Health Psychology

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Course
PSYC 316
Semester
Spring
Year
2022
Catalog
School of Arts and Sciences
General Course Information

Course Lecturer Name(s):  Lenise Paul, M.A.

Course Director Name:  Dr. Hazel Dabreo

Course Lecturer(s) Contact Information:  lpaul4@sgu.edu 

Course Director Contact Information: hdabreo@sgu.edu

Course Lecturer(s) Office Hours:  By Appointment 

Course Director Office Hours:  N/A

Course Lecturer(s) Office Location:  Online

Course Director Office Location: Ballsier Bldg. G.

Course Support:   Ms. Nikisha Thomas, nsthomas@sgu.edu, ext. 3692

Course Management tool: To learn to use Sakai, the Course management tool, access the link https://apps.sgu.edu/members.nsf/mycoursesintro.pdf

Course Curriculum Information

Course Description: 

This course provides an introduction to the exciting field of health psychology. We will look at the contributions of the discipline of psychology to the promotion and maintenance of health, as well as prevention and treatment of illness. Special emphasis will be placed on stress and coping, health habits, and issues surrounding use of health services. This course will encourage students to apply knowledge from health psychology to improve their life and the lives of others.

Course Objectives: 

At the end of this course, each student should be able to:

  1. Define key terms in health psychology.
  2. Explain the role of prevention and lifestyle change in health, especially regarding exercise, diet, and stress management.
  3. Describe how health is influenced by age, gender, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, culture, and sexual orientation.  
  4. Discuss how age, gender, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, culture, and sexual orientation may affect how patients are perceived and treated.
  5. Use their knowledge to communicate effectively with patients and their families regardless of  age, gender, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, culture, or sexual orientation.

Student Learning Outcomes:

  1. Explain health and illness from a biopsychosocial perspective.
  2. Describe the importance of stress management, diet, and exercise in health, with reference to     how these are applicable to their own lives. 
  3. Analyze how developmental, gender, and sociocultural factors impact health.
  4. Discuss patients’ adjustment in a hospital setting.

Program Outcomes Met By This Course:

PSY PO. 3. Analyze, evaluate, and synthesize key perspectives from the various subfields of psychology, demonstrating key overlaps which points to a comprehensive understanding of human behavior.

SAS Grading Scale: Grades will be assigned as follows:

A  = 89.5% or better

B+ = 84.5 - 89.4%

B  = 79.5 - 84.4%

C+ = 74.5 - 79.4%

C = 69.5 - 74.4%

D = 64.5 - 69.4%

F = 64.4% or less 

Course Materials:

Text: Health Psychology: Biopsychosocial Interaction 9th Edition by Edward P. Sarafino and Timothy Smith

Supplementary Readings/Resources: Where appropriate, additional reference materials will be provided. Students will be advised accordingly.

Course Grading Requirement:

  1. Attendance and Participation    10%
  2. Vocabulary Quizzes        5%
  3. Body’s Physical Systems Presentation   5%
  4. Learning Journey Forum (x2)    10%
  5. Well-being Project        10%
  6. Exams (x4)         60%

Course Requirements:

Students will be required to

  • be prepared for class
  • contribute thoughtful ideas to class discussions in Standard English
  • conduct themselves in ways that are appropriate to a respectful, academic environment

Course Schedule: 

PSYC 316 Spring 2022

WK & DATE

TOPICS

ACTIVITIES

CH.

