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PS2: Psychological & Sociological Aspects of Ill Health - HEA00174I

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  • Department: Health Sciences
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: I
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25

Module summary

This module explores psychosocial models, theories and approaches to ill-health and and their application to practice.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Summer Term 2024-25 to Summer Vacation 2024-25

Module aims

Broad statements of the nature and purpose of the module. Please refer both to subject content and to wider aims such as the development of academic and graduate skills and qualities.

Module learning outcomes

1. Discuss how psychological perspectives can inform our understanding of emotional reactions to
life events and ill-health experience.
2. Illustrate the social construction of ill-health and how sociological perspectives can inform
our understanding of how ill-health impacts on individuals and communities.

3. Discuss how public health is informed by understanding of the environment, patterns of disease,
health policy and health economics.
4. Consider how health promotion and health education strategies can be utilised across the lifespan. 5.
Apply research evidence to inform your understanding of psychological, sociological and environmental
aspects of healthcare

Module content

Equality & diversity , Patient preference/ actions / Self-management / Technology & Informatics, Health inequality &
social determinants / Patient preference/ actions / Epidemiology / Family, societal, Community responses to stigma /
Screening / Equality & diversity / Technology & Informatics, Health inequality & social determinants / epidemiology
Individual responses & reactions to illness /Sick role / adjustment / locus of control
Pain, Psychological Trauma, Attachment Disorders
Health inequality & social determinants - Equality & diversity / Patient preference / actions - Adherence / Compliance /
Concordance, Pain - Psychological Trauma / Individual experiences and reactions to illness / Family, societal, Community
responses to stigma/Common MH & LD presentations /Risk Ax & mgt-safeguarding / CAMH / Person Centred Care
(E&D) MH Approaches, Family, societal, Community responses to stigma - Equality & diversity / Common MH & LD
presentations / Risk Ax & mgt-safeguarding
Nursing Process -Interventions - how do you assess, how do you intervene? - Complex communication / Person
Centered Care (E&D) / MH approaches,Concept of illness (stress / grief / loss), Play Therapy, Distraction Diversion

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100.0

Special assessment rules

Non-compensatable

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100.0

Module feedback

Written feedback for the summative assessment is provided on the standard proforma, within the timescale specified in the programme handbook.

Indicative reading

Ogden J (2019) Health Psychology 6th Edition. London: Macgraw-Hill
Nettleton S (2021) The Sociology of Health and Illness 4th Edition. Cambridge:
Polity Cottrell S (2019) The Study Skills Handbook. London: MacMillan:


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.