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Stress and Health Psychology. Health, Illness, and Coping. Stress. A nonspecific response of the body to any demand made on it; the arousal, both physical and mental, to situations of events that we perceive as threatening or challenging. Stress. Eustress— pleasant, desirable stress
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Stress and Health Psychology Health, Illness, and Coping
Stress • A nonspecific response of the body to any demand made on it; the arousal, both physical and mental, to situations of events that we perceive as threatening or challenging
Stress • Eustress—pleasant, desirable stress • Distress—unpleasant, objectionable stress
Sources of Stress • Life changes—any life change, even if it is positive and anticipated, brings about stress • Social Readjustment Rating Scale—developed by Holmes & Rahe (1967) to investigate the relationship between change and stress—measured in Life Change Units
Sources of Stress • Chronic Stressors—chronic (from the Greek chronos—”time”) stressors are those that affect our lives over long periods of time, these may range from low intensity to high intensity (i.e., job stresses, long battles of soldiers in wartime)
Sources of Stress • Hassles—small problems of daily living that accumulate and sometimes become a major stress. • Burnout—Physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion attributable to long-term involvement in emotionally demanding situations
Sources of Stress • Frustration—unpleasant tension, anxiety and heightened sympathetic activity resulting from a blocked goal • Conflict—having to choose between two or more incompatible goals or impulses • Approach-Approach Conflict • Avoidance-Avoidance Conflict • Approach-Avoidance Conflict
Stress and the Body • When under stress, the body responds to increase heart rate, available energy and heighten awareness. • The body acts to release fat and glucose from the body’s stores in order to make this energy available to the body
Stress and the Body • Sympathetic Nervous System—stress activates the hypothalamus which signals the sympathetic nervous system, which then activates the central part of the adrenal gland to release large amounts of norepinephrine and epinephrine (fight or flight)
Stress and the Body • HPA (Hypothalamus, Pituitary, Adrenal) Axis—stress activates the hypothalamus which activates the pituitary gland which in turn activates the core of the adrenal gland to release the hormone cortisol
Cortisol • Long-term, high levels of cortisol have been linked to increased depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), memory problems, substance abuse, impairment of immune system
General Adaptation Syndrome • In the face of severe stressors: • Alarm reaction—body is mobilized to defend (sympathetic nervous system) • Resistance stage—arousal remains high as body tries to defend against and adapt to the stressor (cortisol) • Exhaustion stage—resources are very limited; ability to resist may collapse
Stress and Serious Illness • Cancer—stress is linked to the development in cancer through the suppression of the immune system that accompanies release of cortisol • Cardiovascular disease—in stress, the increased heart rate and release of fat and glucose into the bloodstream cause stress on the heart and fatty deposits of unburned fat may develop
Personality Types • Type A—behavior characteristics including intense ambition, competition, exaggerated time urgency, and a cynical, hostile outlook • Type B—behavior characteristics consistent with a calm, patient, relaxed attitude toward life
Hardiness • Commitment—strong sense of commitment to myself and my work, purposeful activity and problem solving • Control—I see myself as being in control of my life rather than a victim of circumstances • Challenge—change is an opportunity for growth and improvement. I welcome the challenge because I welcome the growth
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) • Anxiety disorder following exposure to a life-threatening or other extreme event that evoked great horror or helplessness; characterized by flashbacks, nightmares, and impaired functioning
Health Psychology • Studies the relationship between psychological behavior and physical health and illness
Health Psychology and Current Issues • Smoking • Physical addiction (ACh) • Psychological addiction—social stimuli
Health Psychology and Current Issues • Binge Drinking: Misconceptions • Binge drinkers think they are average or moderate drinkers • Binge drinking is harmless • It’s part of the “college experience”
Health Psychology and Current Issues • Pain Control—psychological factors can increase pain • Behavior modification (daily exercise, diet and relaxation) • Biofeedback—individual learns to control biological functions, muscle tension, etc. to control pain • Relaxation techniques—meditation, yoga, focus away from pain, etc.
Coping with Stress • Emotion-Focused—coping strategies based on changing one’s perceptions of stressful situations • Defense mechanisms—unconscious strategies used to distort reality and relieve anxiety and guilt
Coping with Stress • Problem-Focused—coping strategies that use problem-solving strategies to decrease or eliminate the source of stress
Resources for Coping • Health and energy • Positive beliefs • Social skills • Social support • Material resources • Personal control
Loci of Control • External—believing that chance or outside forces beyond one’s control determine one’s fate • Internal—believing that one controls one’s own fate
Dealing with Stress • Exercise • Relaxation