Infographic 12.3: Health Psychology

There are two sections in the diagram, one on understanding stress, and the other on applied health psychology. Text under the title “Health Psychology” reads “Health psychology is the study of the biological, psychological, and social factors that contribute to health and illness. Using the biopsychosocial perspective, health psychologists examine how a variety of factors, including diet, physical activity, and social relationships, impact our predisposition to illness. One of the primary goals is to increase positive health behaviors and decrease negative ones. Research in this field can benefit the health and well-being of individuals and the community at large through changes to public policy and health education. The first section in the graphic is titled “Understanding Stress: The Biopsychosocial perspective.” Text under the title reads “Stress has been linked to a variety of negative health outcomes. The Biopsychosocial perspective helps us understand how the interaction between these factors contributes to our vulnerability. There are three factors shown: Biology, Psychology, and Social interaction. Arrows point out from both sides of each of these factors, showing less stress on the right side, and more stress on the left side. For Biology, text attached to the “more stress” arrow reads: “Viruses, bacteria, and other disease-causing organisms invade the body, triggering an immune response and putting a strain on the body’s resources.” Text attached to the “less stress” arrow reads “Exercise is one of the best ways to buffer against stress and its negative effects.” For Psychology, text attached to the “More stress” arrow reads “A perceived lack of control, even in mundane aspects of life, profoundly impacts our ability to manage stress.” Text attached to the “Less stress arrow reads “Research has shown that mindfulness meditation helps ease anxiety and depression.” For social interaction, text attached to the “More stress” arrow reads “Research has shown that feeling judged on one’s race, gender, income level and other factors has a negative impact on physical health and well-being.” Text attached to the “less stress” arrow reads “As a species, human beings are social and benefit from interaction with other humans and even animals”. The second section is titled “Health Psychology Applied”, and shows an image and text for each of the three factors. The subtitle for the “Biology” factor is “What’s in a color?” Below it shows an image of the color Pantone 448C, and that color on a pack of cigarettes. Text under the image reads “With public health in mind, Australia and the United Kingdom have begun requiring cigarette packs to be wrapped in “Opaque Couché” (Pantone 448C), deemed the ugliest color across the globe (BLAKEMORE, 2016, JUNE 9, PARA. 2). The packaging also features shocking images of smoking-related health consequences. Smoking rates in Australia fell after the new packaging was implemented and tobacco taxes were raised.” The subtitle for the “Psychology” factor reads “The power of thinking ‘Beyond the now”. Underneath the subtitle is a photograph of a girl sitting at a desk, and underneath that is text that reads as follows: “College students who were able to think about and plan for their futures showed an increase in positive health behaviors, such as exercise and conscientious eating habits.” The subtitle for the factor “Social Interaction” is “Animal therapy in crisis management”. Underneath the subtitle is a picture of a man in a wheelchair petting a dog, and underneath that is text that reads “Recognizing how animals can help people manage stress, professionals now use therapy dogs to facilitate coping.”