Current issues and new direction in Psychology and Health: Epidemiology and health psychology – please bridge the gap

Abstract

Epidemiology has and continues to play a vital role in furthering our understanding of risks for disease development. Large scale studies provide the necessary statistical power to identify biological and environmental factors associated with disease onset and severity. However, association does not confirm causality and in theoretical terms, epidemiology is somewhat limited. In this editorial, we argue that bringing together the methodological strengths of epidemiology with the theoretical rigour of psychology enables researchers to go beyond risk-finding and develop causative [or explanatory] models of disease development which pave the way for directed, evidence-based interventions to improve health.

Keywords:

• epidemiology
• health psychology
• causality
• methods
• mechanisms

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Christine Bundy, Jo Hart and Alison Wearden for useful comments on an earlier draft.