Health psychology concerns health promotion and the primary prevention of health problems, secondary prevention or early detection of health problems, and tertiary prevention in coping with disease and promoting optimal functioning through patient education and communication. As conceptualized in most theories in health psychology, so-called determinants play a vital role in influencing health.

Our research sub-program has defined objectives at three levels that relate to: (1) Health typology research; (2) Human change through health determining factors; and (3) Intervention research.