Intro to Health Psychology

Intro to Health Psychology Health Psychology has the meaning of studying, understanding how psychological factors influence in maintaining a healthy condition, when experiencing illness conditions, and how to respond when individuals experience illness. When referring to the definition of health according to WHO in 1948, it shows there is harmony between the understanding of health psychology and the meaning of health according to WHO, which does not only emphasize the presence or absence of disease. The definition of health according to WHO (1948) is a condition of being healthy or prosperous on physical aspects, mental aspects and social aspects. Healthy conditions and sick conditions are a continuum, namely healthy conditions experienced by individuals can achieve optimal health conditions, as well as when experiencing a sick condition can lead to or feel in a very bad condition, until death. It can be described as below: A. Relationship between Mind and Body 1.Psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud is one of the perspectives of psychoanalysis in discussing or studying regarding humans or individuals. This also includes discussing individuals within health psychology context. That physical symptoms or disorders appear is a manifestation of unresolved conflicts. 2.Psychosomatics Explanation of the connection between mind and body from a psychosomatic point of view, pioneered by Dunbar around 1930 & Alexander around 1930-1940s. According to Dunbar (1930s) & Alexander (1940s) that disturbance or illness is experienced by individuals is caused by psychosomatics. This happens because there is subconscious psychological conflicts of body organs through the autonomic nervous system, to the occurrence of illness conditions in individuals. B. Biopsychosocial Approach in Health Psychology The biopsychosocial approach is a shift from the biomedical model or concept, which tends to only emphasize the biological and internal medical perspective examine the health and illness conditions experienced by individuals. The conditions of illness and health experienced by individuals are an interaction between illness, individual personal aspects (such as psychological conditions), and social aspects. The clinical implications of the biopsychosocial model can be seen in prognosis, treatment recommendations, and indirectly impacts patient relationships and health workers. The development of the biopsychosocial approach in health psychology is as a reference for health psychology in the development of science and technology health technology, directing the emergence of a health service system biopsychosocial based. There are factors that play a role in the development of health psychology is: 1. Change in disease from acute disease to chronic disease 2. Increasingly advanced technological and research developments 3. The important role of epidemiology 4. Development of health care services 5. Increasing positive response from the medical community 6. Contribution of health psychology in health 7. Contribution of research methodology to health 8. The role of forms or types of research such as research correlational, experimental, prospective, retrospective. Health psychology as a science has an important role, including: 1. Research: in the field of research, health psychology has a testing role or examine the relationship between biological, psychological and social factors sick or healthy conditions 2. Treatment: in the field of treatment, health psychology, has a role related to psychosocial problems related to the emergence of a disease or sick condition 3. Health promotion: in the field of health promotion, health psychology has intervention program roles, working in an organization or foundation