Part 1: Health psychology in the context of biology, society and methodology -- Health psychology: an introduction -- The nervous, endocrine and immune systems and the principle of homeostasis -- Genetics, epigenetics and early life development -- Macro-social influences -- Social justice -- Culture and health -- An A-Z of research methods and issues relevant to health psychology

Part 2: Theories, models and interventions for health behavior change -- Theories, models and interventions -- Sexual health -- Food, eating and obesity -- Alcohol and drinking -- Tobacco and smoking -- Physical activity and exercise

Part 3: Health promotion and disease prevention -- Information, communication and health literacy -- Lay representations of health and illness -- Screening and immunization -- Health promotion

Part 4: Illness experience and health care -- Illness and personality -- Medicine taking: adherence and resistance -- Pain and pain control -- Cancer -- Coronary heart disease -- HIV infection and AIDS: the pinnacle of stigma and victim blaming -- Long-term conditions: diabetes and ME/CFS -- End-of-life care, dying and death

The fifth edition of this essential text further advances a critical perspective on health while introducing readers to emerging issues such as long-term conditions and end-of-life care