IGNOU FREE BPCG-173 Psychology for Health and Well being Solved Guess Paper 2025

Q1. Explain the concept of Health Psychology, its objectives, and its significance in modern life.

Health Psychology is a branch of psychology that focuses on how biological factors, psychological processes, and social conditions interact to influence health, illness, and overall well-being. Earlier, health was simply viewed as the absence of disease, but modern definitions—especially that of the World Health Organization (WHO)—describe health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being.” Health Psychology views health holistically, emphasizing prevention, lifestyle, and emotional balance rather than merely treating disease.

The primary objectives of Health Psychology include:

1. Understanding behavioural and psychological factors that influence physical health, such as stress, lifestyle, habits, and coping strategies.

2. Promoting healthy behaviours, such as exercise, adequate sleep, balanced diet, emotional regulation, and reducing harmful habits like smoking and substance abuse.

3. Preventing illness through awareness, motivation, and behavioural modification.

4. Helping individuals cope with chronic illness, pain, disability, and emotional distress.

5. Improving the healthcare system by enhancing doctor–patient communication, adherence to treatment, and patient satisfaction.

Health Psychology is significant because modern life brings high levels of stress, unhealthy routines, sedentary lifestyle, processed food, environmental pollutants, and digital overload—all of which affect physical and mental health. Chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity are directly linked to behaviour and stress. Health psychology helps individuals understand how emotions, personality, beliefs, and attitudes influence their health.

This field also provides tools to develop resilience, emotional intelligence, and healthy coping strategies. It helps people understand the mind–body connection—for instance, how stress weakens immunity, how positive emotions promote healing, or how social support reduces illness risk.

In hospitals, health psychologists support patients dealing with trauma, surgery, long-term illnesses, or lifestyle diseases. In community settings, they promote public health campaigns on nutrition, exercise, smoking cessation, stress reduction, and mindfulness.

Thus, Health Psychology is essential in modern life because it bridges physical health and mental well-being. It empowers individuals to take control of their lifestyle, manage stress effectively, and cultivate long-term wellness.

Buy IGNOU Solved Guess Paper With Important Questions  :-

Q2. Define stress. Describe the types of stress, causes of stress, and the effects of stress on physical and mental health.

Stress is a psychological and physiological response to any demand or challenge that threatens an individual’s sense of well-being. Stress triggers the body’s “fight-or-flight” mechanism, releasing hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. While short-term stress can be helpful, long-term stress is harmful.

Types of Stress:

1. Acute Stress: Short-term stress caused by immediate challenges—for example, exams, arguments, minor accidents.

2. Chronic Stress: Long-term stress resulting from ongoing issues like relationship conflicts, unemployment, poverty, or chronic illness.

3. Episodic Acute Stress: Frequent episodes of acute stress experienced by individuals who worry excessively or take on too many responsibilities.

4. Eustress: Positive stress that motivates performance (e.g., preparing for a competition).

5. Distress: Negative stress that leads to anxiety, fatigue, and poor functioning.

Causes of Stress:
Stressors may be external (work pressure, financial issues, family conflicts, academic demands, social expectations) or internal (negative thoughts, perfectionism, fear, low self-esteem). In the modern digital world, social media pressure and information overload are major stress triggers.

Effects on Physical Health:

• Headaches, fatigue, muscle tension

• High blood pressure, heart disease

• Weakened immune system

• Stomach ulcers, digestive issues

• Sleep disturbances

• Increased risk of diabetes and obesity

Stress affects nearly every organ system. Chronic stress increases cortisol levels, which damage blood vessels and reduce the body’s ability to heal.

Effects on Mental Health:

• Anxiety, irritability, anger

• Depression and hopelessness

• Difficulty in concentration and memory

• Social withdrawal and low motivation

• Increased risk of substance abuse

• Emotional instability and burnout

Stress also affects behaviour—leading to overeating, smoking, procrastination, aggression, or avoidance.

Understanding stress is essential for developing healthy coping strategies. Recognizing stressors early helps prevent long-term damage and promotes emotional resilience.

Q3. Discuss major psychological strategies for stress management. Explain problem-focused, emotion-focused, and cognitive-behavioural techniques.

Stress management refers to psychological and behavioural methods used to reduce stress and improve emotional balance. Effective stress management involves changes in lifestyle, cognition, emotions, and coping behaviour.

1. Problem-Focused Coping:
This strategy involves dealing directly with the source of stress. It includes:

• Planning and time management

• Setting realistic goals

• Seeking information and support

• Breaking big tasks into smaller steps

• Taking action to eliminate or reduce stressors

Problem-focused coping works best when stressors are within personal control—such as academic deadlines or workplace issues.

