CH 5 Stress, Coping, and Health (Questions) Flashcards
Is stress the same as trauma?
No
Why are situations stressful?
They become stressful when we lack resources to cope
Three Perspectives of Stress
- Stressors as Stimuli
- Stress as a Transaction
- Stress as a Response
How is stress measured? (3,6)
- Self-Report Measures
- Hassles Scale
- Physiological Measures:
- Heart rate and blood pressure
- EEG (brain activity)
- Hormonal Testing (cortisol and adrenaline)
Physiological Basis of Stress (2,6)
Sympathetic Nervous System
- Fight or flight: adrenaline released
- Activates to reduce stress response (balances sympathetic responses = homeostasis)
HPA Axis
- Chain reaction of hormonal response lead to release of cortisol
- Functions to keep us alert and motivated to deal with or avoid danger
Variation in Stress Responses (3,8)
Individual Differences
- Perception/interpretation
- Coping strategy
- Type and degree of stress: acute or chronic
PTSD
Gender Differences
- Men: fight or flight
- Woman: tend and befriend
Important Factors in Coping with Stress (3,7)
Social Support
- Emotional comfort and personal and financial resources
- May “buffer” against negative effects of stress
Coping Strategies
- Problem-focused or Emotional-focused coping
Control
- Behavioural, Cognitive, Informational, Decisional, Emotional control
Expressing anger tends to…?
Increase anger
Is merely talking about your problems helpful?
No, constructive action is needed
Important Factors in Coping with Stress (1, 5)
Individual Differences
- Hardiness
- Optimism
- Hostility and Competitiveness
- Spiritual and Religious involvement
- Rumination
Relation between Skin and Psychosomatics
Many skin issues are impacted by various biological, psychological, and social factors
Parts of Immune System (14)
Organs, barriers, proteins and chemicals; Antibodies, Phagocytes, Lymphocytes; Lymph nodes, bone marrow, spleen, tonsils, thymus, skin and mucosa
Association between Stress and colds (3)
- More stress is associated with more colds
- Persistent stressors are particularly important = inflammation may be a causal mechanism
- Other research suggests indirect effects: nutrition, sleep, and other lifestyle factors
Association between Immune Function (3)
- Stress depresses the immune system
- Cortisol limits inflammation at first = can lead to more inflammation over time (persistent exposure)
- Positive emotions and social support support immune function
Cardiovascular Disease
- # 2 killer in Canada
- Research is correlational, but implies a link between stress and CVD
- Hormones and inflammation are implicated as mechanisms
- Personality factors: “Type A” personality = anger/hostility
