Stress and health

1. Stress and health

2. Stressors and stress • Stressors cause stress, could be a person, event, item etc. • Stress involves physiological and psychological arousal • Stress involves a perception that they cannot cope or that the challenge exceeds ability

3. Physiological response – fight or flight – sympathetic Arousal

4. Physiological response – fight or flight – Sympathetic arousal • The Autonomic Nervous System - connected to internal organs, not consciously controlled. Keeps us alive – automatically. • Sympathetic branch controls arousal, fight or flight response / fires us up. Release of adrenaline, heart up, breathing up etc. • Parasympatheticcalms back down, keeps at stable level. Digestion resting etc.

6. Fight or Flight – Hypothalamus Pituitary Axis - HPA • When a stressor is identified the hypothalamus is activated • The hypothalamus then activates the pituitary gland which releases ACTH (adrenocprticotropic) • ACTH then travels through the blood steam to the adrenal glands above the kidneys, this triggers the release of adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol • Cortisol and noradrenaline in high concentrations for prolonged time can effect immune function

7. General adaptation syndrome • How do most organisms deal with stress? • Research used rats subjected to electric shocks and pailful tail pulling, prolonged heat or cold, physical restraint or bacterial infection • Proposed that all organisms follow a similar pattern when dealing with stress

8. General adaptation syndrome STAGE 1: Alarm Reaction • First become aware of the stressor • Organism goes into a temporary state of shock, and its ability to deal with the stressor falls to below its normal level • Physiologically, the body reacts as if it were injured; for example, blood pressure and body temperature drop, and a temporary loss of muscle tone is experienced • Then the body rebounds from this level with a reaction that Selye referred to as ‘countershock’. During countershock, the sympathetic nervous system is activated and the body’s resistance to the stressor increases.

9. General adaptation syndrome STAGE 2: Resistance • If the source of the stress is not dealt with immediately, and the state of stress continues, the organism goes into a stage of resistance. • During the stage of resistance, the body’s resistance to the particular stressor rises above normal.

10. General adaptation syndrome STAGE 3: Exhaustion • If the stressor is not dealt with successfully during the resistance stage, and stress continues, the organism enters a stage of exhaustion. • Signs of the alarm reaction may reappear, but the effects of the stressor can no longer be dealt with • Resistance to disease is very weak, and it becomes vulnerable to physical and psychological illnesses.

12. General adaptation syndrome – I have gas! • STAGE 1: Alarm Reaction… Oh no I have to break wind! • STAGE 2: Resistance… Holding it in! • STAGE 3: Exhaustion… Can’t hold it in anymore!

13. Eustress and distress • Eustress – positive psychological response to a stressor • Distress – negative psychological response to a stressor • Some stress can be good for us • Drive us to excel • Raise our alertness, arousal, fire us up etc.

14. Psychological Response • Behavioural changes – shaky voice, hand tremors, muscle stiffness • Emotional changes – anxious, tense, depressed angry etc • Cognitive changes – perception distorted, difficulty concentrating, making decisions, forgetful etc.

15. Lazarus and folkman’s transactional model of stress and coping • Stress involves a transaction between the individual and the external environment • Coping will depend on the appraisal of the situation by the individual and their ability to cope • Stress is in the eye of the beholder

16. Lazarus and folkman’s transactional model of stress and coping Primary appraisal • Judge the significance of the situation • Is it irrelevant, benign-positive, stressful? • Harm/loss – imminent • Threat – might happen • Challenge – potential for growth Secondary appraisal • Evaluate our coping options and resources • Internal and external resources

17. Lazarus and folkman’s transactional model of stress and coping Reappraisal • Going back over an earlier stressor to determine if it warrants further attention Coping • Changing cognitive and behavioural efforts to meet stressors • An attempt to manage Problem focused coping • Fix the source of the stress Emotion focused coping • Strategies to deal with emotional responses to stress

18. Social Factors • Can influence the stress response • Relationships, lack of social skills, lack of support, bullied, discrimination, etc. • Social Readjustment – the amount of change in lifestyle after a specific event • Large changes can cause stress • Not all events are universally stressful • It does depend on the persons perception and circumstances • EG. Leaving an abusive marriage would be less stressful than remaining married

19. Cultural Factors • Immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers • Acculturation – adapting the values customs and language of a new culture • Entering a new culture at a lower socioeconomic level, trouble preserving old values • Refugees – post traumatic stress • Racism - clear link to mental health problems in targets

20. Environmental factors • Crowding linked to the stress response • Crowding is a subjective experience • Personal space is important • loved ones < 50cm • Good friends 50 – 150 cm • Strangers > 150 cm

21. How intimate

22. Calhoun’s research (1962) • Mice in a large enclosure • Plenty of space, water, food etc. • Mice display normal social behaviour, mating etc. • Population doubled every 55 days • Mice in overcrowded enclosure showed maladaptive behaviours • Aggression and even canibalism • Hyperactivity or lethargy • Mothers attacked their young, stopped breeding

23. Crowding and human stress • No clear link • Difficult to control extraneous variables ethically • Self report though does clearly show a correlation between overcrowding and stress • Does depend on the situation and the individual involved • Being mentally prepared for crowding seems to help some people

24. Allostasis • The bodies ability to maintain physiological stability changing to meet internal and external demands • NOT homeostasis where balance is maintained by keeping internal functioning constant • Emphasis that healthy functioning requires constant physiological fluctuation • Achieved through the brain regulating the HPA, ANS and cardiovascular system • HPA and sympathetic arousal most common response • Turned on when needed turned off when the threat has passed

25. Allostatic load • Prolonged arousal can lead to wear and tear on the body • Increased secretion of adrenal hormones can damage cardiovascular and immune systems • Frequent stressors or perhaps one stressor that is not alleviated • See example Pg. 614 – biopsychosocial model and allostatatic load

26. Coping with stress Biofeedback – feedback on a bodily response, eg. Beep when heart beats • Subjects can learn to control response using biofeedback and relaxation techniques • Often doesn’t work outside of a lab setting Meditation • Internal attempt to bring about deeply relaxed state Relaxation • Any activity either physical of psychological that reduces tension

27. Coping with stress Exercise • Social interaction • Uses up stress hormones secreted by HPA • Release tension in muscles • Release of endorphins – pleasure related neurotransmitters

28. Social support • Help or assistance from others…. Duh • Appraisal support – improves understanding of the situation • Tangible assistance – material support, financial, food, goods etc • Information support – ideas on how to cope • Emotional support – targets emotional reactions by the individual, cared for and valued