Health promotion : a psychosocial approach / Christine Stephens.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Stephens, Christine.

Series:

Health psychology

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Health promotion--Social aspects.

Health promotion.

Health promotion--Psychological aspects.

Physical Description:

x, 239 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

Maidenhead, Berkshire ; New York : Open University Press : McGraw-Hill, [2008]

Summary:

Can the health of individuals be improved through community health programmes?

How can community health promotion programmes be more effective?

How is health awareness measured and evaluated?

In recent years, health promoters have focused their attention not just on individual lifestyle change, but on daily social and physical conditions that surround the individual. They are now looking towards lifestyle change based on community or socially-based interventions.

This book argues for the importance of theoretical explanations that inform investigations of the social context of daily life, the social relations that affect opportunities for healthy lives, and the needs of communities. Examining theories from a critical and values oriented perspective, it looks at current theories of health and health promotion, and discusses why health inequalities exist.

The book includes a practical grounding, using examples of community health promotion practice, such as community arts and local community models, based on material and research from Britain, New Zealand, Canada, the USA and South America. The media's role in health promotion is also investigated, drawing on current media theory and examining media representation and the public's interpretative response. Issues surrounding the evaluation of health promotion programmes are also discussed.

Health Promotion: A Psychosocial Approach provides a critical and theoretical basis for practice in social and community approaches to health promotion. It is key reading for postgraduate students of health psychology or community psychology, as well as qualified practitioners in public health areas who are developing theory based community programmes.

Contents:

1 Health and health promotion as social practice 5

2 Issues in health promotion 21

3 Social inequalities and health 46

4 Psychological and social explanations for health 68

5 Conducting community health research 97

6 Theories and models for community health promotion 117

7 Socially based interventions and programmes 148

8 Evaluation of health promotion programmes 178.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [204]-224) and index.

ISBN:

9780335222094

0335222099

0335222080

9780335222087

OCLC:

225873553