This textbook has made a major contribution to the teaching and study of this rapidly expanding discipline. The second edition provides a truly accessible and comprehensive guide to all of the major topics in health psychology. It includes a new chapter on the measurement of health status and new sections on professional issues, recent developments in social cognition models, body dissatisfaction and dieting, causes of obesity and the measurement of pain. In addition, it has been revised and updated throughout to take account of recent research. The introduction provides a historical and theoretical framework within which to study health psychology, and outlines how to make best use of this textbook. The book focuses on psychological theory and how it has been applied in the area of health. It explores how research can be used to influence and structure practice. A particular strength is the strong coverage of European research, as well as the US research which is the exclusive focus of many textbooks. The book has been designed specifically with the needs of teachers and students in mind. It can form the basis for a complete health psychology course. each chapter has been designed as the reading for a lecture and the book contains many special features to aid teaching and learning: focus on research sections describe specific studies which test theory; questions stimulate discussion and structure revision; assumption in health psychology are highlighted; chapter overviews provide outlines of structure, aims and key points; figures and diagrams put essential information at students' fingertips; further reading points to sources of further information and discussion; methodology glossary. The book should be of interest to all students and researchers of health psychology, and of students of medicine, nursing and allied health courses.