Chapter 14 Flashcards
biopsychosocial model
argues that physical illnesses are not only caused by biological factors, but also psychosocial factors
health psychology
concerned with:
- how psychosocial factors relate to the promotion and maintenance of health and with the causation, prevention, and treatment of illness
stress
- a natural human response
- state of worry caused by a difficult situation or perceived threat
3 types of stressors
- microstressors
- catastrophic events
- major negative events
primary appraisal
- interpretation of demands of the situation
“what do i have do to?”
secondary appraisal
- analysis of resources available to cope
“how can i deal with this situation?”
acute stressors
threatening events that have a relatively short duration and a clear endpoint
ex: exam, traffic jam, flooded basement
chronic stressors
threatening events that have a relatively long duration and no clear endpoint
ex: money problems, bad boss
4 major types of stress
frustration, conflict, change, pressure
stress: frustration
occurs in any situation in which the pursuit of some goal is blocked (fail exam, traffic)
stress: conflict
occurs when two or more incompatible motivations or behavioural impulses compete for expression
stress: change
any noticeable alterations in one’s living environment that require readjustment
Social Readjustment Rating Scale
a test that scores level of stress - high # = high stress, greater physical and psychological problems
stress: pressure
expectations or demands that one behave in a certain way
pressure to perform
you’re expected to execute tasks successfully and efficiently
pressure to conform
you’re expected to meet standards others have set for you
3 stress reactions
1.) emotional
2.) physiological
3.) behavioural
emotional stress reaction
- annoyance, anger
- anxiety, fear
- grief, sadness
- positive emotions after the fact
effect of emotional arousal on performance
→ high arousal = simple task
→ medium arousal = medium task
→ low arousal = complex task
physiological stress reaction
- fight or flight response
- two brain body pathways
- general adaptation syndrome
general adaptation syndrome
A model of the body’s stress response, consisting of three phases:
1.) Alarm = activation of sympathetic nervous system (“fight-or-flight”, physiological response)
2.) Resistance = body begins to repair itself, physiological changes stabilize as coping efforts get under way
3.) Exhaustion = body’s resources may be depleted
behavioural stress response
- learned helplessness
- aggression/lash out
- self-indulgence
- defense mechanisms
- constructive coping (emotion or problem focused)
effects of stress on psychological functioning
- impaired task performance and burnout
- psychological problems; PTSD, depression
- psychosomatic diseases
- heart disease
- immune functioning
personality risk factor for heart disease
people with type A personality have increased risk factor for heart disease because they are competitiveness, impatient and angry/hostile which increases stress
factors moderating impact of stress
- social support
- type a or b personality
- conscientiousness
- belief we can cope/optimism
PTSD
anxiety disorder in response to a traumatic event
symptoms of PTSD
- memories, dreams, or nightmares about the event
- avoid activities, thoughts, feelings, conversations that are reminders of the event
- depression, anxiety, guilt, fear, helplessness
- sleep problems; may feel detached from others
causes of PTSD
- combat
- natural disasters
- abuse
- victimization
who develops PTSD?
- any age
- 10% of canadians, twice as common in women
- more common in those with negative childhood experiences
who is less likely to develop PTSD?
those with strong social support, optimistic personality, constructive coping skills
biological factors related to PTSD
intense biochemical reactions that continue far beyond fight-or-flight:
→ increased cortisol and norepineephrine
→ blunted HPA axis
→ exaggerated sympathetic nervous system
→smaller/shrunken hippocampus
health impairing behaviours
- smoking
- lack of exercise
- alcohol and drug use
reactions to illness
- seeking treatment (ignoring physical symptoms)
- communicating with health providers
- following medical advice (noncompliance)
learned helplessness
happens when people are conditioned to believe that a bad situation is unchangeable or inescapable.
constructive coping
emotion-focused: when you try to deal with your emotional response to the stressor
problem focused: efforts to manage stressful situations and alter a troubled person’s environment to modify or eliminate sources of stress
defence mechanisms
strategies that are unconsciously used to protect a person from anxiety arising from unacceptable thoughts
self indulgence
excessive gratification of one’s own appetites, desires, or whims
aggression/lashing out
express your anger by saying or writing furious words about someone
