The students will learn about the biopsychosocial model of health and illness. We will explore the social and
psychological determinants of good physical and mental health. Through experience the students will learn about
the promotion of health behavior. At the seminar the students will have to journal their own health behavior in a selected topic. Through discussions
the students will formulate hypotheses about the difficulties people face when maintaining health behavior. The
students will have to write an essay of 3-5 pages long in their own selected topic. The students will form groups
and plan an awareness day or an intervention program in the selected topic and present to the participants of the
seminar. The planned activities on this seminar will be lecturing, reading, writing, discussing key topics of health behavior,
and student presentations.
Poslední úprava: Zakreski Ellen, Ph.D. (01.10.2026)
The students will learn about the biopsychosocial model of health and illness. We will explore the social and
psychological determinants of good physical and mental health. Through experience the students will learn about
the promotion of health behavior. At the seminar the students will have to journal their own health behavior in a selected topic. Through discussions
the students will formulate hypotheses about the difficulties people face when maintaining health behavior. The
students will have to write an essay of 3-5 pages long in their own selected topic. The students will form groups
and plan an awareness day or an intervention program in the selected topic and present to the participants of the
seminar. The planned activities on this seminar will be lecturing, reading, writing, discussing key topics of health behavior,
and student presentations.
Poslední úprava: Zakreski Ellen, Ph.D. (12.09.2026)
Podmínky zakončení předmětu -
Conditions of the course completion
Participation on the seminar (maximum 3 missed classes). Active participation on the activities during the class. Preparing homework assignments (including a health jounal). A groupn presentations in the topic of choice. The student can choose to write an essay on a selected topic in health psychology or they can choose to write an exam covering the lecture materials. The student can choose to do both the essay and the test and the highest grade will be used for the final grade in the course.
Grading
50% test or essay, 20% group presentation, 20% assignments (including health journal), 10% class attendance.
Poslední úprava: Zakreski Ellen, Ph.D. (28.09.2026)
Conditions of the course completion
Participation on the seminar (maximum 3 missed classes). Active participation on the activities during the class. Preparing homework assignments (including a health jounal). A groupn presentations in the topic of choice. The student can choose to write an essay on a selected topic in health psychology or they can choose to write an exam covering the lecture materials. The student can choose to do both the essay and the test and the highest grade will be used for the final grade in the course.
Grading
50% test or essay, 20% group presentation, 20% assignments (including health journal), 10% class attendance.
Poslední úprava: Zakreski Ellen, Ph.D. (28.09.2026)
Sylabus -
1. 1 October 2026: What is health psychology and the use of proper academic sources
2. 8 October 2026: Modern health worries
3. 15 October 2026: Health behaviors
4. 22 October 2026: Gender, SES, culture, and health
5. 29 October 2026: Stress
6. 5 November 2026: Positive psychology and resilience
7. 12 November 2026: Preparation for groups presentations
8. 19 November 2026: Addiction and drug abuse prevention
9. 26 November 2026: Suggestive communication
10. 3 December 2026: Sexuality and gender
11. 10 December 2026: Student presentation
12. 17 December 2026: Student presentation
13. 7 January 2027: Final exam
Poslední úprava: Zakreski Ellen, Ph.D. (01.10.2026)
1. 1 October 2026: What is health psychology and the use of proper academic sources
2. 8 October 2026: Modern health worries
3. 15 October 2026: Health behaviors
4. 22 October 2026: Gender, SES, culture, and health
5. 29 October 2026: Stress
6. 5 November 2026: Positive psychology and resilience
7. 12 November 2026: Preparation for groups presentations
8. 19 November 2026: Addiction and drug abuse prevention
9. 26 November 2026: Suggestive communication
10. 3 December 2026: Sexuality and gender
11. 10 December 2026: Student presentation
12. 17 December 2026: Student presentation
13. 7 January 2027: Final exam
Poslední úprava: Zakreski Ellen, Ph.D. (01.10.2026)
Recommended Readings for the SMART goals assignment and health journals (i.e., inspiration for things you can do to meet your SMART goal)
Deliens, T., Van Crombruggen, R., Verbruggen, S., De Bourdeaudhuij, I., Deforche, B., & Clarys, P. (2016). Dietary interventions among university students: A systematic review. Appetite, 105, 14–26.
Friedrich, A., & Schlarb, A. A. (2018). Let's talk about sleep: a systematic review of psychological interventions to improve sleep in college students. Journal of Sleep Research, 27, 4-22.
Witkiewitz, K., Marlatt, G. A., & Walker, D. (2005). Mindfulness-based relapse prevention for alcohol and substance use disorders. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 19, 211-228.
