Health Psychology: A Textbook

Health Psychology: A Textbook has made a major contribution to the teaching and study of this rapidly expanding discipline. The second edition provides a truly accessible and comprehensive guide to all of the major topics in health psychology. It includes a new chapter on the measurement of health status and new sections on professional issues, recent developments in social cognition models, body dissatisfaction and dieting, causes of obesity and the measurement of pain. In addition, it has been revised and updated throughout to take account of recent research.

The introduction provides a historical and theoretical framework within which to study health psychology theory and how it has been applied in the area of health. It explores how research can be used in influence and structure practice. A particular strength is the strong coverage of European research, as well as the US research which is the exclusive focus of many textbooks.

Health Psychology: A Textbook has been designed specifically with the needs of teachers and students in mind. It can form the basis for a complete health psychology course. Each chapter has been designed as the reading for a lecture, and the book contains many special features to aid teaching and learning. The book has a focus on research sections describing specific studies which test theory. It has questions to stimulate discussion and structure revision. Assumptions in health psychology are highlighted. Chapter overviews provide outlines of structure, aims and key points. Figures and diagrams put essential information at students' fingertips. Further reading points to sources of further information and discussion and it also includes a methodology glossary.