Learning outcomes

Purpose

The purpose of the course is to provide basic knowledge in public health issues at different levels, e.g., at individual, national, and international levels. Furthermore, a holistic view of human health is presented, both in relation to a person's individual capacities and to his or her surroundings.

After completing the course the student should be able to:

- give a general account of the area of public health,

- account for the main features of policy and strategies for public health work, nationally as well as internationally,

- understand and describe important concepts and determining factors within public health

- account for different theories on stress,

- exemplify and analyse different environmental stressors, the complexity of the stress response, and psychological manifestations of acute and chronic stress,

- discuss the significance of social and cultural processes and social ecology for individual stress reactions and possibilities of recovery,

- account for a behavioural medicine perspective and its treatment principles with regard to significant public health problems such as obesity, alcohol- and tobacco addiction, and chronic pain.

Content

This course content consists of three parts, a public health perspective, a person-environment perspective, and a behavioural medicine perspective. In the first part, the most common public health problems of today are presented. Biological and social determining factors, as well as the role of environmental factors for health and illness are treated with a focus on health promotion and preventive measures.

In the second part, the complexity of the stress response is analysed, different types of environmental stressors are brought to the fore, and psychological manifestations of stress are identified. In addition, different types of coping strategies are described as well as the concept of recovery.

In the third part, an introduction to analysis within behavioural medicine is given, and treatment programmes for problems such as obesity, alcohol- and tobacco addiction, and diffuse muscular pain.

Instruction

Teaching consists of lectures and seminars.

Assessment

The course is examined by a written test and participating in seminars. Grades are pass/fail.

Other regulations

Instructions are stated on the syllabus or schedule or other information prior to the start of the course or course section. Students who do not meet the requirements for course completion are normally given the opportunity to make them up the following semester.

Transitional provisions

Students should have completed at least 120 points within the M. Sc. Programme in Psychology