Description
The Eighth Edition
This eighth edition retains the core aspects that have,kept this book a leader throughout the decades: (1) ambalance between the science and applications of the field of health psychology and (2) a clear and engaging review of classic and cutting-edge research on behavior and health.
The eighth edition of Health Psychology: An Introduction to Behavior and Health has five parts. Part 1, which includes the first four chapters, lays a solid foundation in research and theory for understanding subsequent chapters and approaches the field by considering the overarching issues involved in seeking medical care and adhering to health care regimens. Part 2 deals with stress, pain, and the management of these conditions through conventional and alternative medicine. Part 3 discusses heart disease, cancer, and other chronic diseases. Part 4 includes chapters on tobacco use, drinking alcohol, eating and weight, and physical activity. Part 5 looks toward future challenges in health psychology and addresses how to apply health knowledge to one’s life to become healthier.
What’s New?
In this edition, we bring a fresh new voice to the writing team: John A. Updegraff. John earned his PhD from one of the top health psychology programs in the United States. He is an influential researcher in health psychology, an acclaimed psychology instructor, and an expert in the areas of health behavior and stress. John brings his passion, knowledge, and (occasional) humor to this revision, so the textbook remains current, accurate, and a delightful read for instructors and students.
The present edition also reorganizes several chapters to better emphasize the theoretical underpinnings of health behavior. For example, Chapter 4 focuses on adherence to healthy behavior and presents both classic and contemporary theories of health behavior, including recent research on the “intention–behavior gap.” Readers of the eighth edition will benefit from the most up-to-date review of health behavior theories— and their applications—on the market.
The eighth edition also features new boxes on important and timely topics such as
• How to evaluate the quality of research reported on the Internet
• How the redesign of nutrition labels may improve your health literacy
• How text messaging can help increase your physical activity
• Why your doctor might ethically prescribe ineffective medical treatments to you
• Why taking vacations can have unexpected effects on your stress levels
• Why social rejection can feel physically painful
• Why pets may be the best social support providers
• Why you should floss your teeth more (hint: it has nothing to do with cavities or bad breath)
• Why pictures of guns stimulate your immune system
Brief Contents
PART 1 Foundations of Health Psychology
Chapter 1 Introducing Health Psychology 1
Chapter 2 Conducting Health Research 18
Chapter 3 Seeking and Receiving Health Care 40
Chapter 4 Adhering to Healthy Behavior 58
PART 2 Stress, Pain, and Coping
Chapter 5 Defining, Measuring, and Managing Stress 87
Chapter 6 Understanding Stress, Immunity, and Disease 120
Chapter 7 Understanding and Managing Pain 143
Chapter 8 Considering Alternative Approaches 172
PART 3 Behavior and Chronic Disease
Chapter 9 Behavioral Factors in Cardiovascular Disease 201
Chapter 10 Behavioral Factors in Cancer 231
Chapter 11 Living With Chronic Illness 253
PART 4 Behavioral Health
Chapter 12 Smoking Tobacco 282
Chapter 13 Using Alcohol and Other Drugs 310
Chapter 14 Eating and Weight 341
Chapter 15 Exercising 372
PART 5 Looking Toward the Future
Chapter 16 Future Challenges 397
Glossary 418
References 424
Name Index 481
Subject Index 509