2. Emotion-Focused Coping:
When stressors cannot be changed (e.g., loss, illness), individuals manage emotional reactions through:

• Relaxation techniques

• Meditation, yoga, deep breathing

• Journaling and emotional expression

• Seeking social support

• Practicing gratitude and positive affirmations

• Engaging in hobbies and self-care

Emotion-focused coping helps reduce anxiety and brings emotional stability.

3. Cognitive-Behavioural Techniques (CBT):
CBT is one of the most effective stress-reduction methods. It focuses on identifying and modifying negative thoughts that cause stress. Techniques include:

• Cognitive restructuring (replacing irrational thoughts with rational ones)

• Thought stopping

• Mindfulness and awareness

• Behaviour modification and reinforcement

• Exposure techniques

Example: Instead of thinking “I will fail,” the individual learns to think “I can prepare effectively.”

4. Relaxation and Mind-Body Techniques:

• Progressive muscle relaxation

• Visualization and guided imagery

• Mindfulness meditation

• Deep breathing exercises
  These techniques reduce heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle tension.

5. Lifestyle Changes:

• Regular physical exercise

• Healthy diet and hydration

• Maintaining sleep hygiene

• Limiting alcohol, caffeine, screen time

• Balancing work and leisure

6. Social Support:
Emotional support from family, friends, mentors, or counselors reduces stress significantly. Sharing problems reduces psychological burden.

7. Time & Priority Management:
Organizing daily tasks and avoiding procrastination reduces stress from deadlines and workload.

Overall, stress management is a multi-dimensional process that requires awareness, discipline, and emotional regulation. Consistency in using these strategies leads to long-term resilience.

Q4. Explain the psychological principles of promoting physical and mental health. Discuss lifestyle changes, positive psychology, and resilience.

Promoting physical and mental health involves psychological principles that enhance well-being, prevent illness, and strengthen the ability to deal with life challenges. Health promotion focuses on encouraging healthy habits, emotional stability, and positive relationships.

1. Lifestyle Changes:
Healthy lifestyle patterns contribute significantly to well-being.

• Balanced Diet: Nutrient-rich food improves immunity, energy, and brain functioning.

• Regular Exercise: Physical activity reduces stress, improves mood, and prevents chronic diseases.

• Sleep Hygiene: Adequate sleep enhances memory, emotional regulation, and physical recovery.

• Avoiding Harmful Substances: Reducing smoking, alcohol, and drug use protects long-term health.

• Healthy Routines: Maintaining structure in daily life increases productivity and emotional control.

2. Positive Psychology:
This field focuses on strengths rather than weaknesses. It promotes:

• Gratitude: Practising thankfulness increases happiness.

• Optimism: Positive thinking improves mental and physical health.

• Mindfulness: Being present reduces anxiety and improves emotional regulation.

• Flow Experiences: Deep engagement in meaningful activities enhances satisfaction.

• Character Strengths: Identifying strengths (kindness, creativity, courage) increases confidence.

3. Resilience:
Resilience is the ability to cope with adversity and bounce back from difficulties. It is built through:

• Emotional regulation

• Problem-solving skills

• Positive relationships

• Self-belief and adaptability

• Learning from past experiences

Resilient individuals handle crises more effectively, recover faster, and maintain optimism.

4. Social Support:
Close relationships with family, friends, mentors, and community groups provide emotional, informational, and practical support. Social connection reduces depression, lowers stress hormones, and enhances well-being.

5. Health Education & Awareness:
Awareness campaigns, workshops, and counselling sessions help individuals understand disease prevention, mental health care, and healthy behaviour patterns.

6. Environmental Factors:
A clean, safe, and supportive environment—both physical and psychological—promotes better health. Workplaces and schools play an important role in shaping healthy habits.

7. Behaviour Modification:
Using reinforcement, goal-setting, monitoring, and feedback encourages long-term healthy behaviours.

Thus, promoting physical and mental health requires a holistic approach that includes lifestyle management, emotional regulation, positive thinking, resilience building, and supportive relationships.

Buy IGNOU Solved Guess Paper With Important Questions  :-

Q5. Describe the Mind–Body connection. How do thoughts, emotions, and behaviour influence physical health?

The mind–body connection refers to the interrelationship between mental processes (thoughts, emotions, beliefs) and physiological functioning. Modern psychology and medicine agree that the mind and body are not separate; they continuously influence each other. When we think or feel something, the brain sends chemical and neural signals that affect bodily systems such as immunity, digestion, cardiovascular functioning, and hormonal balance.

Thoughts and Physical Health:
Positive thoughts—such as hope, confidence, optimism—activate the parasympathetic nervous system (relaxation response). This reduces blood pressure, slows heart rate, decreases muscle tension, and improves immune function. In contrast, negative thoughts—fear, worry, pessimism—activate the sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight response), releasing adrenaline and cortisol. Chronic negative thinking keeps stress hormones elevated, increasing the risk of heart disease, hypertension, migraines, diabetes, and hormonal imbalance.

