This textbook aims to provide students with a stimulating alternative to the textbooks currently available by placing the discipline within the context of the social world and encouraging them to question some of the assumptions and values underlying much current research. A comprehensive survey of the discipline is provided, framed within a lifespan approach, and emphasising social-cultural factors such as gender, ethnicity and social-economic status. All major topics are covered, including health behaviours, health promotion, coping strategies, stress, biomedical and biopsychosocial models of health and illness, chronic illnesses, psychoneuroimmunology, disability, pain, and patient-provider communication. Each topic is situated within its social and cultural context and constantly linked back to real-world experience. Chapters include valuable features such as research updates, learning objectives and recommended readings. This book will be an invaluable resource for students of health psychology across a range of disciplines including psychology, anthropology and health studies.

Health Psychology: A Critical Introduction will be an invaluable resource for students of health psychology.

About the Author
Antonia Lyons is Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychology, Massey University. She was a founding member of the International Society of Critical Health Psychology and has published numerous articles and book chapters in this field. Kerry Chamberlain is Professor of Health Psychology at Massey University, Palmerston North. He has published widely in international journals on health and research methods and authored several book chapters. He is co-editor of Qualitative Health Psychology and Exploring Existential Meaning.


Book Information
ISBN 9780521005265
Author Antonia C. Lyons
Format Paperback
Page Count 464
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 924g
Dimensions(mm) 247mm * 175mm * 28mm