W1: What Is Health Psychology? Flashcards
Introductory
Definition of Health
State of well-being with a satisfaction of physical, cultural, psychosocial, economic and spiritual needs.
Why is this definition of health emphasise satisfaction? (2)
Focus on satisfaction in the definition because that is subjective -
if we are eating well and support network, people may still feel low - psychological component (mind has to acknowledge it)
QoL is defined as a
a person of society’s well-being being defined in regards to happiness and health, instead of wealth.
Quality of life - what is it focused on? (2)
- It is someone’s subjective well-being - can be assessed outside of health
- An individual’s own perception of health and life - moving away from healthy or not healthy.
Greater quality of life..
Better predictor of improved health and longevity
What is health psychology?
Interdisciplinary field concerned with the application of psychological knowledge and techniques to understand factors which contribute to health, illness, and health care.
Definitions of stress
More neutral definitions of stress (3)
Body’s reaction (psychological or biological) to the demands of an environment or a task (i.e., stressor)
Can be positive or negative, depending on the ability, to overcome demands.
- Like going out on a pub night you enjoy but get tired when you come home - positive stress.
What is positive stress called?
Eustress (positive)
What is negative stress called?
Distress (negative)
Frameworks
Health psychologists attempt to develop frameworks which organize information from the field and how they may influence health
e.g. health onion
For the most, health psychology is formulated with an
individualistic ideology
Diagram of Health Onion
Biopsychosocial model (4)
- Biology
- Environment
- Psychology
- All influence health and not just biology (medical model)
