Key facts

UNE unit code: PSYC304

*You are viewing the 2027 version of this unit which may be subject to change in future.

Start
  • Trimester 2 - Online
24/7 online support
  • Yes
Intensive schools
  • No
Supervised exam
  • Yes
Credit points
  • 6

Unit information

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An understanding of health psychology and the psychological factors affecting health and wellbeing is invaluable in a range of settings in our rapidly changing society.

With a comprehensive introduction to the key concepts and areas of health psychology, this unit covers topics including behaviour models, diet, regional and urban population health, Australian Indigenous and Torres Strait Islanders people and non-Indigenous health, exercise, sleep, drug use, and disease-related behaviour.

You will develop an appreciation of how health is affected by an individual’s behaviour, given different social environments and biological factors.

Exploring the effects of stressors on health and relevant buffering factors, you will also learn about the effect that health status and changes in health may have on behaviour.

To understand how to promote positive health-related behaviour, you will also examine the factors underlying positive and negative changes in health-related behaviour.

Offerings

For further information about UNE's teaching periods, please go to Principal Dates.

Teaching period
Mode/location
Trimester 2Online

*Offering is subject to availability

Intensive schools

There are no intensive schools required for this unit.

Enrolment rules

Pre-requisites
18cp at 200 level in PSYC including PSYC202

Notes

Please refer to the student handbook for current details on this unit.

Unit coordinator(s)

profile photo of John Scott-Hamilton
John Scott-HamiltonSenior Lecturer - Faculty of Medicine and Health; School of Psychology

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:

  1. demonstrate coherent theoretical knowledge of how an individual's behaviour, given different social, individual, and environmental factors, affects health;
  2. independently evaluate and interpret the effects of stressors on health and the relevant risk and protective factors of health;
  3. identify underlying factors for positive and negative changes in health-related behaviour, using this information to demonstrate knowledge and judgement in how to promote positive health related behaviour; and
  4. analyse and interpret the effects health status and changes in health may have on an individual's behaviour.

Assessment information

Assessments are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.

TitleMust CompleteWeightOfferingsAssessment Notes
Assessment 1Yes15%All offerings

Practical, health psychology in practice (a person centre approach). It is mandatory to complete this assessment task.

No. Words: 1250

Assessment 2Yes35%All offerings

Report, health psychology related matters. It is mandatory to complete this assessment task.

No. Words: 2500

Final Examination - Assurance TaskYes50%All offerings

There is a supervised exam at the end of the teaching period in which you are enrolled. The exam will be offered online with supervision via webcam and screen sharing technology. Coordinated by UNE Exams Unit.

To pass this unit, you must achieve at least 50% in this task, and meet all other passing requirements in the unit. 

No. Words: 2000

Learning resources

Textbooks are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.

Note: Students are expected to purchase prescribed material. Please note that textbook requirements may vary from one teaching period to the next.

Health Psychology in Australia

ISBN: 9781316623954

Dorrian, J., Thorsteinsson, E., Di Benedetto, M., Lane-Krebs, K., Day, M., Hutchinson, A. and Sherman, K., Cambridge University Press 2017

Text refers to: All offerings

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