Article archive / September 1, 2010
Originally published: . Volume 2, No. 1. Source pages: 7.
In the minds of many psychologists, Health Psychology is the application of clinical psychology services provided in a health care facility to clients who are primarily medical patients. But this is just a facet of health psychology–it is much more. Health psychology, also the name of an academic discipline, is the scientific study of the psychological factors and physical health. The impact of behavior on health, the study of the healthcare delivery system, and the psychological sequella of physical illness, are just a few avenues of investigation that concerns the health psychology field.
Among Louisiana’s psychologists who identify themselves as Health Psychologists is Linda Brannon, PhD, psychology professor at McNeese State University in Lake Charles. Dr. Brannon has devoted much of her professional life to research, writing and teaching in the field of health psychology. Her books have been translated into languages as diverse as Korean and Polish, making her an international, as well as a national expert in the field. Her popular textbyook, Health Psychology: An Introduction to Behavior and Health is in its 7th edition and is credited for its scholarship and balanced coverage of cognitive, behavioral and biological factors that affect human health.
Dr. Brannon has also linked her work in health psychology with her work in gender. Her book Gender: Psychological Perspectives is coming out this October in a 6th edition.
Studies of gender may not intuitively surface when one thinks of health psychology, yet gender constitutes an important factor in health care and psychology. Gender specific hormones and chromosomes have determining influences on both health and psychological function. Conversely, psychological functioning and behavior influence hormone secretions and the expression of genes, which in turn can influence affect and motivate behavior. Sexual function most obviously exemplifies this confluence of body and mind, biological functioning, psychological well-being, and differences between men and women.
Understanding gender, psychology and health helps to shine a light on this broad, rich field but still highlights only the surface.
Scientists and clinicians observe differences between the genders in the expression of their mental health problems and the biological sequella. Health concerns common for women such as infertility, breast cancer, or menstrual disorders can have a profound effect on psychological well-being. For men, cardiovascular health, erectile dysfunction, and prostate cancer have analogous reciprocating influences, body to mind, mind to body. For example we know that men can have breast cancer, but with a different psychological impact. Today, women are increasingly prone to stress related illnesses and cardiovascular disease, previously thought to belong almost solely to men.
Cultural demands, socially prescribed roles, and gender identity can come into play. For example, depression and eating disorders are psychological disorders commonly bringing women into psychological treatment and have a profound effect on their physical health. But, recent observations show an increase in depression and eating disorders among men, or perhaps less gender bias in diagnosing male patients with these disorders.
We can thank health psychologists like Dr. Brannon for bringing these realities to our awareness and continually updating our knowledge through their research.
Please send your questions and comments about health psychology to cweyand@cooper.net.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.