Module: Health Psychology

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Health Psychology
Module Code	PSYC206 (ITS) / PSY1029 (Banner)
Faculty	Science & Health	School	Psychology
Module Co-ordinator	Emma Delemere
Module Teachers	Pamela Gallagher
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

None

Description

This module aims to provide students with a basic knowledge of the major theories and research in the field of health psychology and to introduce the student to the ways in which biopsychosocial processes can influence health and illness. Students will be familiarised with the theories, models and core areas of health psychology, including changing health behaviours, stress and coping, health- and illness-related cognitions, adherence and psychosocial impacts of illness.

Learning Outcomes

1. Discuss the biopsychosocial causes and consequences of health and illness
2. Discuss health risk and health protective behaviours
3. Discuss predictors of health behaviours and the ways in which health behaviours can be changed
4. Discuss the relationship between stress, health and illness
5. Discuss the psychosocial impacts of illness

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	14	Weekly lecture content addressing indicative syllabus
Group work	10	Guided workshop activities and group tasks
Online activity	9	Supplement understanding of indicative syllabus
Assignment Completion	15	Assignment 1: Preparation of critique of journal articles including identifying relevant articles, reading articles, reviewing articles and preparing for in-class presentation.
Assignment Completion	15	Assignment 2: Preparation of critique of journal articles including identifying relevant articles, reading articles, reviewing articles and preparing for in-class presentation.
Assignment Completion	35	Assignment 3: Essay preparation including the integration of relevant theory and research
Independent Study	27	Self directed reading
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Introducing health, health psychology and the biopsychosocial model of health and illness

Health protective and health risk behaviours

Explaining and changing health behaviour

Health and illness-related cognitions

Stress, health and illness; theories, moderators and management

Patient adherence and communication

Psychosocial impact of illness

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Presentation	Students will work in groups and will present their two critical reviews of peer-reviewed journal articles.	60%	n/a
Essay	An essay on a health psychology topic that integrates relevant theory and research.	40%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Ogden, J.: 2019, Health Psychology: A Textbook, 6th ed., McGraw-Hill Education (UK),
Norman P, Connor M: 2015, Predicting and Changing Health Behaviour: Research and practice with social cognition models, 3rd Ed, Open University Press, Maidenhead, UK,
Horrocks, C., & Johnson, S.: 2012, Advances in Health Psychology: Critical Approaches, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, 978-0230275386
Llewellyn, C.: 2019, Cambridge handbook of psychology, health and medicine, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK,
Morrison V, Bennett P: 2016, Introduction to Health Psychology, 4th, Pearson,

Other Resources

None