PSY2006 Health psychology

    • Course code
      PSY2006
    • Number of credits
      10
    • Teaching semester
      2025 Autumn
    • Language of instruction
      English
    • Campus
      Lillehammer
    • Required prerequisite knowledge

      None

Course content

Health psychology focuses on understanding how psychological, behavioral, and social factors influence physical health and illness. It explores the connections between mind and body, examining how factors like stress, behavior change, coping strategies, and social support impact health outcomes. Health psychology also investigates how individuals make health-related decisions and how interventions can promote healthier lifestyles and improve well-being.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge

Upon completion of the course, the student shall

  • have knowledge of key theories and models in health psychology
  • have knowledge of the impact of psychological, social, contextual, and cultural factors on health, well-being, and illness
  • understand the importance of behaviour for the development of various lifestyle diseases
  • have a holistic understanding of biological, psychological, and social conditions related to health
Skills

Upon completion of the course, the student shall be able to

  • reflect and critically evaluate different theories and models applied in health psychology
  • apply knowledge from health psychology to design interventions aimed at behaviour change
  • give and receive feedback on an academic text with a theme in health psychology
  • demonstrate the ability to ethically reflect on professional issues and dilemmas
  • know how to support health-promoting behaviours and factors that are important in preventing disease
  • be able to use knowledge from health psychology to deal with practical and concrete issues
General competence

Upon completion of the course, the candidate shall be able to

  • can acquire, apply and disseminate key subject matter related to health psychology both in writing and orally
  • participate in discussion about clinical and theoretical issues concerning health psychology
  • demonstrate a critical approach to current knowledge and practice in the field of health psychology
Teaching and working methods

Lectures, seminars, practical exercises, and problem-based learning.

Required coursework

Participation in mandatory seminars in addition to submission of written work and oral presentation, graded as pass/fail. Further information on content and scope is provided by the course convenor at the start of the course.

Assessments
Form of assessmentGrading scaleGroupingDuration of assessmentSupport materialsProportionComment
Written examination with invigilation
ECTS - A-F
Individual
4 Hour(s)
  • No support materials
100
Professional overlap
NameCreditsDateComment
PSY2303 Helse- og miljøpsykolgoi
5
PSY1003 Helse- og miljøpsykologi
5
Course name in Norwegian Nynorsk: 
Health psychology
Course name in Norwegian Bokmål: 
Health psychology
Faculty
Inland School of Business and Social Sciences
Department
Department of Psychology
Area of study
Psykologi
Programme of study
Bachelor of psychology
Course level
Intermediate course, level II (200-LN)