Emotions and Physical Health:
Emotions have direct physiological effects. Anger increases heart rate and blood pressure. Anxiety causes shallow breathing, dizziness, sweating, and gastrointestinal discomfort. Depression reduces motivation, weakens immunity, and disturbs sleep. Studies show that people with chronic negative emotions are more prone to inflammation, high cholesterol, chronic pain, and fatigue. Suppressed emotions lead to psychosomatic disorders such as ulcers, headaches, eczema, and asthma.

Behaviour and Health:
Behaviours influenced by thoughts and emotions also determine long-term health. For example, stress may lead to smoking, alcohol use, overeating, or sedentary lifestyle, all of which increase the risk of chronic illness. On the other hand, positive mental states encourage healthy behaviours—exercise, balanced diet, routine, social connection, and adequate sleep.

Mechanism behind Mind–Body Influence:

1. Nervous System: The brain sends signals to organs through nerves that regulate heart rate, digestion, and breathing.

2. Endocrine System: Hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline, serotonin, dopamine shape both mental and physical states.

3. Immune System: Stress weakens immunity, while positive emotions strengthen it.

Practical Examples:

• Stress can worsen asthma, allergies, and skin conditions.

• Depression is linked with chronic pain and fatigue.

• Relaxation and meditation reduce blood pressure.

• Laughter increases immune cells.

Thus, healthy thoughts, stable emotions, and positive behaviour patterns promote physical health, while chronic stress and negative emotions contribute to disease. Mind–body techniques like yoga, mindfulness, deep breathing, and positive psychology help restore balance.

Q6. Explain lifestyle diseases. Discuss the psychological and behavioural factors contributing to lifestyle disorders.

Lifestyle diseases—also known as non-communicable diseases (NCDs)—are illnesses caused primarily by unhealthy habits, behaviours, and prolonged stress rather than infections. These include diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, obesity, stroke, and certain cancers. The rise of lifestyle diseases is closely linked to modern living patterns, urbanization, technology, and stress.

Psychological Factors:

1. Chronic Stress: Continuous stress elevates cortisol and adrenaline, increasing blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol, leading to diabetes and heart problems.

2. Negative Emotions: Anger, hostility, anxiety, and depression contribute to inflammation and weaken the immune system.

3. Poor Coping Mechanisms: People may rely on alcohol, smoking, junk food, or excessive screen use to cope with stress.

Behavioural Factors:

1. Sedentary Lifestyle: Lack of physical activity slows metabolism, leads to weight gain, and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.

2. Unhealthy Eating: High intake of sugar, fat, processed foods, and low intake of fruits/vegetables contribute to obesity and diabetes.

3. Addictions: Smoking damages the heart and lungs; alcohol affects the liver, brain, and metabolism.

4. Poor Sleep Habits: Inadequate sleep increases stress hormones, affects insulin regulation, and leads to obesity and diabetes.

5. Digital Overuse: Excessive use of screens leads to physical inactivity, eye strain, poor posture, sleep disturbances, and stress.

Social and Environmental Factors:
Urban noise, pollution, work pressure, unrealistic expectations, and social comparison also contribute to lifestyle disorders.

Prevention:
Health education, balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management, adequate sleep, and moderation in habits can prevent lifestyle diseases.

Thus, lifestyle diseases are preventable and manageable through psychological awareness and behavioural change.

Buy IGNOU Solved Guess Paper With Important Questions  :-

Q7. Explain the concept of positive mental health. Discuss components such as emotional well-being, psychological well-being, and social well-being.

Positive mental health refers not merely to the absence of mental illness but to a state of flourishing in which an individual experiences happiness, resilience, meaningful relationships, and a sense of purpose. It includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being.

1. Emotional Well-Being:
Emotional well-being involves the ability to experience positive emotions, manage negative emotions, and maintain emotional balance. A person with strong emotional health feels content, optimistic, grateful, and able to bounce back from setbacks. Emotional regulation, mindfulness, and self-awareness are key elements. Individuals with weak emotional well-being may experience mood swings, anxiety, or difficulty handling stress.

2. Psychological Well-Being:
Psychological well-being involves self-acceptance, autonomy, personal growth, environmental mastery, purpose in life, and positive relationships. According to Carol Ryff, psychological well-being has six components:

• Self-acceptance: Recognizing strengths and weaknesses.

• Purpose: Having goals and meaning.

• Personal growth: Continuous learning.

• Autonomy: Independent thinking.

• Environmental mastery: Ability to manage daily life.

• Positive relationships: Healthy interpersonal connections.

