Module Code: H8HPSY
Long Title Health Psychology
Title Health Psychology
Module Level: LEVEL 8
EQF Level: 6
EHEA Level: First Cycle
Credits: 5
Module Coordinator: Caoimhe Hannigan
Module Author: Amanda Kracen
Departments: School of Business
Specifications of the qualifications and experience required of staff

Lecturer with PhD in Psychology or related cognate discipline
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to:
# Learning Outcome Description
LO1 Demonstrate an understanding of the psychological factors that influence health, physical illness, and well-being at the individual, community, and societal level.
LO2 Evaluate key theories and models in the field of health psychology, especially related to behaviour change (e.g., health belief model, social cognitive theory).
LO3 Identify, describe, and analyse factors that affect health, particularly related to stress, pain, and disease.
LO4 Apply current research findings to evaluate macro-social-cultural influences that affect health disparities among groups and communities.
LO5 Critically evaluate health psychology issues in contemporary society (e.g., racism in healthcare, vaccination hesitancy, cancer screening, palliative care practices).
Dependencies
Module Recommendations

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is required before enrolment on this module. While the prior learning is expressed as named NCI module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).
No recommendations listed
Co-requisite Modules
No Co-requisite modules listed
Entry requirements

There are no additional entry requirements for this module. The programme entry requirements apply.
 

Module Content & Assessment

Indicative Content
The module will take place across one semester (12 weeks), with a 1 hour lecture plus 1 hour tutorial each week. Students will be expected to engage in independent learning.
The module will commence with an introduction to the field; students will then learn about an individual’s contributions to health, macro-social-cultural influences on health, and theories of behaviour change. Building on this, students will examine stress and its relationship with illness, pain, disease management, and health disparities. They will apply their learning to contemporary issues in health psychology, that may include topics such as racism in healthcare, vaccination hesitancy, cancer screening, or palliative care practices. Students will help select the contemporary issues that are examined in the module.
Assessment Breakdown%
Coursework35.00%
End of Module Assessment65.00%

Assessments

Full Time

Coursework
Assessment Type: Continuous Assessment % of total: 35
Assessment Date: Week 11 Outcome addressed: 1,2,3
Non-Marked: No
Assessment Description:
Students will complete a health-behaviour self-modification intervention, which requires designing an intervention, collecting data, and working independently.
End of Module Assessment
Assessment Type: Terminal Exam % of total: 65
Assessment Date: End-of-Semester Outcome addressed: 1,2,3,4,5
Non-Marked: No
Assessment Description:
Students will take an exam covering any concept from class. The exam will be mostly MCQ, but may also include short answer and short essay questions.
No Workplace Assessment
Reassessment Requirement
Repeat failed items
The student must repeat any item failed
Reassessment Description
If a student fails the module overall, they must repeat all failed or missed assessments to adequately demonstrate their learning.  

NCIRL reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

Module Target Workload Hours 0 Hours
Workload: Full Time
Workload Type Workload Description Hours Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload
Lecture Classroom and demonstrations 12 Per Semester 1.00
Tutorial Mentoring and small-group tutoring 12 Per Semester 1.00
Independent Learning Independent learning 101 Per Semester 8.42
Total Weekly Contact Hours 2.00
 

Module Resources

Recommended Book Resources
  • Anisman, H. (2021), Health Psychology, 1st Ed. Sage, London, UK.
  • Marks, D., Murray, M., Evans, B. & Estacio, E.V. (2021), Health Psychology: Theory, Research, and Practice, 4th Ed. Sage, London, UK.
This module does not have any article/paper resources
This module does not have any other resources
Discussion Note: