Health psychology is concerned with understanding how biology, behavior, and social context influence health and illness. Health psychologists work alongside other medical professionals in clinical settings, work on behaviour change in public health promotion, teach at universities, and conduct research. Although its early beginnings can be traced to the kindred field of clinical psychology, four different divisions within health psychology and one allied field have developed over time: clinical health psychology, occupational health psychology(an allied field),public health psychology, community health psychology, and critical health psychology.

While health psychologists engage in a wide variety of activities, the following are just a few of the current issues in health psychology:
•    Stress reduction
•    Weight management
•    Smoking cessation
•    Improving daily nutrition
•    Reducing risky sexual behaviors
•    Hospice care and grief counseling for terminal patients

If you are still debating which career in psychology is right for you, then you might want to spend some time considering the growing field of health psychology. Health psychologists focus on how biological, social and psychological factors influence health and illness. The major goals of health psychology include promoting health, preventing illness, understanding the causes of illness and improving the health care system.

Health psychologists engage in many different job-related tasks. The specific type of work that a health psychologist does on a daily basis may depend on work setting or specialty area. Many health psychologists work directly in clinical settings to help individuals or groups prevent illness and promote healthy behaviors. Others conduct research on health-related issues or influence public policy on health care issues.

Health psychologists work in a wide variety of settings including hospitals, health care clinics, private corporations and universities. Some health psychologists work in settings that specialize in a particular area of health care such as oncology, pain management, women's health and smoking cessation programs. Other health psychologists work in government settings, often administering community health programs or influencing public policy.