1st Edition

Contemporary Health Psychology An Inclusive and Culturally-Responsive Approach

By Lynn Dunwoody Copyright 2026
390 Pages 50 Color Illustrations
by Routledge

390 Pages 50 Color Illustrations
by Routledge

390 Pages 50 Color Illustrations
by Routledge

This radical new textbook provides readers with a balanced, research-focused, critical understanding of health psychology through an inclusive lens, addressing issues relating to diversity, inclusion and decolonisation of the curriculum. In so doing, it offers a new understanding on established topics in the field of health psychology to create a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of... Read more

Chapter 1. Health psychology context setting: Careers, cultures and diversity

Chapter 2. Historical and cross-cultural views of health and the development of health psychology

Chapter 3. Methods and issues in research

Chapter 4. Physiological knowledge for health psychology

Chapter 5. Conceptions of health, disease and illness

Chapter 6. Adherence

Chapter 7. Health theories and models

Chapter 8. Stress and coping

Chapter 9. Chronic Illness

Chapter 10.Pain

Chapter 11. Palliative and end of life care

Biography

Dr Lynn Dunwoody is a Lecturer in Health Psychology in the School of Psychology, Ulster University, United Kingdom. She has been engaged in teaching, training and research of health psychology for over 30 years, has been involved in curriculum development for British Psycological Society (BPS) stage 1 and 2 training in health psychology since 2007 and is the Head of Assessment for the Stage 2 Qualification in Health Psychology. She is an Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)-registered Health Psychologist and a Chartered Psychologist with the BPS. Lynn’s research is health psychology focused on the areas of adversarial growth, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and quality of life in relation to cancer; physical activity and cancer rehabilitation, palliative care, psychosocial interventions and physical activity in community-dwelling adults, along with the psychological and physical benefits of walking and being a volunteer community walk leader.

“This textbook is an outstanding and comprehensive guide to contemporary health psychology. It expertly integrates foundational theory with cutting-edge perspectives on culture, diversity and decolonisation, offering students and practitioners an essential, inclusive, and timely resource. Its clarity, breadth and relevance make it an invaluable cornerstone for education, research and applied practice.”

Neil S. Coulson, Professor of Health Psychology, University of Nottingham, UK.