3. Stress Flashcards
What is the transactional model of stress?
Demands (stressors), and resources lead to a stress response if deemed appropriate after appraisal.
What is the process of appraisal?
Primary appraisal - decide if threat is benign, challenging, or threatening.
Secondary appraisal - decide if they have the resources t cope with the threat.
Reappraisal - reconsider the situation having tried to cope with it.
What are the four ways that stress can affect health?
- Physiological responses cause physical damage, especially when the stress is intense and/or prolonged.
- Effects on the immune system can increase vulnerability to infection.
- There may be an increase in unhealthy behaviour in an attempt to cope with the stress.
- Negative impact on mental health can affect coping and illness behaviour.
What are the strategies in stress management?
Cognitive strategies, behavioural strategies, emotional strategies, physical strategies, and non-cognitive strategies.
Give an example of cognitive strategies in stress management.
Cognitive restructuring or hypothesis testing.
Give an example of behavioural strategies in stress management.
Skills training, like assertiveness or time-management.
Give an example of emotional strategies in stress management.
Counselling, emotional disclosure, or social support.
Give an example of physical strategies in stress management.
Relaxation training, biofeedback, or exercise.
Give an example of non-cognitive strategies in stress management.
Drugs.
What is coping?
Finding ways to manage events/ experiences that are appraised as threats or demands, and which tax or exceed a person’s available resources.
What is emotion focussed coping?
Changing the emotion in a stressful situation in order to manage it.
What are the approaches to emotional focussed coping?
Behavioural approaches - do something like talking to friends, alcohol, finding a distraction.
Cognitive approaches - change how you think about the situation, denial, focus on the positives.
What is problem focussed coping?
Changing the problem or resources in a stressful situation in order to manage it.
What are the approaches to problem focussed coping?
Reduce the demands of a stressful situation by finding out how to cope with the feelings in the situation. Expand resources to deal with the problem e.g. if mobility is a problem, focus on physiotherapy.
How do people learn to cope with stressful situations?
Emotional focussed coping, problem focussed coping, increase/ mobilise social support, increase personal control, prepare patients for stressful events to reduce ambiguity.
