Bachelor 2026/2027

Research Seminar "Health, Well-being and Human Behavior" (2026-2027 Academic Year)

ID 1174620

Type: Elective course (Sociology and Social Informatics)

Delivered by: Department of Sociology

Where: Saint-Petersburg School of Social Sciences

When: 4 year, 1-3 module

Open to: students of one campus

Instructors: Хмельницкая Яна Евгеньевна, Мирошниченко Екатерина Дмитриевна, Витовская Дарья Ивановна

Language: English

ECTS credits: 3

Contact hours: 30

Course Syllabus

Abstract

Students will explore social research on health, well-being, and human behavior. The course covers models of well-being, psychological and social determinants of health behavior, health communication, social relationships, urban environmental conditions, and health-related quality of life. Through theoretical frameworks, research articles, and practical cases, students will examine how social norms, relationships, information, mobility, climate change, and everyday practices shape health and well-being. They will learn to identify relevant social mechanisms, critically assess empirical research, and develop their own research ideas.

Learning Objectives

• To provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to detect and describe the social mechanisms of health behavior and well-being.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• be able to conduct studies and present its results in the form of oral presentation with visual material.
• be able to juxtaposition theoretical concepts to the analysis of health and well-being behavior.

Course Contents

• 1.1 Concepts and Models of Well-Being
• 1.2. Health Behavior: Psychological and Social Determinants
• 2.1 Health Communication and Misinformation: Facets, Consequences, Interventions and Study Methods
• 2.2 Social Relationships, Support and Well-Being
• 3. The environmental dimension of well-being
• 4.1 Psychological Distress and Health-Related Quality of Life: Theoretical Frameworks and Empirical Puzzles
• Presentation and Discussion of Students’ Individual Research Projects

Assessment Elements

• Final exam
• Participation in class discussions
• Homework
  The grade will be calculated as an average score for all types of written activities.
• Presentation of student's thesis
  It includes an oral presentation with visual materials of the parts of the student's research - research framework, literature review, data description, and preliminary analysis.

Interim Assessment

• 2026/2027 2nd module
  Presentation of student's thesis * 0.35 + Homework* 0.35 + Participation in class discussions* 0.3
• 2026/2027 3rd module
  0.14 * Presentation of student's thesis + 0.12 * Participation in class discussions + 0.4 * 2026/2027 2nd module + 0.2 * Final exam + 0.14 * Homework

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Marisa E. Hilliard, P., Kristin A. Riekert, P., Judith K. Ockene, P. Me. M., & Lori Pbert, P. . (2018). The Handbook of Health Behavior Change, Fifth Edition: Vol. Fifth edition. Springer Publishing Company.
• Viswanath, K., Rimer, B. K., & Glanz, K. (2015). Health Behavior : Theory, Research, and Practice (Vol. Fifth edition). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1021677

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Renata Schiavo. (2014). Health Communication : From Theory to Practice: Vol. Second edition. Jossey-Bass.

Authors

• KHMELNITSKAIA IANA EVGENEVNA
• VITOVSKAIA DARIA IVANOVNA
• Kislitsyn Dmitrii Viktorovich
• MIROSHNICHENKO EKATERINA DMITRIEVNA