The two major features of health psychology - psychosocial mediators of health status and health promotion programmes - are addressed in this volume. Focusing on social, cognitive and contextual factors which may reduce or prevent stress associated with illness, the first part discusses normative data collected for Cohen′s Perceived Stress Scale, cognitive factors of `perceived control′, practical implications for intervention and the effect of social support for cancer patients. The second part considers the work setting for health promotion, the successful Stanford Health Disease Prevention Program and the promotion of quality of life through effective public policy.

Interpersonal Processes presents a wide range of new and existing research on this important field of applied social psychology. Gaining an understanding of the interaction between people in their homes, workplaces and leisure pursuits is not only of importance to social psychologists. The contributors, all well-known researchers, explain the reasons for their specialist topics as well as illustrate the application of these ideas. The main themes and issues in the study of interpersonal processes are outlined by the editors. They discuss both the theories and their possible applications.