What is health psychology ?
Health psychology is the branch of psychology that concerns individual behaviour and life style affecting a person's physical health. Health psychology includes psychology's contribution to the enhancement of health, the prevention and treatment of disease, the identification of health risk factors, the improvement of health care system and the shaping of public opinion regard to health.
Concepts of Health and Well Being
The most acceptable definition of health is given by the WHO (1978): Health is the state
of complete physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being, and not merely an absence
of disease or infirmity. It is a significant departure from the medical model. It is a
definition of positive health and goes beyond the mere absence of a disease: the focus
being on maintaining good health, rather than on the treatment of different diseases. This
also makes health a multidimensional concept having four dimensions i.e. physical,
mental, social, and spiritual. The spiritual dimension of health was added much later in
the WHO definition. The WHO‟s revised view recognizes the various levels of human
existence. A human being is not merely a physical body. We are also located in the social
and moral space and consider spiritual living too as a genuine part of our existence. This
view of health is more inclusive and non-body centered. It goes well with the notion of
human existence in terms of five sheaths (koshas). A related aspect is the emphasis on
balance (sama) or equilibrium. Health is like a dynamic field in which different elements
operate in communion and harmony.
Health thus refers to proper functioning of the body and the mind, as well as, the capacity
to participate in social activities, performing the roles and abiding by the mora
As Health Psychologists, we are engaged in academic research, professional practice, and education and training across an array of community, clinical, occupational, and acute health care settings. This is an exciting time, as professional and public interest in how biology, environment, and behavior impact health and illness continues to grow. Health Psychologists are making important contributions to the well-being of our patients by incorporating psychological theory and research to develop methods to assist patients in maintaining healthy lifestyles. Health psychologists also help patients manage chronic disease and avoid preventable diseases, and provide rehabilitative services to persons with acute injuries and chronic diseases.
Ref: division 38 of APA
http://www.health-psych.org/AboutWhatWeDo.cfm
