Social psychology and health

This book discusses major topics of health psychology from a social psychological perspective. This approach reflects the significant changes which have taken place in conceptions of health and illness during recent decades and the move away from purely biomedical models of illness. In line with this broadening perspective, health psychology has become a dominant force in the health sciences, a field to which social psychological theory and research has much to offer. The book addresses two major factors detrimental to health and well-being, namely health impairing behaviours and stressful life events. The following key questions are discussed: Which behaviour patterns are detrimental to one's health? Why do people engage in health impairing behaviours even if they know about their negative effects? How can people be influenced to change their behaviour? What are stressful life events and which mechanisms mediate the impact of these stresses on health? The book argues for an integrative approach that combines psychological, economic and environmental interventions to reduce behavioural risk factors.