Chapter 14: Stress and Health Flashcards
Stressors
events or chronic pressures that place demands on a person or threaten their well-being
Chronic stressors
sources of stress that occur consistently ex. bullying, overwork, money troubles
-social stress
-loud noise with children
-neighbourhoods
control over stressful events :perceived control
Lack of control over a situation
-Glass and singer tested loud vs quiet rooms during a task (problem solving and proofreading)
stress
the physical and psychological response to internal and external stressors: typical responses to such stressors and the way to manage it
physical stress reactions
fight or flight
-ACTH travels through the blood stream stimulating the adrenal glands then to the kidneys
HPA is released in the adrenal glands increasing the sympathetic nervous system
Immune system to chronic stress
stressors can cause hormones to flood the brain- wears down the immune system not being able to fight invaders
lymphocytes
white blood cells that produce antibodies that fight infection with T and B cells
cardiovascular health: chronic stress
sensitive to stress
- high blood pressure
-addictions
-atherosclerosis: narrowing of the arteries build up on the inside
stressful events
-Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe
Majour life events can cause an increase in stress and cause illness
health psychology
concerned with the way psychological factors influence ones physical and mental illness
General adaptation syndrome (GAS)
3 stage physiological stress response:
1. Alarm stage: rapid mobilization to a threat draw energy from fat/muscles
2. Resistance phase: shuts down digestion, growth, and sex drive stall, menstruation, all fun stuff is put to hold
3. Exhaustion phase: if it is long in the resistance phase the body will shut down and cause damage such as tumours, aging, organ damage, or death
telomeres
caps at the end of chromosomes that prevent the chromosomes from sticking to each other
telomerase
an enzyme that rebuilds telomeres.
people with chronic stress tent to have a shorter telomere
type A behaviour pattern
tendency towards easily aroused hostility, impatience, a sense of time urgency, and competitive achievement
two step process
the process of stress interpretation by lazurus and folkman
1. Interpretation of a stimulus stressful or not- primary appraisal (ex. spider on shirt
2. secondary appraisal determining whether the stressor can be handled or not
Burnout
Emotional, physical, mental state that causes exhaustion from long term involvement
rational coping
involves facing the stressor and working to overcome it
ex the lady with OCD
3 steps
acceptance
exposure
understanding
repressive coping
avoiding feelings, thoughts, or situations that are reminders of a stressor and maintaining a positive viewpoint
reframing
finding a creative and new way to think about a stressor that reduces stress
stress inoculation training
technique used to help people cope through stressful situations by developing positive ways to think about it
relaxation therapy and EMG
reducing tension by consciously relaxing the muscles of the body
electromyography- measure the activity of muscles
biofeedback
external monitoring device to obtain info about the bodily functions and possibly gain control over that function
electroencephalograph
test for brain waves and the response to stressful events
optimism and hardiness
optimism- maintain of psychological health in the face of a physical problem
hardiness- commitment, control, and challenge
self regulation
Voluntary control over the self to bring the self into line with preferred standards
(eating a salad instead of a burger)
(not sitting around all day and going to the gym)
