Health Psychology Services for People in Disadvantaged Regions of Hungary: Experiences from the Primary Health Care Development Model Program

Viola Sallay (), Tamás Martos, Lilla Lucza, Orsolya Papp-Zipernovszky and Márta Csabai
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Viola Sallay: Institute of Psychology, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary
Tamás Martos: Institute of Psychology, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary
Lilla Lucza: Doctoral School of Education, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary
Orsolya Papp-Zipernovszky: Institute of Psychology, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary
Márta Csabai: Institute of Psychology, University of the Reformed Church, 1091 Budapest, Hungary

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 5, 1-15

Abstract: Background: The importance of community health psychology in providing complex bio-psycho-social care is well documented. We present a mixed-method outcome-monitoring study of health psychology services in the public-health-focused Primary Health Care Development Model Program (2012–2017) in four disadvantaged micro-regions in northeast Hungary. Methods: Study 1 assessed the availability of the services using a sample of 17,003 respondents. Study 2 applied a follow-up design to measure the mental health outcomes of the health psychology services on a sample of 132 clients. In Study 3, we conducted focus-group interviews to assess clients’ lived experiences. Results: More mental health issues and higher education predicted a higher probability of service use. Follow-up showed that individual and group-based psychological interventions resulted in less depression and (marginally) higher well-being. Thematic analysis of the focus-group interviews indicated that participants deemed topics such as psychoeducation, greater acceptance of psychological support, and heightened awareness of individual and community support important. Conclusions: The results of the monitoring study demonstrate the important role health psychology services can play in primary healthcare in disadvantaged regions in Hungary. Community health psychology can improve well-being, reduce inequality, raise the population’s health awareness, and address unmet social needs in disadvantaged regions.

Keywords: community health psychology; primary health care; disadvantaged populations; well-being; integrated care (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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