HS215-5-PS-CO:
Introduction to Health Psychology
2024/25
Health and Social Care (School of)
Colchester Campus
Spring & Summer
Undergraduate: Level 5
Current
Wednesday 15 January 2025
Wednesday 26 March 2025
15
30 January 2024
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
Opportunity to develop knowledge and critical understanding of psychology applied to health/illness.
Health psychology (a sub-discipline of psychology) is concerned with understanding how biological, psychological and social factors shape experiences of health and illness. The role and impact of these will be critically considered, drawing on biomedical and biopsychosocial models, the concept of health as a continuum and the idea that direct/indirect pathways and individual differences play an important role in outcomes in health and illness.
On successful completion of this module, the [learner] will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of key issues in health psychology (e.g. interaction between mind and body).
- Apply psychological theories and propose evidence-based solutions (e.g. consider the benefits/challenges of a psychological approach to managing pain or stress).
- Identify strengths/weaknesses of main methods of enquiry in health psychology.
- Consider how a biopsychosocial approach can challenge and extend biomedical understanding of health and illness.
Exploration of strengths/weaknesses of a cognitive approach when applied to 'problem solve' pain management, coping with stress, adherence in chronic illness for example. What works, how evidence is produced from research findings and implications of different methodologies/measures e.g. in pain and stress.
Taught 2-hours each week across the term using a mixture of directed and independent learning that includes preparatory activities to help develop deeper understanding of module topics.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
2,500 word essay |
|
100% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Ms Jennie Todd, email: jtodd@essex.ac.uk.
jtodd@essex.ac.uk cpd@essex.ac.uk
No
No
No
Dr Mamdooh Alzyood
Oxford Brookes University
Lecturer in Public Health
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.
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