Study questions + answers -
Health Psychology Subtest1
Chapter 1
1. Where on the internet can you find reliable (Dutch, European or worldwide)
epidemiological information about geographical variability in health status, in
determinants of health, and availability of care? (ppt)
● Dutch Sources: VZinfo
● European Sources: ECHI-data tool (European Core Health Indicators), Eurostat,
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
● Worldwide Sources: World Health Organization (WHO), Global Burden of Disease
Study
1. Describe some differences between worldwide and European statistics in the leading
causes of death (p6,7) Describe the most significant changes in causes of death
between 1900 and those from recent years? (p6)
● Worldwide: Leading causes often include infectious diseases (e.g., lower respiratory
infections, HIV/AIDS).
● European: Chronic diseases (e.g., heart disease, cancer) are more prevalent due to
lifestyle factors.
● 1900: Predominantly infectious diseases (e.g., pneumonia, tuberculosis).
● Recent Years: Shift towards chronic diseases (e.g., heart disease, diabetes) due to
improved sanitation, vaccination, and healthcare.
2. What is the difference between ‘life expectancy’ and ‘healthy life expectancy’ (as
described by the WHO (p6)
● Life Expectancy: Average number of years a newborn is expected to live.
● Healthy Life Expectancy: Average number of years lived in good health, accounting
for years lived with illness or disability.
3. Try to find on the internet which are the top-10 leading causes of death in the country
of your origin (for example). To what extend are these similar to the top-10 worldwide
causes of death, reported by Morrison & Bennet? (p7) Which differences exist? And
can you think of explanations for any differences?
4. Describe, using examples, how models of the mind-body relationships have changed
over time (9-11)
,5. Describe what is meant by dualism (p10). What is the opposite of dualism? (p11)
What is the most recent vision regarding mind-body relationship? (p12)
● Historical Models:
a. Dualism: Mind and body as separate entities (e.g., Descartes).
b. Monism: Mind and body as interconnected (e.g., biopsychosocial model).
● Recent Vision: Emphasizes the interaction between biological, psychological, and
social factors.
6. Describe how the biopsychosocial model of health differs from the biomedical model
(p11-14) Try to think of at least three phenomena that do not fit into the biomedical
mode
● Biomedical Model: Focuses solely on biological factors and disregards
psychological and social influences.
● Biopsychosocial Model: Integrates biological, psychological, and social factors in
understanding health and illness.
● Phenomena Not Fitting Biomedical Model:
a. Chronic pain without a clear biological cause
b. Psychogenic illnesses
c. Placebo and nocebo effect
7. Try to think of at least one biological, psychological and social factor that may
influence the development of obesity. Similar question for development of cancer and
depression.
● Obesity:
a. Biological: Genetic predisposition.
b. Psychological: Emotional eating.
c. Social: Availability of healthy food options.
● Cancer:
d. Biological: Genetic mutations.
e. Psychological: Stress and coping mechanisms.
f. Social: Environmental exposures.
● Depression:
g. Biological: Neurotransmitter imbalances.
h. Psychological: Cognitive distortions.
, i. Social: Lack of social support.
8. Individuals largely differ on their conceptions about what health is. Cox et al (1993)
asked over 9.000 members of the general public about their (lay) perceptions about
Health. Which 6 dimensions were identified based upon the results? (p15-16, ppt).
How do these 6 dimensions relate to the three categories distinguished by Bennett
(2000) on p15?
Cox et al. identified six dimensions:
- Not being ill
- Health as a reserve
- Health as behavior
- Health as physical fitness and vitality
- Health as psychological well-being
- Health as a function
These relate to Bennett's categories of health as 'being', 'having', and 'doing'.
9. Why could one say that health is ‘a relative state of being’? (p17)
Health is considered a relative state because it varies based on individual perceptions,
cultural contexts, and societal norms.
10. What is the WHO-definition of Health? (p17, ppt). Critical thinking: Would you say
that ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is a health problem according to
this definition? How about menopause? and homosexuality?
"a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of
disease or infirmity."
● ADHD: Could be considered a health problem as it affects functioning
● Menopause: Often viewed as a natural transition, but can have health implications.
● Homosexuality: Historically pathologized, but is now recognized as a normal
variation of human sexuality.
11. Describe, using examples (preferably from your own experiences), how cultural
beliefs may influence conceptions of health and illness experience (p17-20) How do
collectivistic cultures and individualistic cultures differ in their approach to health?
(p18-19)
Cultural beliefs significantly influence health perceptions and experiences. For example,
some cultures may view mental illness as a spiritual issue rather than a medical one.
● Collectivistic Cultures: Emphasize community and family support in health.
● Individualistic Cultures: Focus on personal responsibility and autonomy in health
decisions.
, 12. What is meant by a ‘holistic view’ of health? (p18)
A holistic view of health considers the whole person, including physical, mental, emotional,
and social aspects, rather than just the absence of disease.
13. Conceptualisations of health (or the impact of a certain disease) can vary across the
life span.
Bibace and Walsh (1980)) examined how cognitive development can influence
conceptualisations of health and illness (p21-23). Give some examples of how illness
concepts change during childhood and adolescence? According to Morrisson and
Bennett, a limitiation of the study of Bibace and Walsh is that it predominantly looks
at the issue of illness causality; what other factors could have been studied? (p23)
Piaget’s stages of cognitive development Illness concept
Sensorimotor (birth-2 years) Incomprehension
Preoperational stage (2-7 years) Phenomenonism: associate illness with signs
or sounds - coughing
Contagion: illness caused by person or object
Concrete operational (7-11 years) Contamination: multiple symptoms can belong
to an illness, spread through germs
Internalisation: illness caused by processes
within the body
Formal operational (12-adulthood) Physiological: ability to define illness in terms
of biological processes
Psychophysiological: understanding of mind
and body connection
➔ Severity and controllability influence illness concepts
14. Critical thinking: what other life span issues (other than cognitive development) may
be of influence on the conceptualisation of health and on the experience of illness?
(see also p 21-25)
Cultural background, SES, life events
15. What is Mattarazzo’s definition of Health Psychology? (ppt, p28)
The aggregate of specific educational, scientific and professional contribution of the
discipline to psychology to the promotion and maintenance of health, the prevention and
treatment of illness and related dysfunction
16. Give an example of a “descriptive study-question” relevant for Health Psychology
(other than that mentioned on p28). What would be an example of a predictive study-
question? Give examples of qualitative and quantitative research questions that HP
are interested in. (preferable other than those described at p28)
Descriptive study question → what are the common coping strategis of patients
with cancer?
