Health Psychology Case Study

Psychology of health and illness searches how a number of psychological factors impact upon health and illness and emphasizes four perspectives which are; bio psychosocial, health and illness as being on a continuum, the direct and indirect pathways between psychology and health and the focus on variability.

This essay seeks to examine the psychological constructs at the various stages of health, the interconnection between psychology and health.

INTRODUCTION

Human behaviour plays a significant role leading to various ailments and ultimately, death. Psychological science has the potential to enhance health outcomes through a better understanding of health promoting and damaging behaviours. Health psychology and the related field of behavioural

It emphasizes health and illnesses as being on a continuum and explores the ways in which psychological factors impact health at all stages. Psychology therefore is involved in illness onset (e.g. beliefs, behaviours (smoking, diet), and stress), help seeking (e.g. symptom perception, illness cognitions, Dr / patient communication), illness adaptation (e.g. coping, behaviour change, social support, pain perception), illness progression (e.g. stress, behaviour change) and health outcomes (e.g. Quality of life, longevity).[3]

The direct and indirect pathways between psychology and health: Health psychologists consider both a direct and indirect pathway between psychology and health. The direct pathway is reflected in physiological literature and from this perspective, the way a person experiences their life (‘I am feeling stressed’) has a direct impact upon their body through changes in their physiology which can change their health

Here, we see the interference of psychology and health; one leading to the other. As earlier explained in this essay, the way a person experiences their life has a direct impact upon their body through changes in their physiology which can change their health status. She is faced with social conditions such as poverty which makes it hard for her to fend for her family. It is clear that there is direct pathway between her mental health and her physiological state. The feeling of fatigue from not being able to care for her children creates a continuum. From this overwhelming feeling, she develops chest pain and because of her social class, cannot afford to go to a hospital. Following the second stage which describes health and illness as a continuum, her mental state is directly involved in her illness. Since her mental and social well-being has been affected, her health status is incomplete and subsequently has an effect on her