Psychological principles and health behaviour change: Applications to eHealth

This second chapter provides an understanding of the role of psychology in health and illness and in how the behavioural science can be integrated with eHealth technologies to enhance health and well-being. This chapter’s first section introduces the basics of psychology, health, behaviour and their relationship. Positive psychology and health psychology are briefly explained. In the second section, the importance of theories to explain and influence behaviour is highlighted. This theoretical approach is connected to interventions that aim to improve health behaviour. The third section of this chapter centres around technology and behaviour change. The opportunities of technology to enable behaviour change are discussed and technology is connected to previously described topics in psychology.