Fatima Health Psychology Case Study

Health Psychology: Psychological constructs at various stages of Fatima's health

Introduction

Health Psychology is seen as the study of illnesses while focusing mainly on health behavior, illness beliefs, behavior change and health outcomes (Ogden 2017). Basically, health Psychology is the study of how psychology contributes to any physical health problem. The biomedical model states that illness come from outside the body and causes a physical change within (Ogden 2017) Health psychology believes that we need a combination of the biomedical and psychological approach to health and illness but so far there has been challenges. (Robert 2009) "The challenge for contemporary health psychology is to develop integration with clinical health care".

This works negatively as it had caused her not to seek help. Due to her lack of social support from friends or family she had no one urging her to make changes in her diet or to see a doctor. A lack of social support proved to be detrimental to Fatima. Because Fatima is a single mom she is motivated by her kids. Her need to provide for then has pushed her to work a fifty hour work week; the long hour though affects her health. Based on the fact that Fatima is employed but not making enough money to adequately support herself and her kids it can be assumed that she has not acquired a high level of education. Education plays a vital role in illness; more educated individuals usually are aware of their risk factors and seek help sooner. (Hampson, Edmonds, Goldberg, Dubanoski, Hillier 2015) states "education may increase knowledge and understanding of health-enhancing behaviors and their importance for disease prevention and management." Habit is what caused Fatima to be in her predicament. She maintained her habit of eating with her kids. She, however, was getting older and should have been consuming fruits and vegetables. She also had the habit of working long hours due partly to the stress and being the sole breadwinner for her small family. Nonetheless, her habits proved to be damaging to her health as eventually she was diagnosed with Hypertension. It is

Health psychology is a system that postulates that not just one approach but rather a dual approach should be administered when thinking about health and illnesses. Health psychology has four theories that are used, the biopsychosocial model, health and illness as a continuum, direct and indirect pathways between health and illness and a focus on variability. Constructs are behavioral patterns accepted by society or culture used as predictors of outcomes. The constructs of habit, delayed help-seeking, lack of support and being overworked are what was seen in the case of