Includes bibliographical references and index.

Part 1, The context of health psychology -- Introduction to health psychology -- Health inequalities -- Part 2, Health beliefs, behaviour and behaviour change -- Health beliefs -- Addictive behaviours -- Eating behaviour -- Exercise -- Sex -- Health promotion: changing health behaviours -- Part 3, Becoming ill -- Illness cognitions -- Accessing health care -- Stress -- Stress and illness -- Part 4, Being ill -- Pain and the placebo effect -- HIV and cancer: psychology throughout the course of illness -- Obesity and coronary heart disease: psychology throughout the course of illness -- Women's health issues -- Men's health issues -- Measuring health status: from mortality rates to quality of life -- Part 5, Reflecting on health psychology -- Critical health psychology.

This is an accessible and comprehensive guide to all the major topics of health psychology, including a new chapter on women's health. It is essential reading for all students and researchers of health psychology and for students of medicine, nursing and allied health courses.