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LocationDomesticInternational
Coffs Harbour
Term2,4
Term2,4
Gold Coast
Term2,4
Term2,4
Online
Term2,4
Term2,4

Unit description

Provides students with basic principles, theories and application of health psychology. This covers various issues including: adaptation to and management of illness and symptoms, pain perception, and adherence to medicines/treatment recommendations. Through collaborative tutorial learning in using scenarios with different characters, and the use of online discussion forums, students will consider the meaning of health and illness in differing contexts and apply health psychology theory.  Students will also record a podcast on a health behaviour change intervention.

Unit content

  1. Defining health and illness – psychological models of health
  2. Pain and symptom perception
  3. Adherence to medicines/treatment
  4. Emotions and health
  5. Basics of health behaviour change 1
  6. Basics of health behaviour change 2

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:
1compare multiple definitions of health and subsequent implications for engagement with health services
2align influences on pain/symptom experience with adherence to treatment
3describe alignments between personality traits, emotions and health behaviours
4discuss primary, secondary and tertiary health behaviour change alongside relevant psychological models of health

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. compare multiple definitions of health and subsequent implications for engagement with health services
  2. align influences on pain/symptom experience with adherence to treatment
  3. describe alignments between personality traits, emotions and health behaviours
  4. discuss primary, secondary and tertiary health behaviour change alongside relevant psychological models of health

Prescribed Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts
  • No prescribed texts.
Prescribed Resources/Equipment
  • No prescribed resources/equipment.

Prescribed Texts
  • Prescribed text information is not currently available.
Prescribed Resources/Equipment
  • Prescribed resources/equipment information is not currently available.
Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods

Teaching and assessment

Teaching method
Workshop 1 hr (Weekly)
Tutorial 2 hrs (Weekly)
Assessment
Discussion board45%
Presentation55%

Teaching method
Workshop 1 hr (Weekly)
Tutorial 2 hrs (Weekly)
Assessment
Discussion board45%
Presentation55%

Teaching method
Workshop 1 hr (Weekly)
Tutorial 2 hrs (Weekly)
Assessment
Discussion board45%
Presentation55%
Notice

Intensive offerings may or may not be scheduled in every teaching period. Please refer to the timetable for further details.

Southern Cross University employs different teaching methods within units to provide students with the flexibility to choose the mode of learning that best suits them. SCU academics strive to use the latest approaches and, as a result, the learning modes and materials may change. The most current information regarding a unit will be provided to enrolled students at the beginning of the teaching period.

Fee information

Domestic

Commonwealth Supported courses
For information regarding Student Contribution Amounts please visit the Student Contribution Amounts.

Fee paying courses
For postgraduate or undergraduate full fee paying courses please check Domestic Postgraduate Fees OR Domestic Undergraduate Fees

International

Please check the international course and fee list to determine the relevant fees.

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