Abstract

The present article reviews some major aspects of health psychology, in recognition of its rapid development in the U.S. and other countries. The article presents health psychology's development, current major issues, and future tasks. At the beginning, it deals with the historical background of health psychology and its development in the U.S. and other countries. Then, it deals with current major issues in health psychology: stress, coping, cognitive factors, emotional factors, behavioral factors, sociocultural factors, major target areas and techniques in health psychology. Finally, it deals with prospects of health psychology: major tasks in health psychology in general and its prospects in Korea.