What is Health Psychology?

There are a variety of descriptions and definitions of health psychology. The video above details the Health Psychologist role as part of the Psychological Professions Network (PPN) Career Map.

Two descriptions are provided below:

Health psychology examines how biological, social and psychological factors influence health and illness. Health psychologists use psychological science to promote health, prevent illness and improve health care systems” American Psychological Association: https://www.apa.org/education-career/guide/subfields/health

The goal of health psychology is to study the psychological processes underlying health, illness and health care, and to apply these findings to the promotion and maintenance of health, the analysis and improvement of the health care system and health policy formation, the prevention of illness and disability, and the enhancement of outcomes for those who are ill or disabled” British Psychological Society: https://www.bps.org.uk/member-networks/division-health-psychology