***Chapter 11: Stress, Coping, + Health Flashcards
stress
a type of response, consisting of the tension, discomfort, or physical symptoms that arise when a situation called a stressor (a type of stimulus) strains our ability to cope effectively
traumatic event
a stressor that’s so severe it can produce long-term psychological or health consequences
stressors as stimuli
-focuses on identifying different types of stressful events
-has pinpointed categories of events that most of us find dangerous + unpredictable
-has pinpointed people who are most susceptible to stress following different events
stress as a response
-assesses people’s psychological + physical reactions to stressful circumstances
-outcome variables, physiological responses, posttraumatic growth
outcome variables
stress-related feelings
-depression, hopelessness, hostility
physiological responses
heart rate, stress hormones/corticosteroids
corticosteroids
stress hormone that activates the body + prepares us to respond to stressful circumstances
posttraumatic growth
the perception of beneficial change or personal transformation in the struggler to overcome adversity
stress as a transaction
-key word: interaction
-examine interaction between potentially stressful life events + how people interpret + cope with then
-appraisals influence whether we experience an event as stressful
appraisal
our evaluation of the event
primary appraisal
initial decision regarding whether an event is harmful or not
secondary appraisal
perceptions regarding our ability to cope with an event that follows primary appraisal
problem-focused coping
tackle life’s challenges head on with plans + actions
emotion-focused coping
stay positive + seek emotional support
meaning-focused coping
when stressors are overwhelmeing, swamping our ability to amange, find meaning in daily activity + embrace human interconnectedness
avoidance-oriented coping
avoiding action to solve our problems or giving up hope
proactive coping
anticipation of problems + stressful situations that promotes effective coping
acceptance-based coping
accepting feelings + thoughts we can’t change
problem, emotion, or meaning focused coping:
I failed my last quiz. After reviewing my quiz, I realize I had trouble applying concepts to scenarios. I created a plan to generate at least 1 of my own example for each bolded concept mentioned in class + in the textbook.
problem-focused coping
problem, emotion, or meaning focused coping:
I broke up with my boyfriend. It hurts so much. I talked with my best friend over the phone for 2 hours + that made me feel much better.
emotion-focused coping
problem, emotion, or meaning focused coping:
At the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic, I was overwhelmed by the uncertainty + severity of the virus. I started to realize the purpose of going to school.
meaning-focused coping
social readjustment rating scale (SRRS)
-stressors as stimuli
-gauge the nature + impact of different stressful events
-43 major life events over the past year ranked in terms of stressfulness
-each item with a value to be added for total stress level
-number of stressful events related to physical disorders, psychological disorders
cons of social readjustment rating scale
-doesn’t consider other crucial factors (like coping)
-ignoring other more chronic ongoing stressors
hassle
minor nuisances that strain our ability to cope
hassles scale
-measures how current stressful events ranging from small annoying to major daily pressure (number + severity) impact our adjustment
-everyday hassles do contribute to stress above + beyond major life events
hassles scale ranking method
1 = somewhat severe
2 = moderately severe
3 = extremely severe
total 119 items
interview based methods
provide a more in-depth picture of life stress than the self-report measures
ecological momentary assessment (EMA)
-programming smart phone or device to prompt people to report what they are thinking, feeling, + doing on a random or predetermined basis or indicate their experience of stress triggers + responses
-gauges how stress + coping unfold in everyday life on a moment-to-moment basis
-provides a window to the dynamic relation between stress + coping in real time + on repeated occasions over the course of a day or any designed interval
Selye’s general adaptation syndrome (GAS)
the pattern of responding to stress, all prolonged stressors take us through 3 stages of adaptation
-homeostasis
-alarm stage
-resistance stage
-exhaustion stage
Seyle
the alarm reaction
-involves excitation of the autonomic nervous system, the discharge of the stress hormone adrenaline, + physical symptoms of anxiety
-the seat of anxiety within the limbic system (the emotional brain) including amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus
-fight-or-flight response
hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis
stress responses rely on a negative feedback loop of the HPA axis
-hypothalamus receives signals of fear
-sympathetic nervous system activates adrenal gland, screting epinephrine + norpeinephrine (adrenaline + noradrenaline)
