James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2020

PY2104 - Connecting Social, Psychological and Physical Heal

Subject Description

This subject will introduce a number of issues in the field which has grown very rapidly in recent years under the rubric "health psychology". Health is analysed using the biopsychosocial model. The interaction between biological, psychological and social factors in the production of health and illness thus forms the main focus. The treatment of the subject will be to examine a number of topics and problems in depth, rather than give a more superficial treatment of a broad number of issues. Areas covered include psychosocial stress and its affect on health; stress management, health promotion and disease prevention, nutrition, AIDS research and psychoimmunology; dispositional factors in cardiovascular disease; influence of supportive networks on health, doctor-patient interactions and compliance with medical regimens.

Learning Outcomes

• to apply principles of health psychology in health care practice and public health
• to develop a critical appreciation of research into biopsychosocial interactions and health
• to integrate ideas from health psychology in the promotion of mental and physical health
• to integrate theory, research and methods in health psychology

Subject Assessment

• Invigilated > End of semester exam - (50%)
• Invigilated > Presentations - (20%)
• Literature Review - (30%)

Note that minor variations might occur due to the continuous subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.

Assumed Knowledge:  To undertake this subject, students must have successfully completed 12 credit points (four subjects) of level 1 study at tertiary level

Inadmissible Subject Combinations:  PY2084

Availabilities