PSYC 2700 - Psychology of Health: Mind & Body Interaction

Credit Hours: 3.00

Objectives:

1. Describe the biopsychosocial model of health.
2. List at least three situations in which a health psychologist would be consulted.
3. Describe the research methodologies used in health psychology.

Outcome 2: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to explain the interplay between one’s physical well-being and biological, psychological, and social factors.

Objectives:

1. Describe the impact of health disparities on the prevalence of disease in our society.
2. Identify the factors that promote and create barriers to good health behaviors.
3. Describe the basic guidelines for a healthy diet and exercise plan.
4. Describe health-compromising behaviors and why people engage in them.

Outcome 3: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to explain how cognitive and socioemotional factors affect health.

Objectives:

1. Identify at least three ways in which stress affects health and disease.
2. Describe the recommended strategies for coping with stress.
3. Outline the sociocultural influences on well-being and resilience.
4. Identify the ways by which behavioral and cognitive-behavioral interventions may promote changes in health behaviors.

Outcome 4: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to distinguish between allopathy with complementary and alternative medicine.

Objectives:

1. Describe trends in the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine in the United States.
2. Identify the basic principles of naturopathy and discuss the pros and cons of herbal medicine.
3. Describe at least three different forms of complementary and alternative medicine and their effects on health.
4. Discuss the effectiveness of food supplement therapy and dietary medicine in treating disease and in promoting health.

• Communication: The graduate can communicate effectively for the intended purpose and audience.
• Critical Thinking: The graduate can make informed decisions after analyzing information or evidence related to the issue.
• Global Literacy: The graduate can analyze human behavior or experiences through cultural, social, political, or economic perspectives.
• Information Literacy: The graduate can responsibly use information gathered from a variety of formats in order to complete a task.
• Quantitative Reasoning: The graduate can apply quantitative methods or evidence to solve problems or make judgments.
• Scientific Literacy: The graduate can produce or interpret scientific information presented in a variety of formats.

1. An Introduction to Health Psychology
   1. Defining Health Psychology
   2. Role of the Health Psychologist
   3. The Biopsychosocial Model
   4. Health Care in the United States
   5. Historical Views of Health
   6. Lifespan Development Perspective
   7. Research Methods in Health Psychology
   8. Ethics in Research
2. Health Beliefs and Behaviors
   1. Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
   2. Practicing Healthful Behaviors
   3. Helping with Behavioral Change
3. Health-Enhancing Behaviors
   1. Healthy Diet and Weight
   2. Physical Fitness and Exercise
   3. The Importance of Sleep
   4. Injury Prevention
4. Health-Compromising Behaviors
   1. Understanding Health-Compromising Behavior
   2. Diet and Obesity
   3. Eating Disorders
   4. Substance Use
   5. Smoking and Nicotine
   6. Drinking and Alcohol
   7. Risky Sexual Behavior
5. Understanding Stress
   1. Understanding Stress
   2. The Physiology of Stress
   3. The Psychosocial Aspects of Stress
   4. Measuring Stress
   5. Stress Effects on the Brain and Body
   6. Responses to Stress
   7. Coping with Stress
6. Illness, Pain and Disease
   1. Psychoneuroimmunology
   2. The Immune System
   3. Recognizing Pain
   4. Physiology of Pain
   5. Treating Pain
   6. Chronic Illness
   7. Autoimmune Diseases
   8. Risk Factors for Illness and Disease
   9. Preventing and Treating Illness and Disease
   10. The Mind-Body Connection
   11. Emotional Responses to Chronic Illness
   12. Coping with Chronic Illness
   13. Terminal Illness
7. Health Services and Providers
   1. Types of Health Care Services
   2. Health Insurance and Access to Care
   3. Seeking Treatment
   4. Compliance
   5. The Patient-Practitioner Relationship
8. Complementary and Alternative Medicine
   1. Understanding Complementary and Alternative Medicine
   2. Effectiveness of Complementary and Alternative Medicine
   3. Acupuncture
   4. Biofeedback
   5. Chiropractic
   6. Nutrition
   7. Naturopathic Medicine