Psychological Reporh, 1991, 69, 189-190. O Psychological Reports 1991
HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY: STATUS AND TRENDS ' ANA L. BLANCARTE, KATHLEEN J. MURPHY, ROBERT R. REILLEY
Texas A&M University Summary.-This study investigated the present status and suggested trends in health psychology as reported by American Psychological Assoc~at~onDivision 38 (Health Psychology) members. A 25-item mail-in survey was developed to obtain these data from a randomly selected sample of 300. Information includes a demographic descripuon of the respondents, their selection of influential books, journals, and individuals, and their opinions regarding the current status and desirable future trends in the field of health psychology.
Health psychology is recognized as a dynamic, evolving field of study and practice but opinions differ about its nature and direction (Rodin & Ickovics, 1990; Taylor, 1990). The purpose of this study was to record the opinions of health psychologists regarding selected aspects of the current status and future trends in the health psychology profession. Method.-Mailed survey questionnaires were used to obtain data during the spring of 1988. Questionnaires were mailed to a total of 300 members of Division 38 (Health Psychology) who were randomly selected from the 1987 American Psychological Association directory. One month after the initial mailing, a second survey was sent to nonresponding participants. A total of 92 surveys (31%) were returned. Demographic information obtained from this survey was compared with a 1988 survey of the Division 38 membership (Houston, 1988). Where appropriate comparisons were possible, the data were consistent on such variables as sex ratio, age distribution, and percentages in particular work settings. The present respondents appear representative of the membership. Results and discussion.-Currently, most health psychologists are fairly young professionals (over 70% below age 50), male, and active in private practice or teaching. Their opinions about the current status and future trends in health psychology are quite varied. Respondents were asked to list books and journals believed to be most influential or useful in the health psychology field. Fifty-one percent of the respondents suggested no book. Yet, 46 books were identified, eight of which were listed by more than one respondent. Books identified most often were Health Psychology by Stone, Cohen, and Adler (16%), Behavioral Health by Matarazzo, Weiss, Herd, Miller, and Weiss ( 5 % ) , and Clinical Health Psychology by Millon, Green, and Meagher (4%). 'Address correspondence to Robert R. Reilley, Ed.D., Department of Educational Psychology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4225.
190
A. L. BLANCARTE, ETAL.
Of the 61 journals identified, 17 were cited more than once. The most frequently identified was the Journal of Health Psychology (70%). The Journal of Behavioral Medicine was next (32%), followed by Psychology and Health (15%), and the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (14%). Health psychologists identified 67 persons as currently the most influential individuals in the health psychology field. Of these, 21 were identified more than once. The most frequently cited influential individual in health psychology was Joseph Matarazzo (22%). The next most influential individuals reported were Wilbert Fordyce (9%), Judith Rodin, Edward Blanchard, and Gary Schwartz (8% each), Karen Mathews and Richard Lazarus (7% each). Respondents were asked to indicate their agreement with several statements describing the current status and proper future direction of the field. (Examples include "A major advantage of health psychology is cost-effectiveness" and "Health psychology should focus on helping individuals take personal responsibility for their own health.") Generalizations from these results include that the field is viewed in a broad context and as cost effective in its mission. Participants strongly agreed that health psychology should be directed towards the promotion and maintenance of health, prevention and treatment of illness, and investigation of related matters. There was also strong agreement that health psychology should focus on helping individuals take greater personal responsibility for their own health (active behavioral change such as development of an exercise program). In terms of trends over the next 10 years, preventive aspects of health psychology were most frequently predicted to show growth (73%), followed by management of chronic Illness (51%), stress management (38%), and habit control (35%). However, management of terminal illness (11%) and gerontology (7%) appeared low on the list. Caution is urged in viewing these trends and other findings of this study, given the limitation imposed by the low response rate obtained. REFERENCES
HOUSTON, B. K. (1988) Division 38 survey: synopsis of results. The Health Psychologirt, 10, 2-3.
MATARAZZO, J. D., WEISS, S. M., HERD, J. A,, MILLER,N. E.,
& WEISS, S. M. (Eds.) (1984) Behavioral health: a handbook of health enhancement and disease prevention. New York: Wiley . MILLON,T., GREEN,C., & MFAGIIER,R. (Eds.) (1982) Handbook of clinical health psychology. New York: Plenum. Room, J., & Ic~ovrcs,J. R. (1990) Women's health. American Psychologist, 45, 1018-1034. STONE,G. C., COHEN,F., & ADLER, N. E . (Eds.) (1979) Health psycholo~y San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. TAYLOR, S. E. (1990) Health psychology: the science and the field. Amerrcan Psychologist, 45, 40-50.
