CHAPTER 17; STRESS AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING Flashcards
What is a stressor?
A psychological and/or physiological response to internal or external sources of tension that challenges a person’s ability to cope.
What is stress?
Stress is a psychological and physical response of the body that occurs when there are factors in our life causing pressure and demand.
Which branch of the autonomic nervous system is responsible for arousal?
The sympathetic nervous system.
What is Eustress?
Eustress refers to a positive psychological response to a perceived stressor.
What is Distress?
Distress refers to a negative psychological response to a perceived stressor.
What is Primary appraisal?
Primary appraisal is the initial evaluation process where the person determines whether the event is a threat of a challenge.
After Primary Appraisal, what is ‘Harm/Loss’?
an assessment that some type of damage has been done such as an illness or poor test result. e.g. “I just failed a major test”
After Primary Appraisal, what is ‘Threat’?
an assessment that there may be a future harm or loss. e.g. “i might fail the next major test”
After Primary Appraisal, what is ‘Challenge’?
an assessment that there is opportunity for personal growth or something might have a positive outcome.
After Primary Appraisal, what is ‘Neutral/Irrelevant/Benign’?
an assessment that this event is of little or no personal importance or relevance to the person and therefore does not go beyond primary appraisal.
What is Secondary Appraisal?
Secondary appraisal is the stage where the person considers what options are available to them and how they will respond.
What is ‘Problem-focused coping’?
Problem-focused coping looks at the causes of the stressor from a practical perspective and works out ways to deal with the problem or stressful situation with the objective of reducing that stress.
What is ‘Taking control’?
Taking control is making sure you are on the right track and not wasting any time towards your goal.
What is ‘Information seeking’?
Information seeking is looking for additional information to know how to deal with the stressor.
What is ‘Emotion-focused coping’?
Emotion-focused coping involves trying to reduce the negative emotional feelings associated with the stressor such as embarrassment, fear, anxiety, depression, excitement or frustration.
What are some Emotion-focused coping strategies?
Meditation, relaxation, talking to friends and family, denial, physical exercise and distraction.
What are two strengths of the Lazarus and Flokman’s transactional model?
- used human subjects in developing the model
- used a cognitive approach to stress with a focus on how people cope with the psychological stressors
What is Allostasis?
Allostasis is when the body maintains a stability through change.
What is homeostasis?
Homeostasis is when our autonomic bodily function such as heart rate, digestion and respiration are maintained at a state of balance by parasympathetic.
What is Allostatic Load?
Allostatic load is the price the body pays for adapting to various psychological and social challenges.
What is Allostatic Overload?
Allostatic Overload is when the demands of the stressor exceed the body’s ability to repeatedly adapt.
What is biofeedback?
Biofeedback is a scientifically based treatment that uses sensitive instruments to monitor and provide feedback about a persons heart rate and more in ‘real time’.
What is meditation?
Meditation is when a person finds a quiet place, where they can alter their state of consciousness on physical phenomena that they are usually not aware of.
What is relaxation?
Relaxation is a process of releasing ones muscles and thoughts.
What is Physical exercise?
Physical exercise refers to an activity that requires exertion with the purpose of improving fitness or health.
What is Social Support?
Social support refers to the network of family, friends, neighbours and community members that are available during difficult times to provide emotional, physical and financial assistance.
What is the ‘Fight-or-Flight- response?
The Fight-or-flight response is an organisms survival response when a possible threat is introduced, readying the body for action.
What is the Biopsychosocial model?
The biopsychosocial model is using the biological, psychological and social/cultural influences of a person as an approach to considering physical and mental health.
