KINS 396 Outline

THE KING'S UNIVERSITY

COURSE NUMBER:

KINS 396

COURSE TITLE:

Health Psychology

NAME OF INSTRUCTOR:

Danielle Brosseau

CREDIT WEIGHT AND WEEKLY TIME DISTRIBUTION:

credits 3 (hrs lect 3 - hrs sem 0 - hrs lab 0)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

In this course students will examine theoretical explanations and empirical evidence concerning the influence of psychological factors on health and illness. Students will learn about clinical practice in the field of health psychology and learn how to approach assessment and intervention with knowledge of the biological,psychological, social, and spiritual factors that interact to influence health and illness. Topics of study will include an introduction and brief history of health psychology and three primary modules: stress, illness and coping, health behavior change and health promotion and the management of chronic and life-threatening illness.

Same as PSYC 396.

Prerequisites: PSYC 250 or 251

REQUIRED TEXTS:

Sarafina, E. P., Smith, T. W., King, D. B., & DeLongis, A. (2015). Health psychology: Biopsychosocial interactions (CDN Ed.). Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Wiley.
Selected chapters/articles will be posted to Moodle and specified in your course outline.

Recommended:

Devenish, S., Dowson, M., & Miner, M. (2012). Beyond well-being: Spirituality and human flourishing. Charlotte, NC, USA: Information Age Publishing.
Seligman, M. E. P. (2011). Flourish: A visionary new understanding of happiness and well-being. New York, NY: Free Press.

MARK DISTRIBUTION IN PERCENT:


Weekly quizzes	15%
Engagement questions and discussions (4)	25%
Proposal for campus health promotion project	5%
Health behaviour change report	20%
Campus health promotion project	35%

	100%

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

This course will provide you with an introduction to the field of health psychology. You will learn about the fascinating ways in which biological, psychological, social and spiritual factors interact together to influence health. You can expect to develop an appreciation for the diversity within this psychological specialty as we review and critique what psychological scholarship suggests about how to promote and maintain health, prevent and treat illness, and adapt when faced with a chronic illness. You will also begin to apply psychological principles to further
health promotion and maintenance at individual and community levels.

By the end of the course you will be able to:

Describe how biological, psychological, social and spiritual factors (the biopsychosocial-spiritual model) interact to influence health
Use the biopsychosocial-spiritual model to explain health-related behaviours
Explain the relationship between stress and health using psychological research and theory
Describe the reciprocal relationship that exists between psychosocial factors and adaptations to chronic and life-threatening illnesses
Discuss empirically-based theories that explain health behaviours
Identify relevant theory-based interventions for health promotion at the individual and the community level
Apply psychological principles to promote health behaviour change at the individual and the community level

COURSE OUTLINE:

Welcome and introduction to health psychology
Body systems
Psychological determinants of health
Health beliefs
Health behaviours
Health promotion
Stress
Coping with and reducing stress
Being ill & the healthcare system
Pain
Coping with illness
Heart disease
HIV & Cancer
Illness and the family
Campus Health Promotion Presentations

Required texts, assignments, and grade distributions may vary from one offering of this course to the next. Please consult the course instructor for up to date details.

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