You are here

Handbook of Physiological Research Methods in Health Psychology
Share
Share

Handbook of Physiological Research Methods in Health Psychology



December 2007 | 472 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
The field of health psychology has exploded in the last decade due to progress identifying physiological mechanisms by which psychological, social, and behavioral factors can put people's health and well-being at risk. In addition, development of accessible methods for measurement of key physiological parameters such as hormonal function have made the inclusion of physiological outcomes attractive to researchers who have traditionally focused solely on psychosocial variables. This desire to include biological assessments as additional outcome variables is further influenced by strong interest of key funding agencies, such as NIH, in multi-method research proposals that consider an integrated, biopsychosocial approach to evaluation of psychosocial phenomena. Despite the growing enthusiasm for integrating biological measures with psychosocial assessment, most psychologists are not well-trained in physiology and are confused about when, how, and which physiological systems should be incorporated into research projects. This handbook therefore provides thorough, state-of-the-art, and user-friendly coverage of basic techniques for measurement of physiological variables in health psychology research. It is designed to serve as a primary reference source for researchers and students interested in expanding their research to consider a biopsychosocial approach. Chapters addressing key physiological measuresáhave been written by international experts with an eye towards documenting essential information that must be considered in order to accurately and reliably measure biological samples. The book is not intended to be a lab manual of specific biomedical techniques, nor is it intended to provide extensive physiological or anatomical information. Rather, it takesthe approach most useful for a non-specialist who seeks guidance on how and when to collect biological measures but who will have the actual samples assayed elsewhere. The handbook can be thought of as a primer or a gateway book for researchers new to the area of physiological measurement and for readers who would like to better understand the meaning of physiological measures they encounter in research reports.
 
PART I. INTRODUCTION TO THE MEASUREMENT OF PHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESSES
Linda C. Gallo and Linda J. Luecken
1. Physiological Research Methods in Health Psychology: Applications of the Biopsychosocial Model
Timothy W. Smith and Bert N. Uchino
2. Measuring Physiological Processes in Biopsychosocial Research: Basic Principles Amid Growing Complexity
 
PART II. PHYSIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS AND ASSESSMENTS
A. HORMONAL

 
Nancy A. Nicolson
3. Measurement of Cortisol
Paul J. Mills and Michael G. Ziegler
4. Sympathetic Hormones in Health Psychology Research
Douglas A. Granger, Katie T. Kivlighan, Mona El-Sheikh, Elana B. Gordis, and Laura R. Stroud
5. Assessment of Salivary Alpha-Amylase in Biobehavioral Research
B. CARDIOVASCULAR

 
William Gerin, Tanya M. Goyal, Elizabeth Mostofsky, and Daichi Shimbo
6. The Measurement of Blood Pressure in Cardiovascular Research
Tanya M. Goyal, Daichi Shimbo, Elizabeth Mostofsky, and William Gerin
7. Cardiovascular Stress Reactivity
Denise Janicki-Deverts and Thomas W. Kamarck
8. Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring
Julian F. Thayer, Anita L. Hansen, and Bjorn Helge Johnsen
9. Non-invasive Assessment of Autonomic Influences on the Heart: Impedance Cardiography and Heart Rate Variability
C. IMMUNE

 
Shamini Jain, Suzi Hong, Laura Redwine, and Paul J. Mills
10. Laboratory-Based Measures of Immune Parameters and Function
Aric A. Prather and Anna L. Marsland
11. Immunological Functioning II: Field Measures and Viral Challenge
 
PART III. BROAD MARKERS OF HEALTH AND DISEASE RISK
Mary C. Davis
12. Measuring Adiposity in Health Research
Jennifer L. Etnier
13. The Measurement of Physical Activity, Physical Fitness, and Physical Function
Katri Räikkönen, Eero Kajantie, Anna Rautanen, and Johan G. Eriksson
14. Metabolic Syndrome
Catherine M. Stoney
15. Lipid, Lipoprotein, and Inflammatory Markers of Atherosclerosis
Martica Hall, Michele L. Okun, Charles W. Atwood, Daniel J. Buysse, and Patrick J. Strollo, Jr.
16. Measurement of Sleep by Polysomnography
 
PART IV. EMERGING TOPICS
Lee Ryan and Gene E. Alexander
17. Neuroimaging: Overview of Methods and Applications
Daren C. Jackson and Cory A. B. Jackson
18. Electroencephalography and Event-Related Potentials
Jeanne McCafferey
19. Genetic Factors in Psychophysiological Research

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 1

Chapter 3

Chapter 8


For instructors

This book is not available as an inspection copy. For more information contact your local sales representative.

Purchasing options

Please select a format:

ISBN: 9781412926058
£155.00

SAGE Knowledge is the ultimate social sciences digital library for students, researchers, and faculty. Hosting more than 4,400 titles, it includes an expansive range of SAGE eBook and eReference content, including scholarly monographs, reference works, handbooks, series, professional development titles, and more.

The platform allows researchers to cross-search and seamlessly access a wide breadth of must-have SAGE book and reference content from one source.

SAGE Knowledge brings together high-quality content from across our imprints, including CQ Press and Corwin titles.