3. Social Well-Being:
Social well-being refers to one’s sense of belonging, contribution to society, and perception of social support. It includes social acceptance, social integration, and social contribution. Individuals who feel connected to community and maintain meaningful relationships have better mental health.

Positive mental health promotes productivity, creativity, problem-solving, and resilience. It also protects against anxiety, depression, and stress.

Therefore, positive mental health is a holistic condition that enhances the quality of life and contributes to long-term well-being.

Q8. Explain resilience. Discuss factors that contribute to resilience and ways to enhance it.

Resilience is the ability to cope effectively with adversity, stress, trauma, or failure and bounce back stronger. It does not mean avoiding challenges, but adapting, learning, and recovering from them.

Factors Contributing to Resilience:

1. Personal Attributes: Optimism, self-confidence, emotional stability, and self-control strengthen resilience.

2. Cognitive Skills: Problem-solving ability, flexibility in thinking, and realistic goal-setting.

3. Emotional Regulation: Managing anger, fear, sadness, and disappointment.

4. Social Support: Supportive family, friends, mentors, or community resources.

5. Meaning and Purpose: Individuals with strong beliefs, moral values, or life goals cope better.

6. Healthy Lifestyle: Exercise, adequate sleep, balanced diet improve emotional strength.

Ways to Enhance Resilience:

1. Building Emotional Awareness: Understanding one’s emotions helps in managing them constructively.

2. Positive Thinking: Replacing negative thoughts with rational and optimistic perspectives.

3. Developing Strong Social Networks: Sharing thoughts reduces stress and provides comfort.

4. Goal Setting and Planning: Small achievable goals increase confidence.

5. Mindfulness and Meditation: These improve focus, calmness, and emotional balance.

6. Adaptability: Accepting change instead of resisting it helps in faster recovery.

Resilience enables individuals to face difficulties with courage, reducing the impact of stress and improving overall mental health.

Buy IGNOU Solved Guess Paper With Important Questions  :-

Q9. Discuss the role of social support in maintaining health and well-being.

Social support refers to the emotional, informational, and practical assistance received from family, friends, and the community. It is one of the strongest predictors of emotional and physical health.

Types of Social Support:

1. Emotional Support: Empathy, care, understanding, and encouragement.

2. Instrumental Support: Practical help such as money, work assistance, or physical help.

3. Informational Support: Advice, guidance, or problem-solving information.

4. Companionship Support: Sense of belonging and inclusion.

Role in Health and Well-Being:

• Reduces stress by buffering emotional strain.

• Enhances coping ability and reduces feelings of loneliness.

• Motivates healthy behaviours (exercise, diet, medication adherence).

• Strengthens immunity; individuals with strong social ties recover faster from illnesses.

• Reduces risk of depression, anxiety, and suicide.

• Improves self-esteem and confidence.

Social support is essential for mental stability because it allows individuals to express emotions freely and find meaning during difficulties. Lack of support can lead to emotional isolation and increased physical illness.

Thus, social support forms the backbone of a healthy life and is key to well-being.

Q10. Discuss psychological strategies for promoting long-term physical and mental well-being.

Promoting long-term well-being requires a holistic approach that incorporates lifestyle modifications, emotional management, social connection, and behavioural discipline.

1. Healthy Lifestyle Practices:

• Regular exercise enhances cardiovascular health and reduces stress.

• Balanced diet supports immunity and brain functioning.

• Adequate sleep regulates hormones and improves focus.

• Avoiding substances such as alcohol, tobacco, and drugs prevents chronic illnesses.

2. Positive Psychology Practices:

• Gratitude journaling boosts happiness.

• Optimism enhances motivation and reduces depression.

• Acts of kindness promote social bonding.

3. Mindfulness and Meditation:
Mindfulness reduces anxiety, improves attention, and increases emotional regulation. Meditation lowers blood pressure and promotes relaxation.

4. Stress Management Techniques:
Deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, yoga, and guided imagery are powerful tools to reduce physiological stress.

5. Cognitive Behavioural Strategies:
Identifying negative thoughts and replacing them with realistic beliefs improves coping skills. Behaviour modification helps individuals adopt healthy routines.

6. Social Support and Relationships:
Strong interpersonal relationships provide emotional security, practical help, and motivation.

7. Time Management & Work–Life Balance:
Organizing tasks, prioritizing goals, taking breaks, and balancing responsibilities prevent burnout.

Thus, long-term well-being is a combination of physical habits, emotional awareness, positive thinking, resilience, and supportive relationships.

Buy IGNOU Solved Guess Paper With Important Questions  :-

 Follow For Updates: senrigbookhouse

Read Also :

• IGNOU FREE BPCG-173 In Hindi Solved Guess Paper 2025