Other recommended reading:
Addis, M. E., & Mahalik, J. R. (2003). Men, masculinity, and the contexts of help seeking. American psychologist, 58, 5-14.
Adler, N. E. (2009). Health disparities through a psychological lens. American Psychologist, 64, 663-673.
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2012). Self-determination theory in health care and its relations to motivational interviewing: a few comments. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 9, 1-6.
Evans, G. W., & McCoy, J. M. (1998). When buildings don’t work: The role of architecture in human health. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 18, 85-94.
Lyons, A. C., & Chamberlain, K. (2006). Health Psychology: A Critical Introduction. Cambridge University Press.
McEwen, B. (1998). Stress, adaptation, and disease: Allostasis and allostatic load. Annals of New York Academy of Science, 840, 33-44.
Robinson, T. E. & Berridge, K. C. (2003). Addiction. Annual Review of Psychology, 54, 25-53.
Rollnick, S., Butler, C. C., Kinnersley, P., Gregory, J., & Mash, B. (2010). Motivational interviewing. British Medical Journal, 340, c1900.
Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (2004). Posttraumatic growth: conceptual foundations and empirical evidence. Psychological Inquiry, 15, 1-18.
Trummer, U. F., Mueller, U. O., Nowak, P., Stidl, T., & Pelikan, J. M. (2006). Does physician–patient communication that aims at empowering patients improve clinical outcome?: A case study. Patient Education and Counseling, 61, 299-306.
van Dulmen, S., Sluijs, E., Van Dijk, L., de Ridder, D., Heerdink, R., & Bensing, J. (2007). Patient adherence to medical treatment: a review of reviews. BMC Health Services Research, 7, 1-13.
Poslední úprava: Zakreski Ellen, Ph.D. (01.10.2026)
Recommended Readings for the SMART goals assignment and health journals (i.e., inspiration for things you can do to meet your SMART goal)
Deliens, T., Van Crombruggen, R., Verbruggen, S., De Bourdeaudhuij, I., Deforche, B., & Clarys, P. (2016). Dietary interventions among university students: A systematic review. Appetite, 105, 14–26.
Friedrich, A., & Schlarb, A. A. (2018). Let's talk about sleep: a systematic review of psychological interventions to improve sleep in college students. Journal of Sleep Research, 27, 4-22.
Witkiewitz, K., Marlatt, G. A., & Walker, D. (2005). Mindfulness-based relapse prevention for alcohol and substance use disorders. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 19, 211-228.
Other recommended reading:
Addis, M. E., & Mahalik, J. R. (2003). Men, masculinity, and the contexts of help seeking. American psychologist, 58, 5-14.
Adler, N. E. (2009). Health disparities through a psychological lens. American Psychologist, 64, 663-673.
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2012). Self-determination theory in health care and its relations to motivational interviewing: a few comments. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 9, 1-6.
Evans, G. W., & McCoy, J. M. (1998). When buildings don’t work: The role of architecture in human health. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 18, 85-94.
Lyons, A. C., & Chamberlain, K. (2006). Health Psychology: A Critical Introduction. Cambridge University Press.
McEwen, B. (1998). Stress, adaptation, and disease: Allostasis and allostatic load. Annals of New York Academy of Science, 840, 33-44.
Robinson, T. E. & Berridge, K. C. (2003). Addiction. Annual Review of Psychology, 54, 25-53.
Rollnick, S., Butler, C. C., Kinnersley, P., Gregory, J., & Mash, B. (2010). Motivational interviewing. British Medical Journal, 340, c1900.
Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (2004). Posttraumatic growth: conceptual foundations and empirical evidence. Psychological Inquiry, 15, 1-18.
Trummer, U. F., Mueller, U. O., Nowak, P., Stidl, T., & Pelikan, J. M. (2006). Does physician–patient communication that aims at empowering patients improve clinical outcome?: A case study. Patient Education and Counseling, 61, 299-306.
van Dulmen, S., Sluijs, E., Van Dijk, L., de Ridder, D., Heerdink, R., & Bensing, J. (2007). Patient adherence to medical treatment: a review of reviews. BMC Health Services Research, 7, 1-13.
Poslední úprava: Zakreski Ellen, Ph.D. (01.10.2026)
Podmínky zápisu předmětu -
Prerequisite of this course is to pass the Introduction to Psychology lecture. Exceptions can be made on an individual basis, please send an email to discuss this.
Poslední úprava: Horáčková Karolína, Mgr. (24.06.2025)
Prerequisite of this course is to pass the Introduction to Psychology lecture. Exceptions can be made on an individual basis, please send an email to discuss this.
Poslední úprava: Horáčková Karolína, Mgr. (24.06.2025)
