Public Health Psychology Report
Exercise and Eating Behavior Topic Ideas
- Explore some of the psychological strategies that can help people stick to a diet and exercise program. Is there any singular strategy that is more effective than others?
- Analyze how media depictions of “ideal” bodies influence anorexia and bulimia.2 Is there a link between exposure to these images and eating disorders?
Family Health and Safety Topic Ideas
- Explore how increased public awareness of infant safety, such as placing an infant on their back to sleep, or removing pillows and other objects from the sleeping area, have influenced the occurrence of SIDS, or “crib death.” Has the number of SIDS-related deaths gone down? Why do some parents ignore these sleep safety guidelines?
- Assess current approaches to childhood immunizations. Why do some parents choose not to immunize their children?3 How does this impact public health? What can health professionals do to increase the likelihood that kids are immunized?
- Explore the factors that contribute to teen suicide. How effective are suicide prevention programs?
- Look at the emotional, social, and psychological impact of caregiving, such as taking care of an aging parent, a family member with AIDS, or a spouse diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
Public Health Topic Ideas
- What can mental health and medical professionals do to help people cope in the immediate aftermath of a disaster?4 Are there any strategies that result in better long-term outcomes?
- Research the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among veterans. What factors contribute to whether an individual veteran experiences PTSD?5 Which mental health interventions are most effective in treating this disorder?
- Evaluate how stress management techniques and relaxation methods can help patients experiencing chronic pain. How effective are these tactics? How do they compare to traditional pharmacological approaches to pain management?
- Compare and contrast different approaches to smoking cessation. Which strategies are the most effective?
- Look at different techniques that can be used to increase the likelihood that people will use safety equipment such as seat belts and bicycle helmets. What type of public safety program would you devise to encourage the use of these products?
NB:
- Essay should be 4 pages, double spaced, 3 references and should be in APA formatting