5 credits
Health psychologists work toward positive physical, psychosocial, and behavioral outcomes for individuals, groups, and organizations. Health psychologists study health behavior in individuals and groups, relationships between patients and providers, how individuals and groups adapt to illness, damaging health behaviors, health cognitions, and many other related issues. In this course, students explore the biopsychosocial and social ecological models of health psychology, among others, as well as behavioral and biomedical theories, using them to study health in individuals and groups. Students examine the effects of psychological, behavioral, and social factors on physical health and wellness. Students also explore key health enhancing and compromising behaviors and how they are connected to chronic health conditions. Through the examination of seminal publications and current literature, students synthesize research on these issues in relation to various chronic health conditions.