-body readies for fight-or-flight
-hypothalamus + pituitary gland orchestrate the adrenal gland’s release of cortisol, which floods body with energy
cortisol
stress hormone
Seyle
resistance
adapt to stressor + find ways to cope with it
-with the thinking brain
Seyle
exhaustion
-if our personal resources are limited + we lack good coping measures, our resistance may ultimately break down, causing our levels of activation to bottom out
-results can range from damage to an organ system, to depression + anxiety, to a breakdown in the immune system
eustress
good stress
distress
bad stress
describe the diversity of stress response
-stress reactions vary from stressor to stressor + may be shaped by gender
posttraumatic stress disorder PTSD
flashbacks, avoid reminders of the trauma, detachment, increased arousal, sleep problems, startled easily
more social connections =
lower probability of dying
behavioral control
the ability to step up + do something to change
what type of coping does behavior control use
problem-focused coping
cognitive control
the ability to think differently about negative emotions arising from stress-provoking events
what type of coping does cognitive control use
emotion-focused coping
descisional control
the ability to choose among alternative courses of action
informational control
the ability to acquire information about a stressful event
what type of coping does informational control use
proactive coping
emotional control
the ability to suppress + express emotions
catharsis
disclosing painful feelings, venting
hardiness
view changes as a challenge rather than a threat, committed to life + work, believe they can control events
-when being physical ill, we don’t feel especially hardy
pros of hardiness
-can boost stress resistance
-associated with low levels of anxiety-proneness
optimistic people are
-more productive
-focused
-persistent
-better at handling frustration than pessimists
-lower mortality rate
optimistic people have
-more vigorous immune response
-lower distress
-lower risk of heart failure + depression
-better surgical outcomes
-fewer physical complaints
spirituality
search for the sacred
pros of spirituality
-fosters self-control
-boosts social support
-promotes sense of meaning + purpose
compared with nonreligious people, peolpe who say they believe in God have
-lower mortality rates
-improved immune system functioning
-lower blood pressure
-greater ability to recover from illnesses
psychosomatic illness
illness or disorders due to deep-seated conflicts + emotional reactions
example of psychosomatic illness
stomach ulcers due to infantile cravings to be fed + feelings of dependency
pscyhophysiological illness
illnesses in which emotions + stress contribute to, maintain, or aggravate the physical condition
examples of psychophysiological illness
asthma, ulcers, headaches, AIDS, CHD
biopsychosocial perspective
-most medical conditions are neither all physical nor all psychological
-more out of the complex interplay of genes + other personal + environmental factors
coronary heart disease associations with stress
-PTSD associated with CHD
-disruptions in normal heart rhythm + even sudden death + narrowed blocked coronary arteries
-hyped-up autonomic nervous system
coronary heart disease associations with type A personality
-perfectionistic, prone to hostility, stubborn, opinionated, cynical, controlling, concerned with deadlines
-hostility is the most predictive factor of heart disease
other environmental factors that cause coronary heart disease
-poor diet
-low SES
-drinking
-smoking
-etc.
healthy lifestyle
-health psychology = behavioral medicine
-stop smoking
-curb alcohol consumption
-achieve a healthy weight
-regular exercise
what % patients don’t take their physician’s medical advice
30-70%
what % patients don’t follow recommendations to exercise, stop smoking, change diet, or take prescribed medications
80%
why don’t people take medical advice
-personal intertia
-misestimating risk
-feeling powerless
personal intertia
our reluctance to try something new
mistestimating risk
underestimate certain risks to our health + overestimate others
complementary medicine is alos called
integrative health medicine
complementary medicine
products + practices that are used together with conventional medicine
alternative medicine
healthcare practices + products used in place of conventional medicine
conventional medicine
medicine with solid evidence of safety + effectiveness
complementary + alternative medicines
-biologically based therapies
-manipulative + body bassed methods
-mind-body medicine
-energy medicine
-whole medical systems
complementary + alternative medicine:
biologically based therapies
vitamins, herbs, food supplements
complementary + alternative medicine:
manipulative + body based methods
chirporactic medicine
complementary + alternative medicine:
mind-body medicine
biofeedback, meditation, yoga
complementary + alternative medicine:
energy medicine
acupuncture
complementary + alternative medicine:
whole medical systems
homeopathy, homeopathic medicine
