AOS 1 - Stress Flashcards
Stress
A state of physiological and psychological arousal produced by internal or external stressors that are perceived by the individuals as challenging or exceeding their ability or resources to cope
Stressor
A stimulus that causes or produces stress & challenges our ability to cope
- Internal - within individual
- External - outside individual
Eustress
A positive psychological response to a stressor is indicated by the presence of positive psychological states such as feeling enthusiastic and motivated alert and active
- short term, not harmful, provide energy
Distress
A negative psychological response to a stressor as indicated by the presence of negative psychological states such as anger, anxiety, nervousness, irritability to tension
- can be short term, or persist serious consequences
Acute stress
when stress is produced at very high arousal for a relatively short term (homework deadline)
Episodic stress
Is when acute stress occurs over and over again this may be referred to as episodic acute stress ( death of the dog, followed by the deadline, followed by divorce, followed by health problem)
Chronic stress
Involves ongoing demands pressures and worries that are long-lasting. Can seem to go on forever with little hopes of letting up. This type of stress produces an increased arousal level that persists over a relatively long time and is likely to be harmful in some way (poverty)
Daily pressures
Daily pressure is a type of stressor involving a little problem of everyday living that is irritant
- varying effects, not necessarily significant can pile up, upset or angry
Life events
Life events in relation to stress, a type of stressor in everyday life involving change that forces an individual to adapt to circumstances
- positive or negative, immediate consequences, long term adjustments, including choices
Acculturative stress
The stress people experience in trying to adopt to a new culture when living in it for a considerate period of time
- reducing acculturative stress - acceptance, familiarity, attitudes
Major stressors
A type of stressor involving an event that is extraordinarily stressful or disturbing for almost everyone who experiences it
- psychologically traumatic, life-threatening, strong emotional reaction, natural disaster, violence
Catastrophe
An event that causes widespread damage or suffering sometimes a stressor can disrupt and affect an entire community all at once.
- usually sudden, highly related to risks of continuing problems, epidemic, war, natural disasters
Flight fight freeze response
An involuntary physical response to a sudden and immediate threat (or stressor) in readiness to
FIGHT - confronting and fighting off the threat
FLIGHT - escaping by running away to safety
FREEZE - keeping absolutely silent, avoiding detection
Physiological responses to FFF
Activated by sympathetic NS
- increased heart rate & blood pressure
- redistribution of blood supply to muscles
- increased breathing rate
- dilation of pupils
How is FFF activated
- brain-body pathway that activates this is called the sympathetic adieno medullary when threat perceived
- signal sent to the hypothalamus
- hypothalamus activates sympathetic NS
- sympathetic NS stimulates the adrenal medulla which secretes hormones into the bloodstream
- stress hormones activate organs to respond to the threat
- when the stressor is removed parasympathetic NS returns the body to homeostasis
Freeze reaction
SNS always precedes freeze state but when initiated the PNS dominates over SNS = high arousal of both nervous systems leaving the individual in energy conservation mode and a motivated state ready for action
Cortisol
Steroid hormone released by the adrenal glands is often called the stress hormone
- essential for the maintenance of homeostasis
- the body’s not able to maintain the intensity of FF for prolonged periods of time
Effects of cortisol on the body
physical - impaired immune system functioning, high blood pressure
mental - learning problems, impaired memory, depression
How is cortisol released
Cortisol is released through the HPA Axis
H - hypothalamus stimulates
P - pituitary glands secrete hormones (ACTH) into the bloodstream
A - ACTH stimulates the adrenal cortex to secrete hormones ( mainly cortisol)
- takes longer than FFF but lasts longer
- long term stressors - HPA axis remains active and cortisol remains in bloostream
Seyle’s General Adaption Syndrome (GAS)
A three-stage process physiological response to stress that occurs regardless of the stressor that is encountered
Stage 1 - alarm reaction
Occurs when the person first becomes aware of the stressor
Shock - the body’s ability to deal with the stressor falls below the normal level. The body reacts as if it were injured, temp drops people at most vulnerable
Countershock - SNS is activated (FF response) body’s resistance to stressors increases. Adrenaline is released into the bloodstream heart and respiratory rate increases = more energy for muscles
Stage 2 - resistance
body’s resistance to stressor rises above normal
- intense arousal of alarm reaction diminishes, physiological arousal remains above normal, all unnecessary physiological processes are shut down
- cortisol released into bloodstream, more energy, weakens immune system
- the ability to deal with the initial stressor in this stage increases however resistance to other stressors may decline
Stage 3 - exhaustion
some alarm reaction changes can reappear however body is unable to maintain its resistance and effects can no longer be dealt with
- due to prolonged stress, body’s resources have been depleted and it becomes vulnerable to diseases and mental disorders
- extreme fatigue, high level of anxiety
- ‘wear and tear’ due to immune suppression & prolonged levels of cortisol in the bloodstream as cortisol interferes with body’s ability to fight disease
Strengths - GAS model
- developed understanding and awareness of links between stress and disease
- identifies biological processes associated with stress response
Limitations - GAS model
- GAS is a ‘one size fits all’ model assuming that everyone has same physiological responses to any stressor
- overlooks our psychological response
Lazarus & Folkman’s transactional model of stress and coping - stress
Stress involves an encounter (transaction) between an individual and their external environment and the stress response depends upon the individual’s interpretation (appraisal) of the stressor and their ability to cope
Primary appraisal
In the primary appraisal, individuals evaluate/judge the significance of the situation/event
- make a decision about the event, bengin or stressful
- if stressful appraisals take place - harm/loss, threat, challenge
Secondary appraisal
In secondary appraisal individuals evaluate their coping options/ resources and options for dealing with the stressful situation
- coping resources can be internal or external
Strengths L & F
- used human subjects to develop the model
- acknowledges that appraisal & response to stressors can be very individual based on circumstance
Weaknesses L & F
- primary and secondary appraisal can occur simultaneously
- people perceive and respond subjectively to stress thus difficult to measure
Coping with stress
A process involving cognitive and behavioral efforts to manage specific internal and/or external stressors that are appraised as taxing or exceeding our resources in a stressful situation
Coping flexibility
The ability to effectively adjust one’s coping strategies according to the demands of different stressful situations
High coping flexibility
- adjust coping strategies if one they are using is ineffective & use different types of strategies across a variety of situations
Low coping flexibility
- use the same types of coping strategies across situations & approach coping in the same way
Approach coping strategies
Approach coping strategies are an effort to confront a stressor and deal directly with it and its effects. Focused on the stressor it causes and a solution that will address the underlying problem and minimise its impact
Examples approach strategies
- an approach strategy for a stressor involving loss of a job through retrenchment is to search for a new job
Avoidance coping strategy
Avoidance coping strategies are efforts that evade a stressor and deal indirectly with it, focused away from the stressor and there is no attempt to confront it and its causes, more vulnerable to health problems
Examples avoidance coping strategies
- an avoidant strategy for a job loss stressor may be not to tell anyone and not to think about it
Exercise as a coping strategy
- physical activity that is usually planned and performed to improve physical condition
- physical activity = good mental health/wellbeing
- exercise increases energy demands = uses up cortisol in the bloodstream, endorphins produced
- regular exercise reduces reactivity of SNS
