Minute Lecture - What is Health Psychology?

Summary

The Manchester Centre for Health Psychology studies how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors impact health and well-being across the lifespan. Their research helps people stay active, make healthy choices, and manage health conditions. They work with healthy individuals, those facing illness or disability, and healthcare professionals. Using various research methods, they aim to promote healthy lifestyles, prevent illness, and improve healthcare services. Engaging the public and advising policymakers, they ensure their work benefits local, national, and international health. They also conduct community events to increase awareness of their research.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Psychology is the science of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
• 🏥 Health psychology explores how these thoughts, feelings, and behaviors contribute to health and well-being.
• 💪 As people age, staying active is important, but some may stop exercising due to fear of damaging their body.
• 👥 The Manchester Centre for Health Psychology helps people build confidence to stay active and healthy longer.
• 👶 The Centre works with people across the lifespan, from childhood to older adults, including carers and healthcare staff.
• 📊 The Centre uses surveys, interviews, experiments, and large-scale trials to learn about health experiences.
• 🧬 Their research tests tools to encourage informed health choices and support coping with health challenges.
• 🩺 Research focuses on promoting healthy lifestyles, managing health conditions, and understanding stress.
• 📈 The Centre advises policymakers to ensure research benefits people's health locally, nationally, and internationally.
• 🏫 The Centre engages the community and schools to help the public understand their psychology research.

Q & A

What is health psychology?

Health psychology explores how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors contribute to people's health and well-being.

Why is it important to stay active as we age?

Staying active as we age is important for maintaining health and well-being. Some people may avoid exercise due to concerns about causing bodily harm, but overcoming these fears can help promote longer-term health.

Who does the Manchester Centre for Health Psychology work with?

The Manchester Centre for Health Psychology works with people across the lifespan, including children, adolescents, pregnant women, older adults, people with illnesses, disabilities, or health conditions, as well as carers and healthcare staff.

What research methods are used at the Manchester Centre for Health Psychology?

The center uses a variety of methods including surveys, interviews, experiments, and large-scale trials to learn more about people's health experiences and to test tools that encourage healthy choices.

What are some of the main areas of research at the Manchester Centre for Health Psychology?

Their main areas of research include promoting healthy lifestyles, preventing illness, managing health conditions, understanding stress, and improving healthcare interactions to support health and well-being.

How does the Manchester Centre for Health Psychology help people manage their health conditions?

The center helps people manage their health conditions by providing research-based tools and strategies that allow individuals to cope in ways that suit their preferences and improve their health outcomes.

How does the Manchester Centre for Health Psychology involve the public in their research?

The center involves the public by talking to them to ensure their research is relevant and useful. They also advise policymakers to ensure their research benefits people at local, national, and international levels.

What role do community and school events play in the Manchester Centre for Health Psychology's work?

The center runs events in the community and local schools to help the public understand the work of psychology researchers and how it can benefit their health and well-being.

How does the Manchester Centre for Health Psychology contribute to improving healthcare?

The center’s research helps enable health services and professionals to interact with people in ways that best support their health and well-being, making healthcare more effective and person-centered.

Where can people find more information or get involved with the Manchester Centre for Health Psychology?

People can find more information or get involved by visiting the Manchester Centre for Health Psychology's website at the University of Manchester.