Social Psychological Approaches to Health

by Lyn Quine (Author), D.R. Rutter (Author), David J. Chesham (Author)

• Used

  Paperback
  1993

  $119.51

  Although a considerable literature on health psychology has developed in the last decade, the main emphasis has been on behavioural medicine and the ways in which clinical psychologists can apply their models and skills to physical illnesses, particularly those which are stress related. This book demonstrates that models of social psychology can offer powerful theoretical analyses in many areas of health and safety psychology from which will emerge important policy implications for persuasion and change of behaviour. The authors first outline their theoretical position, arguing that social psychological variables (such as attitudes, attributions and coping strategies) are best seen as mediators between social imputs (including class, education and age) and health outcomes. They then present their own research on three specific areas of health and safety: pregnancy outcome; breast cancer screening; and motorcycling safety. In each of these areas they point to significant issues to which social psychologists can make a contribution. In a concluding chapter the authors summarize both the major policy implications and new practices which follow from their research.