Psychobiological Processes in Health and Illness is an accessible and engaging introduction to the interrelationships between mind and body across a broad range of topics including infectious illness, autoimmunity, cancer and pain. Taking a biopsychosocial approach, it brings together research from a number of disciplines including health psychology, psychoneuroimmunology and behavioral genetics. The textbook presents established theoretical models relevant to psychobiological processes in health and illness, as well as recent developments in systems, technologies and intervention methods.

Positive Processes in Health and Illness
Positive processes in health and illness

Overview

In Chapter 2 we discussed research that has demonstrated associations between psychological processes, biological processes and health outcomes. Although much of this research has focused on stress, recent research has suggested that positive states and traits are also pertinent to the discussion of psychobiological processes in health and illness.

Research focusing on positive states and traits helps us to move away from a disease model of human functioning, with interventions designed to alleviate existing pathology, and towards a broader ‘positive psychology’ model, with interventions aimed at the prevention of illness as well as the promotion of health and well-being.

In this chapter, then, we consider the role of positive processes in health and illness, including positive ...

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