Health Psychology, 7.5 Credits

Contents

In this course, different aspects of health psychology in relation to individual and public health is treated. The course emphasizes the interaction between biological, psychological, and social factors as well as their consequences for health and quality of life. The course also discusses the concepts of health, stress, stress moderators, risky behaviors and health promotive behaviors as well as life style and quality of life. Moreover, the course deals with functional somatic syndromes, occupational health psychology, and epigenetics. The course content is problematized from how people are categorized based on diversity, culture and intersectionality and basic research methods are discussed.

The right to teaching and supervision is only given during the time period that the student is registered on the course. The course is given in English.

Expected learning outcomes

After completion of the course, the student will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding
*    Give an account for and explain central theories on health, stress, stress moderation, sleep, risk behaviors, health promotive behaviors, life style and life quality.
*    Give an account on what consequences stress, stress moderation, risk behaviors, health promotive behaviors, life style and life quality have on health.
*    Give an account for functional somatic syndrome, occupational health psychology and epigenetics and their relation to health psychology.
*    Understand potential issues with measurements and interventions in health psychology.

Skills and ability
*    Analyze health psychology based on ways of social categorization.
*    Convey health psychological science orally and in writing.
Summarize relevant scientific methods.
*    Show ability to communicate Health Psychology in English.

Evaluation ability and approach
*    Critically review, interpret, and evaluate health psychological methods and literature.
*    Summarize and discuss health and health behaviors based on ways of social categorization.

Required Knowledge

Form of instruction

The teaching is student active and based on lectures (some will be online), workshops and group work. .  The teaching can be based both on campus and online. However, teaching resources will be provided online and communication will be provided by the university's teaching platform. This requires specific demands on technical equipment and competence. Examination is compulsory.

The right to teaching and supervision applies only during the time the course, for which the student is registered to, is ongoing. The course is given in English.

Examination modes

Both written and oral examination will occur. Both individual and group examination will be performed. Examination trough workshops and oral presentation may occur online.

Individually
*    Knowledge and understanding is examined by a written exam.
*    Skills and abilities are examined in workshops.
*    Re-examination is given with an equivalent task within two months of ordinary examination.

In group
*    Skills, ability, evaluation ability, and approach is examined by a written group report and by oral presentation in groups.
*    Re-examination is given with an equivalent task within two months of ordinary examination.

Examining elements are indicated in the schedule. All existing teaching within the course can be subject for examination. Decisions on any deviations from the current form of assessment will be made by the relevant examiner.

Grade for the course / each module of the course will be assigned when the written test / tests and all mandatory elements are approved. The possible grades are 'Pass with distinction',' Pass' or 'Fail'. Students are entitled to rewrite the same examination five. Students who do not pass the regular examination should be provided an opportunity for further examination according to the University's "Regulations for tests and examinations at the undergraduate and graduate levels." A student who has failed two tests for a course or a part of a course, is entitled to have another examiner appointed, unless there are specific reasons against it (HF 6 Chap. 22 §). Requests for new examiners are made to the head of the department of Psychology. Students have the right to be tested on the same curriculum as the regular examination at least two occasions up to two years after the first registration.

Deviations from the form of examination in the syllabus can be made for a student who has pedagogical support due to disabilities. Individual adjustments of the examination form is determined based on the student's needs. The examination form is adjusted within the framework of the expected learning outcomes of the syllabus. After a request from the student the examiner shall, in consultation with the course coordinator and study counselor, promptly decide on the adjusted form of examination. The decision is then to be announced to the student.