SFOK18001U Stress and Health from a Life Course Perspective
MSc in Public Health Science - elective course
MSc in Global Health - elective course
MSc in Health Informatics - elective course
MSc in Human Biology - elective course
MSc in Health Science - elective course
BSc in Public Health Science - elective course
This elective course in oriented towards students who would like to expand their knowledge regarding the role of psychosocial factors in health. The course brings together the disciplines of psychology, neurophysiology and epidemiology to familiarized students with the latest work on stress in childhood, adulthood and older age. The goal of the course is to introduce basic theoretical concepts underlying stress and health research and review empirical evidence regarding the role of stress in health across the life span. The course will cover such topics as poverty, traumatic life events in childhood and adult life, work and family stress and their effects on morbidity and mortality. In addition, factors that may protect individuals from negative effects of stress will be discussed.
After completing the course, the students are expected to be able to:
Knowledge
- Understand major theories underlying stress and health research.
- Reflect upon various measures and types of stress throughout the life course.
- Understand the basics of neurophysiological stress response (e.g. the role of the central and autonomic nervous system and the neuroendocrine system).
- Understand empirical findings regarding the role of stress in health and ageing.
- Name and discuss some of the protective factors that make individuals less vulnerable to stress.
- Reflect upon the significance of stress for public health.
Skills
- Find relevant research articles on health consequences of stress.
- Critically evaluate existing research on health consequences of stress.
- Assess to what extent the existing evidence confirms theories regarding stress and health.
Competence
- identify gaps in current knowledge regarding consequences of stress and identify possible future directions.
- Propose a study design that will adress one or more limitations of existing research on stress and health.
- Category
- Hours
- Class Instruction
- 30
- Exam
- 3
- Preparation
- 242
- Total
- 275
Student get feedback during the seminar work within the discussion of the seminar assignments.
Open for credit transfer students and other external students. Apply here:
Credit transfer students:
http://healthsciences.ku.dk/education/other-programme-options/credit-transfer-students/
Other external students:
http://healthsciences.ku.dk/education/exchange_guest_students/guest-students/
- Credit
- 10 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Written examination, 3 hoursMultiple choice/short answer written sit-down exam at Peter Bangs Vej.
- Aid
- Only certain aids allowed
Students will be allowed to make a "cheat sheet" that fits on 1 A4 page and use that at the exam.
USB key is not allowed for this exam.
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
One internal examiner
- Exam period
- Re-exam
Please see the exam schedule at KUnet
The exam form in the re-examination may differ from the ordinary exam. Should this happen, students registered for the re-examination will be informed as soon as possible.
Criteria for exam assesment
To achieve the grade 12, the student must be able to:
Knowledge
- Demonstrate the understanding of major theories and empirical findings within stress and health research.
- Reflect upon various measures and types of stress throughout the life course.
- Reflect upon the significance of stress for public health.
Skills
- Crtitically evaluate existing research on health consequences of stress.
- Assess to what extent the existing evidence can be applied in interventions
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- SFOK18001U
- Credit
- 10 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 semester
- Placement
- Autumn
- Schedule
- See the schedule in Syllabus.
- Course capacity
- 60 students
- Continuing and further education
- Study board
- The Study Board for Public Health Science and Global Health
Contracting department
- Department of Public Health
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Course Coordinators
- Nadya Dich (4-7164676c4376787167316e7831676e)
Lecturers
Nadya Dich