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Stress

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internal processes that occur as people try to adjust to events and situations, especially those that they perceive to be beyond their coping capacity process

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Stressors

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events or situations to which people must adjust the actual physical events or situations

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Stress Reaction

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physical, psychological, and behavioral responses that occur in the face of a stressor response

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Process of Stress

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stressors stress reactions stress mediators (the components affect one another)

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Major Psychological Stressors

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any event that forces a person to adapt life changes and strains (divorce; illness; difficulties at work) catastrophic events (sexual/physical assault; natural disasters) daily problems (irritations; pressures; annoyances) chronic problems (living in poverty; having a serious illness)

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Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS)

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stress= sum of recent life change units (LCUs or life changing units) the more your life has changed, the more exposure to stress that you have

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Life Experiences Survey

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measures life events and cognitive appraisals new stressors may be added by respondents asks about the relevance of the events personalized approach for capturing the different impact and meaning that experiences may have for people

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Face-to-Face Interviews

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ask each individual to describe their stress ask about how they cope with each event

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General Adaptation Syndrome

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physical stress response Hans Selye a three-stage pattern of responses triggered by the effort to adapt to any stressor 1. alarm stage: fight-or-flight syndrome 2. resistance stage: body is mobilized and it starts coping long term 3. exhaustion stage: body is no longer able to cope

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Emotional

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psychological stress response anxiety, tense, fatigue, depression

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Cognitive

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psychological stress response catastrophizing: dwell on a stressor; think it cannot be overcome ruminative thinking: doing a task with something interfering mental sets: narrow-mindedness (using long way to solve problem) functional fixedness: not thinking clearly (situation like fire) impaired decision making: narrow-mindedness cognitive flooding: sudden, temporary inability to think at all

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Aggression

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behavioral stress response less able to control behavioral responses example: road rage

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Burnout

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behavioral stress response gradually intensifying pattern of physical, psychological, and behavioral dysfunction in response to a continuous flow of stressors being exposed to the same stress every day (chronic stress) example: common among individuals who do people work such as teacher and nurses; those who perceive themselves a being treated unjustly by employers

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Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

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pattern of adverse and disruptive reactions following a traumatic event response to catastrophic event example: most common in military men and women; usually experience flashback from catastrophic events

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Cognitive Appraisal

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stress mediator impact depends on how stressor are perceived less intense if seen as challenges to be overcome

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Predictability

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stress mediator unpredictable stressors have more impact (pop quiz) if people can exert some control over stressors, they usually have less impact (regulating own pain medication) feeling a lack of control may promote physical and psychological problems (helplessness)

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Perception of Control

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stress mediator simply believing that a stressor is controllable even if it isn't, can also reduce its impact perceived lack of control may partly explain elevated risk for early death among people in lower socioeconomic groups (people living in poverty)

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Coping Resources

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stress mediator problem-focused coping strategies (for problems that you are able to confront or to change): confronting; seeking social support; planful problem solving emotion-focused coping strategies (for problems that you are unable to confront or to change): self-controlling; distancing (study for one exam and then take a break to get your mind off of it); positive reappraisal; accepting responsibility; escape/avoidance (wishful thinking or daydreaming)

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Social Support

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one of the most important stress mediators expression of pent-up thoughts and emotions important to know that others care and will help quality of support may depend on own ability to cope possible problems: having too much support; having the wrong kind of support; may depend on the kind of stressor being encountered

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Psychoneuroimmunology

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the interaction of psychological, social, behavioral, neural, hormonal, and immune system processes that affect the body's defenses against disease stress can affect the body's reaction to disease (can impair or suppress the immune system) autoimmune disorders (immune system cells attack and destroy normal body cells; ex: arthritis, diabetes, and lupus)

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Immune System

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body's first line of defense against invading substances and microorganisms

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Leukocytes

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white blood cells T-cells: (formed in the thymus) kill other cells B-cells: (mature in bone marrow) produce antibodies Natural killer cells: destroy a variety of foreign organisms (important in antiviral and anti-tumor functioning)

