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Which of the following best expresses the relationship between behavioral medicine and health psychology?

a. Behavioral medicine is another name for health psychology.
b. Behavioral medicine and health psychology are closely related fields.
c. Behavioral medicine is a broader field that includes health psychology.
d. Behavioral medicine is only distantly related to health psychology.

1 Answer

2 votes

Final answer:

Behavioral medicine and health psychology are closely related fields; with health psychology being a subset of the broader field of behavioral medicine which also includes perspectives from various disciplines.

Step-by-step explanation:

The relationship between behavioral medicine and health psychology is one of close connection and interrelatedness. Behavioral medicine encompasses health psychology, meaning that health psychology can be seen as a subset within the broader field of behavioral medicine. Health psychologists focus on how biology, psychology, and sociocultural factors interact to affect health, studying areas like behavioral patterns' impacts on health and the development of interventions to change unhealthy behaviors. They draw on the biopsychosocial model to understand and improve healthcare outcomes. On the other hand, behavioral medicine may also incorporate other disciplines and perspectives when considering the psychological influences on health, disease, and the patient's response to illness, including psychobiological dynamics and cultural viewpoints.

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