chapter 14 - stress and coping Flashcards
What is stress?
Physical and psychological response to internal/external stressors
Stress has immediate and cumulative effects that influence health.
What is primary appraisal in the context of stress?
Evaluating if a situation is a threat, challenge, or irrelevant
What is secondary appraisal in the context of stress?
Assessing ability to cope with a stressor
What are the major types of stress?
- Acute: short term, immediate response
- Chronic: long-term, stays for long time
What is frustration in relation to stress?
When a goal is blocked
What is conflict in the context of stress?
Due to incompatible choices/motivations
What does change refer to in stress sources?
Adjusting to positive and negative transitions
What does pressure mean in relation to stress?
Expectations to act a certain way
Describe the stress cycle.
Stressor = reaction = wear and tear on body and organs = reduced health = increased sensitivity to stress
What is eustress?
Optimal stress level that promotes physical and psychological health
What is inoculation in stress management?
Dealing with small stress levels leads to better functioning in more stressful situations
What are stressors?
Specific events/pressures that put demands on people and threaten well-being
Define chronic stressors.
Sources that occur continuously or repeatedly
What can sources of stress be traced to?
A particular environment
What are major life events in the context of stress?
Significant occurrences that can impact an individual’s stress level
What are traumatic events?
Unexpected disruptive events that can lead to PTSD
What does PTSD stand for?
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
What are common symptoms of PTSD?
- Persistent scary thoughts/memories of event
- Anxiety
- Depression
True or False: Stress and illness are correlated.
True
What is the first step in the stress process?
Encounters potentially stressful event
What influences the appraisal of a stressful event?
Familiarity, controllability, predictability of event
What are the three basic types of conflict?
- Approach-approach
- Avoidance-avoidance
- Approach-avoidance
What is the inverted U-hypothesis?
Relationship between emotional arousal and task performance is shaped like an upside-down U
What is the role of the hypothalamus in stress response?
Activates two pathways in response to stress
What is the fast response pathway in stress?
Autonomic nervous system activated, preparing the body for quick actions
What does the adrenal medulla secrete during stress?
Catecholamines (adrenaline and noradrenaline)
What are the three stages of the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)?
- Alarm: rapid mobilization
- Resistance: adaptation and coping
- Exhaustion: collapse
What is repressive coping?
Avoiding situations that remind of stressors
What is constructive coping?
Facing stressor and trying to overcome it
What is burnout?
State of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion due to long-term emotionally demanding situations
What is meditation?
Intentional contemplation
What does biofeedback involve?
Using external monitoring device to gain control over bodily functions
What type of exercise is aerobic exercise?
Exercise to increase heart rate and oxygen intake for a specific period of time
What health benefits can aerobic exercise provide?
- Increases serotonin
- Increases endorphins
What is the impact of chronic stress on health?
Can lead to conditions like arthritis, respiratory disease, and diabetes
What is the relationship between personality traits and stress sensitivity?
Certain traits can make individuals more vulnerable to stress
What does socio-cultural conditions refer to in stress?
Factors like prejudice, discrimination, and moving to a new country
What is the role of optimism in stress management?
Believing the future will be positive leads to better health outcomes
What defines a Type A personality?
Easily aroused hostility, impatient, competitive
What defines a Type D personality?
Distressed, worried, gloomy, socially inhibited