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Macrophages

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engulf and digest foreign cells phagocytosis or eating cells

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Cardiovascular System

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repeated activation of the symphayho-adreno-medullary system (SAM) is linked to development of coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke mediated by personality (better to be more laid back) role of hostility in coronary heart disease

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Rosenstock's Health Belief Model

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decisions about health-related behaviors are guided by four main factors 1. perceiving a personal threat or susceptibility 2. perceiving the seriousness and consequences of an illness 3. belief that changing behavior will reduce the threat 4. perceived costs and benefits of changing

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Prochaska's Stages of Readiness

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changing health behaviors with five stages of readiness 1. pre-contemplation: don't perceive that there is health problem and have no intention of changing life style 2. contemplation: aware there is health problem and think about changing life style 3. preparation: strong intention of change; have a plan 4. action: engaging in successful behavior change 5. maintenance: healthy behavior has continued for at least six months and uses skills to prevent relapse

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Cognitive Coping Strategy

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stop catastrophizing and being irrational (make thoughts positive) change perception of threats into challenges remember that even if the cognitive appraisal can't do away with the stressor, it can lessen it

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Emotional Coping Strategy

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get social support remember that the feeling of being cared for and valued can protect against stress

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Behavioral Coping Strategy

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change your behavior to minimize stress

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Physical Coping Strategy

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learn progressive relaxation technique or meditation or yoga alter physical responses to stress with prescription drugs

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Health Psychology

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field in which psychologists conduct and apply research aimed at promoting human health and preventing illness

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Disease of Adaptation

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illnesses that are caused or worsened by stressors

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Disease-Resistant Personalities

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help insulate people from the ill effects of stress these people tend to think of stressors as temporary challenges to be overcome do not constantly blame themselves for brining them about have dispositional optimism

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Disease-Prone Personalities

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lead them to try to ignore stressors when possible perceive stressors as long-term and catastrophic threats that they brought on themselves pessimistic about their ability to overcome stressors

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Dispositional Optimism

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the belief or expectation that things will turn out positively

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Hostility and Heart Disease

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important in understanding the chief cause of death in the US and most other Western nations increased SNS activation puts strain on coronary arteries and leads to surges of stress-related hormones from adrenal glands high levels of hormones associated with increase in cholesterol and other fatty substances deposited in arteries and contribute to coronary heart disease although available evidence association, it cannot be confirmed that hostility is causing heart disease

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Health Promotion

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process of altering or eliminating behaviors that pose risks to health, as well as encouraging healthy behavior patterns

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Changeable and Unchangeable Stressors

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knowing the difference is important stress-related problems are especially common among people who either exhaust themselves trying to change unchangeable stressors or miss opportunities to change stressors that can be changed

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Cognitive Restructuring

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replacing catastrophic thinking with thoughts in which stressors are viewed as challenges rather than threats 1. identify upsetting thoughts 2. develop and practice more constructive thought to use when under stress

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Linkages

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chapter 3: biological aspects of psychology chapter 15: psychological disorders chapter 18: social influence

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Personality and Health

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Howard Freidman identify aspects of personality that increase the likelihood of premature death from heart disease, high blood pressure , or other chronic diseases conscientiousness (social dependability) one of most important predictors of long life turned out to be a personality dimension conscientiousness and stability in social relationships crease a general attitude of caution that goes beyond eating right and avoiding substance abuse (want high conscientiousness and stability to live longer)

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Gender

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males under stress tend to get angry, avoid stressors, or both, whereas females were more likely to help others and to make sure of their social support networks men's physiological responses, including changes in heart rate and blood pressure tend to be more intense than women's women's tend-and-befriend vs. men's fight-or-flight shows how hormones combine during stress like oxytocin (causes increased stressors in men, but reduces stressors in women) might be why women live (5-10 years) longer than men

Chapter 13: Health, Stress, & Coping

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