Accepted Jtrly 3 1, 19 9 1.
HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY: STATUS AND TRENDS ' ANA L. BLANCARTE, KATHLEEN J. MURPHY, ROBERT R. REILLEY
Texas A&M University Summary.-This study investigated the present status and suggested trends in health psychology as reported by American Psychological Assoc~at~onDivision 38 (Health Psychology) members. A 25-item mail-in survey was developed to obtain these data from a randomly selected sample of 300. Information includes a demographic descripuon of the respondents, their selection of influential books, journals, and individuals, and their opinions regarding the current status and desirable future trends in the field of health psychology.
Health psychology is recognized as a dynamic, evolving field of study and practice but opinions differ about its nature and direction (Rodin & Ickovics, 1990; Taylor, 1990). The purpose of this study was to record the opinions of health psychologists regarding selected aspects of the current status and future trends in the health psychology profession. Method.-Mailed survey questionnaires were used to obtain data during the spring of 1988. Questionnaires were mailed to a total of 300 members of Division 38 (Health Psychology) who were randomly selected from the 1987 American Psychological Association directory. One month after the initial mailing, a second survey was sent to nonresponding participants. A total of 92 surveys (31%) were returned. Demographic information obtained from this survey was compared with a 1988 survey of the Division 38 membership (Houston, 1988). Where appropriate comparisons were possible, the data were consistent on such variables as sex ratio, age distribution, and percentages in particular work settings. The present respondents appear representative of the membership. Results and discussion.-Currently, most health psychologists are fairly young professionals (over 70% below age 50), male, and active in private practice or teaching. Their opinions about the current status and future trends in health psychology are quite varied. Respondents were asked to list books and journals believed to be most influential or useful in the health psychology field. Fifty-one percent of the respondents suggested no book. Yet, 46 books were identified, eight of which were listed by more than one respondent. Books identified most often were Health Psychology by Stone, Cohen, and Adler (16%), Behavioral Health by Matarazzo, Weiss, Herd, Miller, and Weiss ( 5 % ) , and Clinical Health Psychology by Millon, Green, and Meagher (4%). 'Address correspondence to Robert R. Reilley, Ed.D., Department of Educational Psychology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4225.
190
A. L. BLANCARTE, ETAL.
Of the 61 journals identified, 17 were cited more than once. The most frequently identified was the Journal of Health Psychology (70%). The Journal of Behavioral Medicine was next (32%), followed by Psychology and Health (15%), and the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (14%). Health psychologists identified 67 persons as currently the most influential individuals in the health psychology field. Of these, 21 were identified more than once. The most frequently cited influential individual in health psychology was Joseph Matarazzo (22%). The next most influential individuals reported were Wilbert Fordyce (9%), Judith Rodin, Edward Blanchard, and Gary Schwartz (8% each), Karen Mathews and Richard Lazarus (7% each). Respondents were asked to indicate their agreement with several statements describing the current status and proper future direction of the field. (Examples include "A major advantage of health psychology is cost-effectiveness" and "Health psychology should focus on helping individuals take personal responsibility for their own health.") Generalizations from these results include that the field is viewed in a broad context and as cost effective in its mission. Participants strongly agreed that health psychology should be directed towards the promotion and maintenance of health, prevention and treatment of illness, and investigation of related matters. There was also strong agreement that health psychology should focus on helping individuals take greater personal responsibility for their own health (active behavioral change such as development of an exercise program). In terms of trends over the next 10 years, preventive aspects of health psychology were most frequently predicted to show growth (73%), followed by management of chronic Illness (51%), stress management (38%), and habit control (35%). However, management of terminal illness (11%) and gerontology (7%) appeared low on the list. Caution is urged in viewing these trends and other findings of this study, given the limitation imposed by the low response rate obtained. REFERENCES
HOUSTON, B. K. (1988) Division 38 survey: synopsis of results. The Health Psychologirt, 10, 2-3.
MATARAZZO, J. D., WEISS, S. M., HERD, J. A,, MILLER,N. E.,
& WEISS, S. M. (Eds.) (1984) Behavioral health: a handbook of health enhancement and disease prevention. New York: Wiley . MILLON,T., GREEN,C., & MFAGIIER,R. (Eds.) (1982) Handbook of clinical health psychology. New York: Plenum. Room, J., & Ic~ovrcs,J. R. (1990) Women's health. American Psychologist, 45, 1018-1034. STONE,G. C., COHEN,F., & ADLER, N. E . (Eds.) (1979) Health psycholo~y San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. TAYLOR, S. E. (1990) Health psychology: the science and the field. Amerrcan Psychologist, 45, 40-50.
Accepted Jtrly 3 1, 19 9 1.
