Final answer:
Health psychologists study the interaction between psychological factors and health, including the influence of behavior patterns on heart disease, stress on cancer progression, and relaxation on immune function, thus the correct answer is d. all of the above.
Step-by-step explanation:
Health psychologists are professionals who study the interplay between psychological factors and physical health. They delve into how behavior patterns, stress, and emotional states can influence health outcomes such as heart disease, the progression of cancer, and the functioning of the immune system. Broadly speaking, the activities of a health psychologist might include investigating how lifestyle choices, like smoking or poor diet, impact health, developing interventions to promote healthy behaviors, and identifying at-risk populations based on psychological and behavioral factors.
Given the scope of health psychology, the answer to the student's question is: d. all of the above. Each option listed (behavior patterns on heart disease, stress on the progress of cancer, relaxation on the functioning of the immune system) falls well within the domain of health psychology, as this field comprehensively addresses the psychological components of health and illness.