Week 1

Jan 18, 20

Course Introduction

Overview of Psychology and Health

Reflection 1

1

 

 

 

 

Week 2 25, 27

Stress: Its, Meaning, Impact, and Sources

Reflection 2

 

3

 

 

 

 

Week 3

Feb 1, 3

The Body’s Physical Systems

Reflection 3

2

 

 

 

 

Week 4

8, 10

Stress, Biopsychosocial Factors and Illness

 

Reflection 4

Exam 1(Ch. 1-3)

4

 

 

 

 

Week 5 15, 17

Coping with and Reducing Stress

Reflection 5

 

5

 

 

 

 

Week 6 22, 24

Health-Related Behavior and Health Promotion

Reflection 6

6

 

 

 

 

Week 7

Mar 1, 3

Wellness Project Proposal

Proposals

 

 

 

 

 

Week 8 Mar. 7-11

 MIDTERM WEEK

 Exam 2 (Ch. 4-6) 

 

 

 

 

 

Week 9 15, 17

Substance Use and Abuse

Reflection 7

7

 

 

 

 

Week 10 22, 24

Nutrition, Weight Control, etc.

Reflection 8 

8

 

 

 

 

Week 11 29, 31

In the Hospital: The Setting, Procedures, and Effects on Patients

Reflection 9

 

10

 

 

 

 

Week 12

April 5, 7

Using Health Services: Patient-Practitioner Relationship

Reflection 10

9

 

 

 

 

Week 13 12, 14

Guest Lecturer

Exam #3 (case studies)

 

 

 

 

 

Week 14 19, 21

Well-being Project Presentations

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week 15 26, 28

Well-being Project Presentations

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week 16 May 2-6

 FINAL EXAM WEEK

 Exam 4 (Ch. 7-10)

 

School of Arts and Sciences Master Syllabi — Info for All Sections

Plagiarism Policy

Academic Integrity

The St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020) states as follows:

“Plagiarism is regarded as a cardinal offense in academia because it constitutes theft of the work of someone else, which is then purported as the original work of the plagiarist. Plagiarism draws into disrepute the credibility of the Institution, its faculty, and students; therefore, it is not tolerated” (p. 48).

Plagiarism also includes the unintentional copying or false accreditation of work, so double check your assignments BEFORE you hand them in.

Be sure to do good, honest work, credit your sources and reference accordingly and adhere to the University’s Honor Code. Plagiarism and cheating will be dealt with very seriously following the university’s policies on Plagiarism as outlined in the Student Manual.

Your work may be subject to submission to plagiarism detection software, submission to this system means that your work automatically becomes part of that database and can be compared with the work of your classmates.

Attendance Requirement

The St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020) states as follows:

“Students are expected to attend all classes and or clinical rotations for which they have registered. Although attendance may not be recorded at every academic activity, attendance may be taken randomly. Students’ absence may adversely affect their academic status as specified in the grading policy. If absence from individual classes, examinations, and activities, or from the University itself is anticipated, or occurs spontaneously due to illness or other extenuating circumstances, proper notification procedures must be followed. A particular course may define additional policies regarding specific attendance or participation” (p. 9).

Examination Attendance

The St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020) states as follows:

“All matriculated students are expected to attend all assigned academic activities for each course currently registered. Medical excuses will be based on self-reporting by students. Students who feel they are too sick to take an examination or other required activity on a specific day must submit the online SAS medical excuse, which is available on Carenage. Students are only allowed two such excuses a year. Upon consultation with the Director of University Health Service, the third excuse will result in a mandatory medical leave of absence. The policies regarding make-up examinations are at the option of the Course Director” (p.46).

For additional specific examination policies and procedures, refer to the St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020), pages 31 through 37.

Student Accessibility and Accommodation Services Policy

The St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020) states as follows:

“A student with a disability or disabling condition that affects one or more major life activities, who would like to request an accommodation, must submit a completed application form and supporting documentation to the Student Accessibility and Accommodation Services (SAAS) located in the Dean of Students Office. It is highly recommended that students applying for accommodations do so at least one month before classes begin to allow for a more efficient and timely consideration of the request. If a fully completed application is not submitted in a timely fashion, an eligibility determination may not be made, and accommodations, where applicable, may not be granted prior to the commencement of classes and/or examinations” (p. 8).

Disclaimer

It is the responsibility of the student to read and understand the policies, laws, rules and procedures that while they could affect your grade for a course, have not been specifically outlined in the course syllabus. These are contained in the St. George’s University Student Manual.