CHAPTER SUMMARYHealth psychology and pediatric psychology (also
known as child health psychology) are increasingly
popular specialties that include psychology’s contri-
butions to health promotion, to prevention and
treatment of health problems, and to the health
care system. Most health psychologists adhere to a
biopsychosocial model of health and illness, a
model that integrates the more traditional biomed-
ical model and the psychosocial model. The links
among stress, lifestyle and behavior, personality,
social support, and health form the basis of the
health psychology field. The stress process has phys-
iological, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive
effects that may make one more vulnerable to ill-
ness. Behaviors and lifestyle choices can also have a
major impact on health. Further, personality and
coping styles have also been associated with illness.
Finally, social support can influence one’s vulnera-
bility to adverse health outcomes.
Health and pediatric psychologists address a
wide range of problems through assessment, inter-
vention, and prevention initiatives. Most interven-
tions are behavioral or cognitive-behavioral in
nature and include techniques such as systematic
desensitization, operant conditioning, stress inocu-
lation training, and biofeedback. Specific interven-
tions for chronic headache, cigarette smoking,
alcohol abuse, obesity, coping with medical proce-
dures, and treatment compliance were discussed.
The prospects for health and pediatric psychol-
ogy look bright. There is an increasing need for
better and more efficient interventions to cut health
care costs. Further, data support the role of health
psychologists in health care.KEY TERMSbehavioral medicineAbroad,interdisciplinary
field of research, education, and practice that
integrates the behavioral sciences with the dis-
cipline of medicine.
biofeedbackA wide array of procedures through
whichapatientlearnstomodifyorcontrolcertain
physiological processes. Usually, the physiological
process of interest is monitored by an apparatus,
and the information is fed back to the patient in
the form of an auditory, tactile, or visual signal.
The patient then attempts to modify the signal
(and thus change the physiological response) using
a variety of techniques.
biopsychosocial modelA theoretical model that
holds that health and illness are a function of
biological (e.g., genetic predispositions, nutritional
deficiencies), psychological (e.g., the individual’s
cognitions and emotions), and social (e.g., friends
and family, life events) influences.
cognitive-behavioral methodsTechniques that
emphasize the role of thinking in the etiology and
maintenance of problems and attempt to modify
the patterns of thinking that are believed to
contribute to a patient’s problem. Several
cognitive-behavioral treatments for stress or other
health problems appear on the current list of
empirically validated psychological treatments.
controlled drinkingA controversial approach to
the treatment of alcohol problems that has as its goal
light to moderate drinking. Clients are taught to
monitor their alcohol intake closely and to develop
coping responses that do not involve drinking.
coping appraisalIn protection motivation the-
ory, the evaluation of one’s ability to successfully
avoid or cope with negative outcomes. If one
concludes that one is unlikely to cope effectively
(by refraining from an undesired behavior), one
will be more likely to engage in the behavior.
coping modelAn individual who demonstrates
effective coping in a stressful situation (e.g.,
preparing for a medical procedure or surgery).
Observing or playing a tape of such a model may510 CHAPTER 17