5. Stress Flashcards
Stress
As defined by Seyle (1936)
A non-specific response of the body to any demand for change.
Stressor
A stressor is any stimuli (event or condition) that results in physiological or psychological stress.
A stressor for one person may not be considered as a stressor by another person.
Psychological stressors
Types of stressors
Internal factors that come from our own psychological mindset, expectations, and personal circumstances.
E.g. worry, comparison of self to others, negative attitudes.
Environmental stressors
Types of stressors
Stimuli external to the individual that can elicit a stress response. They may or may not be controlled by the individual.
E.g. noise, pollution, crowding, natural disasters, temperature.
Social stressors
Types of stressors
Behaviours and situations, social in nature, that are related to physical and psychological strain. They arise from interactions with others and the social environment.
E.g. rudeness, aggression, conflict with others, not spending enough time with important people, lack of social support.
Cultural stressors
Types of stressors
Can relate to adjusting to a foreign culture in a new country, or encountering different lifestyles or belief systems that may “threaten” an individual’s own model.
E.g. lack of involvement, difficulty communicating (accent, colloquialisms), different values.
Nature of the stressor
Characteristics of stressors
- Importance: Stressors involving an important aspect of one’s life tend to be more stressful.
- Predictability: Unpredictable and uncontrollable events tend to be more stressful.
- Number: Several stressors at the same time can intensify the impact of individual stressors.
Duration of the stressor
Characteristics of stressors
Stressors can be brief or prolonged. The longer a stressor operates, the more severe its effects.
E.g. short-term stressor - missing a deadline, long-term stressor - severe frustration due to a physical limitation or health problems.
Strength of the stressor
Characteristics of stressors
Stressors can vary in intensity (e.g. mild or severe). Response varies based on the strength of the stressor and the characteristics of the individual.
Distress
Types of stress
A negative stress response that impedes our ability to perform at an optimal level. It is detrimental in nature and creates physical and psychological maladaptation.
Eustress
Types of stress
A positive psychological response to a stressor. These stressors produce the same physiological responses in the body that result in distress, but more positive psychological states.
Eustress can turn to distress if it’s intense or persists too long. Distress can also turn to eustress.
Eustress examples
Types of stress
- Life changes, such as starting a new job or becoming a parent.
- Smaller challenges, such as a roller coaster ride or scary movie.
- New experiences, such as travelling (which can involve discomfort but also discovery).
General Adaptation System - Selye (1936, 1983)
General Adaptation System describes the automatic physiological changes a body goes through in response to stress.
Humans react to any stress by putting into motion physiological responses to try to alleviate the impact of the stressor.
Hypothalamus and the SNS on the fight or flight response
GAS
The hypothalamus initiates the sympathetic nervous system when it detects a threat. It releases hormones or nerve impulses to stimulate the release of cortisol or adrenaline to prepare the body for a fight or flight response.
Alarm stage - shock
GAS
The detection and initial response to a stressor. During shock stage (during/after exposure to stressor) stress resistance falls below normal levels and body acts as though injured.
Physical effects of shock momentarily reduce the ability to deal with stressors.
Alarm stage - countershock
GAS
The activation of the sympathetic nervous system to prepare for a fight or flight response. Leads to an increased heart rate and breathing rate to deliver oxygen and glucose to the muscles.
Psychological symptoms include fear or anger.
Resistance stage if stressor is no longer present
GAS
If the stressor is no longer present or you can overcome it, the parasympathetic nervous system returns the body (including heart rate and breathing rate) to its normal state/homeostasis.
Adrenaline and cortisol continue to be secreted or remain in the blood stream as a longer-term response.
Resistance stage if stressor remains
GAS
The body enters a state of resistance and will attempt to adapt. It will be better prepared to deal with the stressor but the immune system is suppressed. Risk of adaptive disorders such as sleep deprivation.
Exhaustion stage
GAS
Result of prolonged or chronic stress. Occurs after the body continually tries to but fails to recover from the initial alarm stage. Drains physical, emotional, and mental resources and body no longer has strength to fight stress.
Individual may experience anxiety, fatigue, and irritability.
Limitations of the General Adaptation Syndrome
- Unable to draw firm conclusions about stress response in humans as research was on animals.
- Assumes stress response is physiologically uniform contrary to evidence that suggests different stressors elicit different responses.
Stress as a stimulus
Models of stress
Views stress as a significant life event or change that demands response, adjustment, or adaption.
Holmes and Rahe (1967) sample
A convenience sample of 394 participants completed a paper and pencil test with questions from the Social Readjustment Rating Questionnaire.
What does social readjustment measure
The intensity and length of time necessary to accommodate a life event regardless of the desirability of this event.
What did participants rate
Social readjustment scale
A series of 43 life events on what they believed the readjustment would be (numerical response). Average degree of readjustment rather than extremes.
Marriage was given a score of 500 and used as a baseline to rate all other categories.
What does the social readjustment scale assess
It assesses the amount of stress that has been experienced by an individual in the past year. The respondent indicates which of the 43 events they’ve experienced.
LCU
SRRS
Each event is assigned a Life Change Unit score ranging from 10 to 100, depending on how stressful it is. SRRS scores are positively associated with negative affect and subsequent occurrence of illness.
E.g. death of spouse has the highest LCU value of 100.
Strengths of SRRS
The tool gathers quantitative data allowing for results to be easily statistically analysed.
Limitations of SRRS
- Assumes change is inherently stressful.
- Assumes life events demand the same levels of adjustment across the population.
- Ignores important factors such as prior learning, environment, and personality.
Stress as a transaction
Models of stress
Views stress as a product of a transaction between a person and their complex environment. Stress response depends on the person’s appraisal of the stressor and their ability to cope with it.
Primary appraisal
The individual evaluates whether the event poses a threat, will cause harm or loss, or present a challenge. The event is categorised as irrelevant, positive, or stressful (dangerous).
Perception will largely depend on the individual’s emotional state and personality.
Secondary appraisal
If the individual feels the situation is dangerous, they move onto secondary appraisal. The individual evaluates their resources and options for coping.
If individual feels the demands (risk, uncertainty) outweigh their resources (internal - willpower etc., or external - social support etc.) they experience negative stress and coping strategies are engaged.
Methods of coping
Steps taken/strategies adopted that attempt to process/handle the stressor. The way an individual attempts, or doesn’t attempt, to cope with the stressor influences whether it will continue or dissipate over time.
Problem focused coping
Practical steps taken to manage the stressor. This includes identifying the problem, considering possible solutions, weighing the costs vs benefits, and then selecting an approach.
Emotion focused coping
How the individual manages their emotions associated with the stressor. Doesn’t change the nature of the stressor but attempts to change or reduce the impact it has (negative emotions).
Can include denial, avoidance, cognitively reframing the meaning of the event, and accepting responsibility or blame.
How is stress transactional
As individuals try and cope they make reappraisals. It is transactional as appraisals drive response, response changes something (situation or individual), which affects appraisals.
The result of these reappraisals may be to stop being stressed, or to modify the method of coping.
Limitations of stress as a transaction model
- Difficult to experimentally evaluate.
- Primary and secondary appraisals can influence each other and can be undertaken simultaneously.
- Overlooks physiological factors.
Health related consequences of stress
Stress affects multiple body systems. Severity depends on the cause and the person.
Stress on the body
Headaches, muscle tension, digestive problems, chest pain, fatigue, and increased heart rate.
Stress on emotion/mood
Anxiety, restlessness, lack of motivation, feeling overwhelmed, and memory problems.
Stress on behaviour
Overeating or undereating, angry outbursts, drug or alcohol misuse, avoidance of friends, and exercising less often.
