Introduction to Health Psychology (3e)

An Introduction to Health Psychology, Third edition gives readers a comprehensive and lively introduction to this interesting field.

Retaining the highly praised approach of the first and second editions, each chapter outlines and describes the theory and research before moving on to explore applications and intervention practice.  The primary goals of health psychologists are to describe, predict and intervene, and this process is reflected in the book.

Useful features are included to support student learning, such as research focus boxes, applications boxes and engaging case studies.

Bringing together core topics and current debates, An Introduction to Health Psychology, Third edition is ideal for students on health psychology modules, and for those studying in related fields such as health and social care or nursing.

PART I: BEING AND STAYING HEALTHY

Chapter 1 What is health?
Chapter 2 Health inequalities
Chapter 3 Health-risk behaviour
Chapter 4 Health-protective behaviour
Chapter 5 Explaining health behaviour
Chapter 6 Reducing risk of disease – individual approaches
Chapter 7 Population approaches to public health

PART II: BECOMING ILL

Chapter 8 The body in health and illness
Chapter 9 Symptom perception, interpretation and response
Chapter 10 The consultation and beyond
Chapter 11 Stress, health and illness: theory
Chapter 12 Stress and illness moderators
Chapter 13 Managing stress

PART III: BEING ILL

Chapter 14 The impact of illness on quality of life
Chapter 15 The impact of illness on patients and their families
Chapter 16 Pain
Chapter 17 Improving health and quality of life

PART IV: FUTURES

Chapter 18 Futures

New for the third edition:

• The text has been thoroughly updated and revised around the themes of health behaviours, treatment and stress.
• Applied examples and news headlines with commentaries bring topics to life and stimulate interest at the beginning of chapters.
• Interviews with psychologists give an insight into areas of study and real research and practice.
• Cross-references make it easy to find further information in other chapters

• A new 'headline' feature at the beginning of each chapter puts the main issues into a real-life context.
• 'What do you think?' boxes encourage students to think about a topic and how it relates to their own experience 
• 'In the spotlight' explores an issue in further depth
• 'Research focus' looks at a relevant study in more detail
• 'Things to think about and research yourself' boxes suggest activities or questions to help students go further

Val Morrison is Reader in Health Psychology, and a chartered health psychologist, based at Bangor University.  She has taught health psychology since 1992, whilst maintaining a vibrant research group investigating psychosocial predictors of patient and carer outcomes of chronic disease and cancer.

Paul Bennett is Research Professor in the Nursing, Health and Social Research Centre at the University of Cardiff.  He has published several books on  health and clinical psychology as well as over 100 academic papers and chapters.