The Psychology of Health and Illness: A Multicultural Perspective

by Leslie D. Frazier

Overview

The Psychology of Health and Illness is a thoroughly updated version of Leslie Frazier’s previous textbook on health psychology, which provides an engaging and contemporary approach to understanding health psychology from a truly international perspective. Combining both biopsychosocial and lifespan developmental perspectives, the book integrates core theory, research, and practice on global and cross-cultural health issues. It includes thoughtful and deliberately inclusive coverage of marginalized groups, especially BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other underrepresented groups, designed to raise diversity and racial consciousness in a globally integrative way.

Alongside classic health psychology concepts, the author introduces students to cutting-edge scientific and medical topics such as epigenetics, the gut microbiome, and the nonmedical use of prescription drugs. The book also focuses on global public health and health disparities and promotes a strengths-based approach to health, rather than a deficits-based approach. It includes a wide range of pedagogical features including real-world applications, engaging anecdotes and case studies, opportunities for self-reflection, and numerous text boxes.

This is essential reading for undergraduate students on Health Psychology courses as well as those in related fields such as nursing and the allied health professions.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781032639819
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	06/29/2025
Pages:	548
Product dimensions:	6.88(w) x 9.69(h) x (d)

About the Author

Leslie D. Frazier is the principal investigator and leader of the Health & Development Lab (HDL) in the Department of Psychology at Florida International University. She works with scholarly collaborators from around the world, community partners, graduate students, and undergraduate students. A developmental health psychologist, Dr. Frazier is interested in the intersections among psychosocial factors and identity/sense of self within the contexts of health and chronic illness in emerging adulthood and later life. Her research, funded by the Mental Research Institute, focuses on how psychosocial, sociocultural, and interpersonal factors impact our perceptions of ourselves, our health, and our well-being. Dr. Frazier and her team are currently investigating the factors that promote identity in people with disability, and the risk and resilience factors related to eating disorders in midlife menopausal women.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. An Introduction to Health Psychology. Chapter 2. Gathering Information on Health and Illness. Chapter 3. Health Beliefs and Behaviors. Chapter 4. Health-Enhancing Behaviors. Chapter 5. Health-Compromising Behaviors. Chapter 6. Understanding Stress. Chapter 7. Coping with Stress. Chapter 8. Symptoms and Pain. Chapter 9. Weight and Eating Disorders. Chapter 10. Cardiovascular Disorders and Diabetes. Chapter 11. Psychoneuroimmunology and Related Disorders. Chapter 12. Chronic and Terminal Illness. Chapter 13. Health Care Systems and Alternatives. Chapter 14. Achieving Emotional Health and Well-Being and Future Directions in Health Psychology.

Editorial Reviews

"This is an outstanding, engaging text that does an excellent job in describing contemporary developments in the field (e.g., COVID-19, opioid crisis, gut microbiome) as well as providing rigorous coverage of classic studies. It is scholarly but fresh and provides many helpful tips for improving public health. The international and multicultural focus will especially appeal to today’s students."

Eric Benotsch, Associate Professor, Virginia Commonwealth University

From the Publisher