Biopsychosocial Model

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Lifespan perspective of the Biopsychosocial model The importance of a lifespan perspective to study health and illness was highlighted by Townsend and Davies, who suggested that 'any satisfactory explanation of health must build essentially on the cumulative dispositions and experience of the lifetime with multiple causation' (1988;104). However, it was noted that there was a surprisingly sparse recognition of the contribution of lifespan or developmental psychology to health psychology. Throughout people's lifespan, their health, illness and the roles of biopsychosocial systems keep changing. Thus, health characteristics are looked at from different time points, namely, the past, present and future, with respect to the specific domains.…show more content…
Women have been shown to make more social comparisons and be directed by media when it concerns body image than men do, which leads to a lower self esteem if they are negative. Therefore, it is evident that the gender is an important mediating factor within the biopsychosocial model and thus, it's implementation in the different approaches to health psychology. Approaches within Health Psychology Applied health psychology is the umbrella term used when referring to engagement of the discipline with a non-academic audience. However, keeping in mind the aims of Matarazzo's definition, the following four approaches have emerged. Clinical Health Psychology This is the most dominant approach, and is empirically based, and is the most well established and well known approach, and is usually the intended meaning when referring to health psychology. It takes place within the structure of the healthcare system, specific to patients with particular disorders. It aims at reducing physical dysfunction by enhancing the effectiveness of treatment of patients in hospitals, clinics, etc. It overlaps to a certain extent with clinical psychology, but it's core is the biopsychosocial model along with working towards maintaining the autonomy of the individual through ethical…show more content…
It works towards the promotion o good health and prevention of illness, rather than the treatment of it. Individual health is seen more as an outcome of social, economic and political determinants, rather than simply a consequence of indivdual behavior and lifestyle. (Carroll, Davey Smith & Bennet, 1996). It involves epidemiological studies, public health interventions and evaluations. Four core issues of public health psychology are understanding and changing health behaviors; mass communication about health, risk and disease; teaching doctors how to communicate effectively with patients; and understanding why some sectors of society have better health than others (Wardle, 2000). It works in the context of the media, schools, etc, and is aimed at popluation groups who are most vulnerable to health issues. Thus, it's aim is to improve the health of the entire population by reducing morbidity, disability, and avoidable
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