The flaws in today's healthcare systems and practices are well-documented: millions remain far from optimal health due to a variety of psychological and social factors; large numbers of patients do not fully cooperate with medical advice; errors in medical decision-making -- some stemming from flaws in interpersonal relations -- regularly lead to needless suffering and death. Further, the effects of emotions, personality, and motivation on healing are not well incorporated into traditional medical care. The Oxford Handbook of Health Psychology compiles the most relevant scholarship from psychology, medicine, and public health to offer a thorough and authoritative model of the biopsychosocial approach to health. A collection of international contributors addresses all relevant concepts in this model, including its applications to health promotion, health behavior change, and treatment.

The Oxford Handbook of Health Psychology brings together preeminent experts to provide a comprehensive view of key concepts, tools, and findings of this rapidly expanding core discipline.

The Oxford Handbook of Stress, Health, and Coping is an essential reference work for students, practitioners, and researchers across the fields of health psychology, medicine, and palliative care. Featuring 22 topic-based chapters -- including two by Folkman -- this volume offers unprecedented coverage of the two primary research topics related to stress and coping: mitigating stress-related harms and sustaining well-being in the face of stress. Both topics are addressed within their relevant contexts, including chronic illness, calamity, bereavement, and social hardship. This handbook is sure to serve as the benchmark publication in this growing field for years to come.

Most health research to date has been pursued within the confines of scientific disciplines that are guided by their own targeted questions and research strategies. Although useful, such inquiries are inherently limited in advancing understanding the interplay of wide-ranging factors that shape human health. The Oxford Handbook of Integrative Health Science embraces an integrative approach that seeks to put together sociodemographic factors (age, gender, race, socioeconomic status) known to contour rates of morbidity and mortality with psychosocial factors (emotion, cognition, personality, well-being, social connections), behavioral factors (health practices) and stress exposures (caregiving responsibilities, divorce, discrimination) also known to influence health. A further overarching theme is to explicate the biological pathways through which these various effects occur. The biopsychosocial leitmotif that inspires this approach demands new kinds of studies wherein wide-ranging assessments across different domains are assembled on large population samples. The MIDUS (Midlife in the U.S.) national longitudinal study exemplifies such an integrative study, and all findings presented in this collection draw on MIDUS. The way the study evolved, via collaboration of scientists working across disciplinary lines, and its enthusiastic reception from the scientific community are all part of the larger story told. Embedded within such tales are important advances in the identification of key protective or vulnerability factors: these pave the way for practice and policy initiatives seeking to improve the nation's health.

Oxford Handbooks offer authoritative and up-to-date reviews of original research in a particular subject area. Specially commissioned chapters from leading figures in the discipline give critical examinations of the progress and direction of debates, as well as a foundation for future research. Oxford Handbooks provide scholars and graduate students with compelling new perspectives upon a wide range of subjects in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences. Book jacket.

Rehabilitation psychology is one of the fastest growing fields in applied psychology and involves the application of psychological knowledge and skills to the understanding and treatment of individuals with physical disabilities. Rehabilitation psychologists aim to optimize outcomes in terms of health, independence, and daily functioning while also minimizing secondary health problems. The Oxford Handbook of Rehabilitation Psychology provides background and overview of the associated psychological processes and types of interventions that are critical in managing the consequences of disability and chronic disease. Psychological models and research have much to contribute to those working with the physical disabilities; this volume has a broad cognitive behavioral focus within the general banner of the biopsychosocial framework. The editor has successfully brought together contributions from a range of well-established and experienced researchers and practitioners from a wide variety of clinical and academic contexts. They highlight the critical psychological aspects, review applied interventions, and consider the wider conceptual, clinical and professional themes associated with disability and society.

This edited volume brings together top-notch scientists and practitioners to illustrate intersections between health communication, behavior change, and treatment adherence.