Course content

PSYK 4521 deals with theories and models to understand connections between behavior, health and context. Various biopsychosocial and contextual factors will be emphasized in the understanding of physical and mental health, both when it comes to promoting and maintaining health and inclusion and preventing illness and exclusion. Relevant topics are quality of life, stress, pain, disability, serious and chronic illness, risk factors and health behavior, palliation and death, physical activity, and social support.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

The student

• has advanced knowledge of how biological, psychological, social, socio-economic, cultural, societal, and physical factors interact to inhibit and promote people's health, education, work participation and living conditions, improvement processes, and quality of life throughout the life course
• has in-depth knowledge of low-threshold interventions within mental health at individual, group, and system level
• has knowledge of the most central psychological aspects of disability, discrimination, and inclusion
• has knowledge of health skills and how this affects different groups' health behavior and coping with illness
• has broad knowledge of ethical, epidemiological and health economic justifications for both universal, selective, and indicated health promotion and preventive measures
• has knowledge of highly prevalent acute and chronic somatic diseases and palliation for patients with life-shortening diseases, as well as risk factors
• has in-depth knowledge of how to communicate openly about gender, sexuality and sexual health and apply their knowledge of these topics in their professional practice.

Skills:

• The student can analyze and critically assess knowledge about health promotion and preventive work

General competence:

The student

• has insight into key concepts and theories, and must be able to report research in writing, within the field of health psychology and prevention
• can communicate about health-related and preventive issues with employees, partners and the general public

Learning methods and activities

Lectures and seminars

Peer-review, active learning, group work, discussions, content creation in social networks, and some flipped learning. Advantages and disadvantages of using AI in the report

Compulsory assignments

• 80% attendance at lectures
• 80% participation in seminar
• Submission of a report about the practical class from the seminars

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

MH2002

Required previous knowledge

PSYK4600

Credit reductions