Assumptions and values of community health psychology (2004)

Journal of health psychology, 2004

Community health psychology is concerned with the theory and method of working with communities to combat disease and to promote health. This introductory article outlines key assumptions and debates underlying this area of research and practicein the interests of framing the papers in this special edition of the Journal of Health Psychology. Attention is given to the value of emphasising the community level of analysis and action; the role of collective action in improving health; psycho-social mediators between community participation and health; and the potential role of partnerships in creating 'healthy communities'. A distinction is made between 'accommodationist' and 'critical' perspectives, and the authors debate whether or not significant social change can come from community-level action. Community health psychology 3 This special edition of the Journal of Health Psychology focuses on community health psychology, in the light of the editors' particular interest in global and local health inequalities, and the minimal role that mainstream psychology has played in contributing to debates about the causes of health inequalities and how best to challenge them. This collection of papers draws on research conducted in a range of settings, including the less affluent countries of Brazil, Ghana, India, South Africa and Tobago, and small and often marginalized communities in the more affluent countries of Canada, England, Scotland and Australia. The focus of the papers ranges widely from abstract theoretical debates, to empirical research findings, to issues relating to the evaluation of community psychology interventions and the training of community psychologists. Research participants include socially excluded youth, sex workers, people battling with diabetes, mental health challenges and eating disorders, school pupils at risk of HIV, and

Journal of health psychology, 2004

Community health psychology is concerned with the theory and method of working with communities to combat disease and to promote health. This introductory article outlines key assumptions and debates underlying this area of research and practice-in the interests of framing the papers in this special edition of the Journal of Health Psychology. Attention is given to the value of emphasizing the community level of analysis and action; the role of collective action in improving health; psycho-social mediatiors between community participation and health; and the potential role of partnerships in creating 'healthy communities'. A distinction is made between 'accommodationist' and 'critical' perspectives, and the authors consider whether or not significant social change can come from community-level action.

Critically compare and contrast the community psychology and public health approaches to social problems By Pamphilia Hlapa The purpose of this essay to provide a brief overview of community psychology and public health approaches to social problems. It will also look at the similarities and differences of the two approaches to societal health and illness problems. According to Seedat, Cloete & Shochet (1988), community psychology is construed as the community division of psychology which means that like industrial or clinical psychology, it has to take relevant content from psychology and apply it to the social settings. When utilized to address disease

Here we critically compare community psychology and public health and how they can successfully merge to create harmonious and healthy systems amongst countries communities