How Changes in Population Demographics Will Impact Health Psychology: Incorporating a Broader Notion of Cultural Competence Into the Field.

Abstract

U.S. population demographics are undergoing striking changes that will impact health care and the research and practice of health psychology. An increase in the number of people who are older; belong to an ethnic minority group; have disabilities; identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered; or live in poverty will influence definitions of aging, health, and illness, and will challenge current psychological and medical treatment models. The authors argue that health psychologists need to become context competent for the field to be relevant and viable over the course of this new century. Health psychologists need to become aware of the multiple, overlapping contexts in which people live and apply this knowledge on a regular basis to research, practice, education and training, and policy in health psychology.