Instructor: Professor Senqi Hu
Office: HGH 116B
Phone No.: (707) 826-5262
Regular Office Hours: TR 12:30-2:30pm (Or by appointment)
E-mail address: sh4@axe.humboldt.edu
Class Meeting Location: FR 201
Class Meeting Time: M 16:00 - 18:50

Required text:

Health Psychology: An Introduction to Behavior and Health, written by Linda Brannon and Jess Feist, 2000.

Course Objective:

The stress is a pervasive presence in Western culture and have invaded every aspect of Western life. The effective stress management is essential for individuals to lead a productive, satisfying, and balanced life. The objective of this course is to understand the natural biological and psychological responses to stress and adverse effects of stress on humans. Students will learn how to recognize stress sources in daily life, how to reduce risk factors which contribute to many stress related diseases, and how to manage stress successfully.

Course Requirements:

Students are required to take four exams (three mid-term exams and one final exam). Each test will include multiple choice and essay questions. The multiple choice questions are from the contents of the textbook. The instructor will provide few potential essay questions to students for each chapter. Students are also required to give an oral presentation to the class. The topics of oral presentation should be decided in the first class. The topics of your oral presentation may be one of the follows:
 

1. Anger and health
2. Hostility and health
3. Worry, anxiety, fear, and health
4. Depression, despair, and health
5. The disease-resistant personality
6. Social support, relationships, and health
7. Loneliness and health
8. Marriage and health
9. Families and health
10. Grief, bereavement, and health
11. The healing power of spiritually
12. Altruism and health
13. The healing power of faith
14. The healing power of hope
15. Locus control and health
16. Self-esteem and health
17. Pessimism, negativism, and health
18. Optimism and health
19. Protecting health with a fighting spirit
20. The healing power of humor and laughter
    
    

The instructor will give each student a copy of an article to prepare the oral presentation. Each student may also go to HSU Library to search additional information on the topic. To obtain additional information student can begin a search by accessing the computer information system PsycLit, which is located on the first floor. The librarians can provide additional assistance. Each student shall talk about 20 minutes and write important lecture contents on the blackboard or distribute a sheet of lecture outline to each student in order to assist all students to take notes. The content of student presentations may be tested in different exams. Each speaker will provide the professor 5 true/false questions. Some of them may be included in the following exam.

A written summary of the oral presentation is required. It should be 10 pages or more of well typed, double spaced, and error free on spelling and grammar. A list of references of the sources of your speech content is required.

Grading Procedures:

Course grade is based on four exams and an oral presentation. Each exam will count for 100 points (therefore, the final is not more important than any of the other exams). The oral presentation will count for 20 points. By doing well on these exams and giving the presentation, students can earn a maximum of 420 points.

There are five grading criteria for your oral presentation:
 

1. The length of the presentation should be about 10-20 minutes
2. The content of the presentation should not overlap with those in the textbook
3. The speaker should provide a list of your literature sources, a written summary, and 5 true/false questions
4. The speaker should use visual aids or outline if possible, not just read the written material during the presentation; and
5. The speaker should be able to answer questions from the audience.
   
   

10 points will be deducted if the student gives an oral presentation without submitting a written summary. 1-9 points may be deducted for the student who gives an unsuccessful oral presentation or submitting a poor written summary.
 

Finally, a letter grades will be based on this 420 points with:
 

A: 392-420
A-: 380-391
B+: 368-379
B: 352-367
B-: 340-351
C+: 328-339
C: 312-327
C-: 300-311
D+: 288-299
D: 0-287
 

Tentative Class Schedule
 

Aug. 26

Ch. 1: Introducing health psychology; Ch. 2: Conducting health research

 
Sept. 9

Ch. 3: Seeking health care; Ch. 4: Adhering to medical advice
 

Sept. 16

Exam 1

Sept. 23

Ch. 5: Defining and measuring stress

 
Sep. 30

Ch. 6: Understanding stress and illness

 
Oct. 7

Ch. 7: Understanding pain; Ch. 8: Coping with stress and pain

 
Oct. 14

Ch. 9: Exam 2

 
Oct. 21

Ch. 9: Identifying behavioral factors in cancer

 
Oct. 28

Ch. 10: Identifying behavioral factors in cardiovascular diseases

 
Nov. 4

Ch. 11: Living with chronic illness: Student presentations

 
Nov. 11

Exam 3

 
Nov. 18

Ch. 12: Preventing injuries
Ch. 13: Smoking tobacco: Student presentations

 
Dec. 2

Ch. 14: Using alcohol and other drugs
Ch. 15: Eating to control weight: Student presentations

 
Dec. 9

Ch. 16: Exercising
Ch. 17: Future challenges

 
Dec. 18

Final Exam 15:00-16:50

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