Psychology and health promotion

* What part do behavioural and psychological factors play in the health of an individual? * Which theories contribute to health promotion at the individual and community level? * How effective are such interventions in improving people's health? Psychology and Health Promotion is the first book to set out in clear and authoritative terms the role of psychological theory in health promotion. It adopts both structuralist and social regulation models of health and health promotion, considering the significance of psychological processes in each case. The authors examine how behaviour and the social environment may contribute to health status and how psychological processes may mediate the effect of environmental conditions. They go on to consider the theory underlying interventions that are aimed at individuals and large populations, and the effectiveness of attempts to change both individual behaviour and the environmental factors that may contribute to ill-health. This highly approachable volume is structured as a textbook and includes a summary and further reading at the end of each chapter, as well as a substantial bibliography. It is designed to provide an invaluable resource for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate courses in health psychology, clinical psychology and social psychology as well as students and practitioners in health and social welfare, including health promotion.