Health Psychology

Health Psychology (also known as Medical Psychology or Behavioral Medicine) is a scientific discipline which examines how biological characteristics (e.g., immune system, genetics), behavioral factors (e.g., lifestyle, coping skills, health beliefs), psychological factors (e.g., stress, personality, self-efficacy) and social conditions (e.g., cultural influences, social support) interact to influence health and illness. Health Psychology faculty in our department are conducting innovative research in a number of applied settings and with diverse populations that include:

• Identification of disease risk: studies designed to identify biological, behavioral, and/or psychosocial risk factors that either lead to increased disease susceptibility or help to improve one's health risk status
• Health promotion and disease prevention: studies designed to identify efficacious strategies for promoting health and preventing disease onset among at-risk individuals or communities; includes the development and evaluation of individual, group, and structural level interventions
• Psychosocial adjustment to chronic illness: studies designed to examine factors associated with the recovery, rehabilitation, and/or psychological adjustment of patients with serious health conditions (e.g., HIV, diabetes, chronic pain)

Faculty

• James Amirkhan, Ph.D. (Professor): Assessing individual differences and psychosocial factors contributing to the etiology of disease; Stress and coping; Attribution theory
• Chi-Ah Chun, Ph.D. (Associate Professor): Cultural variations in stress and coping; Asian-American health; Health services and treatment outcomes for ethnic minorities
• Dennis G. Fisher, Ph.D. (Professor): HIV and other STI prevention; Drug abuse and injection drug use risk for infectious disease; Sexual health risk behaviors
• Guido Urizar, Ph.D. (Assistant Professor): Behavioral medicine in community-based settings; Cardiac psychology; Maternal & infant health; Psychoneuroendocrinology
• Bianca Wilson, Ph.D. (Assistant Professor): Culture and oppression in health and health care access among racial and sexual minorities; Community-based health promotion program development and evaluation

The Center for Behavioral Research and Services (CBRS), directed by Dr. Dennis Fisher, is an integral part of the Health Psychology program. The CBRS provides community outreach and conducts research with a focus on HIV prevention, substance abuse, and health promotion with medically underserved populations.

The Masters of Research (MAR) Program is a two-year, full time program which offers students an opportunity to gain research training and experience with Health Psychology faculty and helps prepare students for entry to doctoral programs. A doctoral degree in Health Psychology provides students with opportunities for careers in medical, community, and academic settings.