Respriatory system

Brings oxygen into the body and removes carbon dioxide

Endocrine System

Uses hormones to communicate through the body

Coping

Strategies people use to handle stress

Problem solving coping

Trying to change or solve the problem

Emotion focused coping

Trying to manage your emotional response to the problem

Avoidant coping

Trying to avoid or ignore the stressor

Resilience

Ability to adapt, recover, or bounce back from difficult situations

Stress and Health

The psychical and psychological response to demands or change

Acute Stress

Short term stress, your body responds quickly then slowly responds to normal

Chronic stres

Long term or repeated stress, chronic stress can negatively imppact