Child Health Psychology

Catalog description

This course will familiarize students with health issues in the context of child development and family systems. PSYC 516 Child Health Psychology (3) PSYC 516Child Health Psychologyprovides an overview of the major threats to the health and well-being of children and youth, in the context of child development and family systems theories. Health psychology adheres to the biopsychosocial model, which means that the course will stress how biological, psychological, and social factors interact to maintain wellness or foster illness. The focus will be on primary prevention of illness and injury wherever possible, including accident prevention and fostering healthy lifestyle behaviors such as good nutrition and exercise.When illness or injuries occur, they will be discussed in the context of the child's development. Comprehension of the illness is influenced by the child's cognitive abilities, social development, prior experience with illness, and family response. Examination of how developmental processes impact on the illness and the illness impacts on the developmental processes will be a theme underlying all the health threats studied.This is a required course for students in the M.A. in Applied Clinical Psychology program who elect the Health Psychology concentration. The overall objectives are to provide a background for development of programs to maintain health and wellness in children and youth, to facilitate the understanding of the impact of illness and disability on children and their families, and to prepare students to work with children and families in a medical environment.Grades will be based upon two examinations, a prevention proposal, an analysis of the literature relevant to an illness or injury from both the biopsychosocial and developmental perspectives, and class participation.The class will be offered biennially, with an enrollment limit of 25 students. The frequency will be adjusted if enrollment trends suggest an adjustment is warranted.