What has Psychology Got to Do With Your Health Anyway?

 The desire for the prolongation of life we may take to be one of the most universal of all human motives. Kenneth Arrow (1963).

 From time to time we are overwhelmed with all kinds of health information from the mass media and social media about the best health options in terms of; Addiction, Anxiety, Aging, Behavior, Cancer, Children, Dieting, Depression, Diabetes, Exercise, Fitness, Women, Emotional and Mental health, Healthcare, Heart, Infections, Migraine, Mind, Men, Nutrition, Obesity, Pain, Public, Sex, Sleep, Smoking, Stress, Stroke, and much more!!! Herbal remedies are not left out also. We hear of new treatment of diseases we are barely aware of. New research studies according to Alice G. Walton, offer illuminating, but often tiny, pieces of the puzzle that is the human body, so it can be hard to know what to make of them all.  How can we make sense of all these avalanche of information? And which one is of personal benefit and important us?  
 
As a consultant psychologist and lifestyle management coach I apply the principles of Clinical Health Psychology to address questions like these so as to support, challenge and encourage you to uncover your untapped potential;help you to become fruitful and productive to make meaniful contributions at home,relationships,work,school and your communities.

BabySteps-PsychMag is a pioneer Psychology magazine/blog designed to provide step-by-step [BabySteps] Psychological insights on trends peculiar and indigenous to Africa and the world at large. And how these trending  events, activities or behaviour negatively affect one's mental health or result in physical illness and downplay overall socio-emotional well-being. Kenneth Arrow,(1963) aptly stated that the desire for the prolongation of life  is one of the most universal of all human activities. Therefore, the ultimate aim of this magazine/blog is for people from all works of life to become conscious or more conscious about the importance of taking care of their mental health and social well-being by providing down-to-earth Psychological view points on how behaviour and mental processes influence and control overall well-being, including Why, When, Where, and How to get help to achieve and maintain a balanced mental, physical and social well-being. 

        The preview on this blog was on what it means to be completely healthy according to the World Health Organization, [WHO] 1948, definition of health being "a state of complete mental and social well-being and not just merely the absence of disease or infirmity". The WHO definition of a completely healthy person emphasized "mental and social well-being". And the fact that the absence of physical illness is no sign that an individual is fundamentally in good health was also discussed. And the big question on if it is rely possible to achieve a state of complete mental and social well-being was also highlighted. To answer this question it is important to get an overview of the concept of health from the framework of health psychology.

 

  Health psychology explores the underlying factors that have a direct and indirect impact on people’s quality of life. Health psychology’s roots are in the belief that everyone deserves proper medical and psychological care even when daily habits, career, or family life problems contribute to the decrease in physical health and/or psychological well-being. The bio-psycho-social model views health, wellness and illness as being a result of several different inter-related factors affecting a person’s life from biological characteristics, to behavioral and social conditions (Belloc, N. & Breslow, 1972)

 The central strategy practiced within health psychology is the bio-psycho-social design. The British Health Society explains that health and disease are the effects of a blending of biological, psychological and social factors. Biological determinants consist of genetic conditions and inherited personality traits. Psychological factors are anxiety levels, personality features and lifestyle. Social determinants consist of cultural views, family relationships and support systems.

        BabySteps-PsychMag provides valuable insights on how these Psychological determinants influence our mental and emotional well-being because Psychological determinants in health have been a focus since the beginning of the 20th century and results explain that people who eat regular meals, maintain a healthy weight, do not smoke, drink little alcohol, receive adequate sleep and exercise regularly are in better health and live longer.

  Psychologists were also discovering associations between psychological and physiological processes. These include the influence of anxiety on the cardiovascular and immune systems and finding that the functioning of the immune system could be modified by training. There was also a growing awareness of the importance of sound communication skills during office visits.

       

 The American Psychological Associations division 38 is health psychology and they focus on understanding the relationship between health and illness. This division concentrates on examining the psychological determinants that influence health, and they contribute information to the health care policy system. The three areas that relate to health psychology are:

      Research: Health psychologists conduct studies on a variety of health-related concerns. For instance, researchers may concentrate on investigating effective preventative measures, explore health promotion techniques, study the causes of health problems, investigate how to motivate people to seek treatment, and how to assist people cope with illness or pain.

 Public Policy Work: Health psychologists may work in private or government settings and have a role in making public policy on health related issues. Their business might point to advising executive groups on health care improvement, address disparities in health care, or lobby government agencies.

 Clinical Work: In medical and clinical surroundings, health psychologists regularly administer behavioral evaluations, participate in clinical interviews and conduct personality tests. They often participate in managing interventions with individuals or groups which relate to training people about anxiety reduction methods, offer addiction cessation advice and teach people how to refrain from unhealthy ways of life.

• Clinical Health Psychology attempts to provide answers to the following questions:

• What is the relationship between emotional health, physical wellness and illness?

• What is the connection between the body, mind and environment?

• What role does psychology play in relationship to health and disease?

• How should a particular illness be treated?

How can we get Baby-Steps insights on this models explanation for a better understanding of our overall health (Physical, Mental and Socioemotional) wellness? And how can we take charge of our psychological health and make better life style choices? 

And that big question on if it is rely possible to achieve a state of complete mental and social well-being will be discussed in the next article on this blog. Please Like and Tweet, Pin and Share my blog and face book page!!!  

References

Belloc, N. & Breslow. (1972). Relationship of physical health status and health practices. Preventive Medicine, 1, 409–421

Boyle, C.M. (1970). Difference between patients’ and doctors’ interpretation of some common medical terms. British Medical Journal, 2, 286–89.

Cassileth, B.R.; Lusk, E.J.; Strouse, T.B.; Miller, D.S.; Brown, L.L.; Cross, P.A. & Tenaglia, A.N. (1984). Psychosocial status in chronic illness. New England Journal of Medicine, 311, 506–11.

Cohen, L.M.; McChargue, D.E.; & Collins, Jr. F.L. (Eds.). (2003). The health psychology handbook: Practical issues for the behavioral medicine specialist. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications

Dowsett, S.M.; Saul, J.L.; Butow, P.N.; Dunn, S.M.; Boyer, M.J.; Findlow, R. & Dunsmore, J. (2000). Communication styles in the cancer consultation: Preferences for a patient-centred approach. Psycho-Oncology, 9, 147–56.

Health Psychology Center: What is Health Psychology? Written by Dr. Cheryl MacDonald, RN, Psy’D. on July 12, 2013 in Health.

Lander, D.A. & Graham-Pole, J.R. (2008). Love medicine for the dying and their caregivers: The body of evidence. Journal of Health Psychology, 13, 201–12.

Melzack, R. (1975). The McGill Pain Questionnaire: Major properties and scoring methods. Pain, 1, 277–99.

Marks,  Murray, Evans & Estacio (2011) Health Psychology. Theory-Research-Practice (3rd Ed.) Sage Publications. ISBN 1-84860-622-2 (hbk) 978-1848606227

O’Brien, J.M.; Forrest, L.M. & Austin, A.E. (2002). Death of a partner: Perspectives of heterosexual and gay men. Journal of Health Psychology, 7, 317–28.

The British Psychological Society (2011) What is Health Psychology?  A guide for the public.07 March 2011.

Live Well,