Health Psychology

Catalog description

You will explore various models and theories of health psychology, examine current research, understand the psychosocial factors involved in the onset and treatment of physical disease and illness, and study the impact of stress on mental and physical health. The interaction of mental health and physiology will be highlighted through the study of chronic problems such as heart disease, cancer, and eating disorders. You will examine the relationship between health psychology and the study of substance use disorders, including the impact of substance use on physical and psychological well-being. Special concerns of substance users will be addressed through examination of diverse topics such as tobacco use and HIV and hepatitis risk factors and treatment. You also will learn to develop and implement educational health psychology programming and to explain how health psychology principles will apply in therapy.