Course Description
The systems, structures, and behaviors that support and promote health across the lifespan; focuses on health from pre-natal development through older age from a public health perspective.
Athena Title
Lifespan Health Psychology
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in GRNT 7200E
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
1. Interpret health in a broad social context and apply definitions of health to five basic age classifications: pre-natal period, infancy, childhood, adulthood, and older adulthood 2. Evaluate basic disease states and health outcomes germane to each of the five basic age classifications 3. Analyze the systems and contexts in which health is promoted 4. Evaluate the scientific literature regarding pro-health behaviors and disease outcomes in these age classifications 5. Develop, based on the evidence, public health guidelines for the promotion of health behaviors for each of these health classifications
Topical Outline
I. Defining health from the public health and biopsychosocial perspectives II. Distinguishing “health” from “absence of disease” – historical perspectives from Galen to now III. Social factors relating to health: social justice IV. Social factors relating to health: defining demographics within a continuous variable: age V. Psychological factors relating to health: health behaviors VI. Psychological factors relating to health: behavioral change and health promotion VII. Biological factors relating to health: Biology of aging VIII. Biological factors relating to health: Aging and specific disease states (cardiovascular disease, Type II diabetes, dementia, cancers)