Course Outline

PSY306 Psychology of Health and Wellbeing

Course Coordinator:Angela Hinz (ahinz@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Psychology

2024Semester 1

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC Moreton Bay

Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Please go to usc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

This course introduces you to major theoretical and empirical perspectives on the psychology of health and wellbeing. It examines the psychosocial determinants of health and wellness, and will allow you to see parallels with your own health priorities. It focuses on psychological methods of health protection and illness prevention. The role of health psychology in health care settings, behaviour, stress management and identification and treatment of chronic conditions and life threatening illnesses will be covered.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – 1 hour online learning materials not for timetable 1hr Week 1 13 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Workshop: On-campus attendance is required. 2hrs Week 1 13 times

Course Topics

This course will cover: an introduction to health psychology and health psychology research; health risk and health enhancing behaviour; methods for explaining and changing health behaviour; symptom perception; and stress and illness management.

What level is this course?

300 Level (Graduate)

Demonstrating coherence and breadth or depth of knowledge and skills. Independent application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts. Meeting professional requirements and AQF descriptors for the degree. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory or developing knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally undertaken in the third or fourth full-time study year of an undergraduate program.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... Professional Standard Mapping * Australian Psychology Accreditation Council
1 Research and describe strategies for explaining and changing health risk and health enhancing behaviour. Knowledgeable
1.1.2, 1.1.4
2 Understand the role of psychology in health and wellbeing. Sustainability-focussed
1.1.3, 1.1.7
3 Critically evaluate health psychology research and develop arguments that can be supported by relevant research literature. Creative and critical thinker
Engaged
1.1.12, 1.3, 1.5
4 Describe major concepts and theoretical approaches related to the biological and psychosocial determinants of health and wellbeing. Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker
Empowered
1.1.2, 1.1.4
5 Demonstrate an appreciation of diversity and the impact of culture and context with regard to the psychology of health and wellbeing. Ethical
1.1.1, 1.1.9

* Competencies by Professional Body

CODE COMPETENCY
Australian Psychology Accreditation Council
1.1.2 Graduates will be able to comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach, including individual differences in capacity, behaviour and personality
1.1.4 Graduates will be able to comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach, including psychological disorders and evidence-based interventions
1.1.3 Graduates will be able to comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach, including psychological health and well-being
1.1.7 Graduates will be able to comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach, including motivation and emotion
1.1.12 Graduates will be able to comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach, including research methods and statistics
1.1.1 Graduates will be able to comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach, including the history and philosophy underpinning the science of psychology and the social, cultural, historical and professional influences on the practice of psychology
1.1.9 Graduates will be able to comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach, including lifespan developmental psychology
1.3 Graduates will be able to analyse and critique theory and research in the discipline of psychology and communicate these in written and oral formats.
1.5 Graduates will be able to demonstrate interpersonal skills and teamwork.

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

(PSY200 and PSY201) OR PSY207 OR (PSY200 and SCI110 and enrolled in Program AE304 or SE303)

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Assistance will be provided in early workshops to prepare you for the first assessment task. This will include practical experience critically analysing health psychology research. You will be given informal feedback on this process in the workshops.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Oral Individual 25%
2 minutes 30 seconds/2 PowerPoint slides.
Throughout teaching period (refer to Format) In Class
All 2 Written Piece Individual 30%
2000 words
Week 9 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 3 Examination - Centrally Scheduled Individual 45%
2 hours
Exam Period Online Submission
All - Assessment Task 1:Oral PowerPoint Presentation
Goal:
Critically analyse and effectively communicate the implications of a recent peer-reviewed journal article in health psychology.
Product: Oral
Format:
Presentations will be scheduled to be presented during workshops between Week 5 and Week 13 (individual student presentation times to be provided at the beginning of semester).

Your presentation should demonstrate a strong critical analysis and the key implications of a recent peer-reviewed journal article in health psychology.

A more detailed outline of the requirements of this assessment will be provided on Canvas.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Description of study
3
2
Critical analysis and presentation of study results
3
3
Quality of delivery
3 4
4
Slide design
3
All - Assessment Task 2:Position Paper
Goal:
As a capstone experience, you will demonstrate an understanding of the scientist-practitioner model by using your knowledge to produce a paper that can be applied to assist both individuals and society.
Product: Written Piece
Format:
The position paper is a report that presents an evidence-based position regarding a how a chosen health behaviour can be changed.

APA style (7th ed) is required for in-text citations, reference list, and format.

The word limit for the position paper is 2000 words (excluding the title page and reference list). Work of submissions over the word count will not be read and will not contribute to the final grade for the task.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Detailed, coherent, and succinct executive summary of the position paper
1
2
Interesting and compelling introduction to the problem
1
3
Logic of structure, clarity of arguments, and health psychology theoretical focus; Critical thinking and synthesis – evaluation of the research
3 4
4
Make innovative and forward-thinking recommendations that are clear, concise and thoroughly-grounded in theory and research
3
5
Detailed, coherent, logical and succinct summary of key issues/concepts clearly highlighting an original solution from position argued
1 3
6
Appropriate layout; very fluent writing style; and correct use of APA style
3
All - Assessment Task 3:Exam
Goal:
To assess your knowledge of the course content. The end-of-semester examination will consist of multiple choice and short answer questions based on the materials covered in the learning materials, in the textbook, and in class.
Product: Examination - Centrally Scheduled
Format:
The 2 hour end of semester exam will consist of multiple-choice and short-answer questions.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Multiple-choice questions: Accuracy
2 4 5
2
Short-answer questions: Accuracy
2 4 5

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

Please note that you need to have regular access to the resource(s) listed below. Resources may be required or recommended.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Required Val Morrison,Paul Bennett,Phyllis Butow,Barbara Mullan,Louise Sharpe 2018 Introduction to Health Psychology in Australia 3rd ed Pearson Australia

Specific requirements

Nil

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation.  It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline.  This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person.  You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin.  This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:

The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%
The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale
You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct.

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate: 
- 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 
- 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day - 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 
- A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.

SafeUniSC

UniSC is committed to a culture of respect and providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community. For immediate assistance on campus contact SafeUniSC by phone: 07 5430 1168 or using the SafeZone app. For general enquires contact the SafeUniSC team by phone 07 5456 3864 or email safe@usc.edu.au.

The SafeUniSC Specialist Service is a Student Wellbeing service that provides free and confidential support to students who may have experienced or observed behaviour that could cause fear, offence or trauma. To contact the service call 07 5430 1226 or email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au.

Study help

For help with course-specific advice, for example what information to include in your assessment, you should first contact your tutor, then your course coordinator, if needed.

If you require additional assistance, the Learning Advisers are trained professionals who are ready to help you develop a wide range of academic skills. Visit the Learning Advisers web page for more information, or contact Student Central for further assistance: +61 7 5430 2890 or studentcentral@usc.edu.au.

Wellbeing Services

Student Wellbeing provide free and confidential counselling on a wide range of personal, academic, social and psychological matters, to foster positive mental health and wellbeing for your academic success.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 1226.

AccessAbility Services

Ability Advisers ensure equal access to all aspects of university life. If your studies are affected by a disability, learning disorder mental health issue, injury or illness, or you are a primary carer for someone with a disability or who is considered frail and aged, AccessAbility Services can provide access to appropriate reasonable adjustments and practical advice about the support and facilities available to you throughout the University.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email AccessAbility@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 2890.

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

  • In person:
    • UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
    • UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
    • UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
    • UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
    • UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
    • UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
  • Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
  • Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au