Question

Name two important areas of health psychology that require more research, current research findings, and why do they require further study?

Answer 1

Two important areas of health psychology that require more research are:

1- Behavioural counseling

2- Role of behavior in health

There is a great need to start multidisciplinary approach based on the foundation of the biopsychosocial paradigm. There is a lot of research work present in individual fields but their cross-sectional impacts are not studied properly.

• Behavioural counseling isn't developed such that it can be integrated with clinical health care. This has to be studies as to how integration can be made. There are guidelines present for behavioural counseling but there is no methodology devised to apply them in reality.

• Similarly, role of behavior in health has to be studied and not just biological factors alone that causes chronic diseases. Lack of exercise, self-neglect and abuse, sexual abuse, addiction and other psychological factors lead to chronic ailments. This relationship has to be researched in greater detail especially in regions which are getting pervasive than ever like depression and lifestyle diseases.

They require further studies so that new methodologies can be devised to integrate various fields and new causation-effect can be known in multidisciplinary approach. This is important to know the effects of behavior that were unknown before on health or if known but were not studied. This will facilitate to develop new approaches and methodologies to leverage behavioral counselling which will have a positive impact on health sector and on society. Research in both the fields will help reduce the out-of-pocket expenditure of common people and will facilitate change in behaviour of individuals and society as a whole to achieve the best possible health.