Health Psychology

Are you interested in understanding the psychological and physical effects of real-world health issues including stress, mental health challenges, chronic health issues?

Over 10 weeks you will focus on multiple health issues and explore the role of modern tools, including mobile health apps and wearable devices, in shaping health behaviours and improving health outcomes.

Learning and teaching

On successful completion of the module, a student will be able to:

Are you interested in understanding the psychological and physical effects of real-world health issues, including stress, mental health challenges, and chronic health issues?

Over 10 weeks, you will focus on multiple health issues and explore the role of modern tools, including mobile health apps and wearable devices, in shaping health behaviours and improving health outcomes.

On completion of the module, a student should be able to:

• Explain the key principles and frameworks of health psychology, including the biopsychosocial model, behaviour change theories, and their relevance to health and well-being.
• Examine the psychological and physical effects of stress, mental health challenges, and lifestyle factors such as sleep and exercise on overall health.
• Demonstrate how psychological principles are applied to address real-world health issues, such as chronic illness, mental health challenges, and public health campaigns.
• Explore the role of modern tools, including mobile health apps and wearable devices, in shaping health behaviours and improving health outcomes.

Coursework and assessment

Type of assessment	% Contribution	Title
Option 1: Essay Or	60	One essay of not more than 2,000 words, exploring a key topic from the course in depth - OR
Option 2: A portfolio	60	A portfolio of shorter written pieces (e.g., reflective pieces, case study analyses, or critiques), equivalent to 2,000 words, covering multiple topics discussed in the module.
Class Test	40	A 30-question test - Short-answer questions requiring concise explanations

Reading suggestions

• Ogden, J. (2021). Health Psychology: A Textbook (6^th ed.). Open University Press.
• Davison, G. C., Neale, J. M., and Kring, A.M. (2004). Abnormal Psychology (9^th ed). Wiley.

Library and computing facilities

As a student on this course you are entitled to join and use the University’s library and computing facilities. Find out more about using these facilities.

Accessibility

Our aim is access for all. We aim to provide a confidential advice and support service for any student with a long term medical condition, disability or specific learning difficulty. We are able to offer one-to-one advice about disability, pre-enrolment visits, liaison with tutors and co-ordinating lecturers, material in alternative formats, arrangements for accessible courses, assessment arrangements, loan equipment and dyslexia screening.