Chapter 17 - Stress and Physical Wellbeing

Question 1

Stress

Answer 1

A psychological and physiological response to internal or external sources of tension that challenge a person’s ability to cope.

Question 2

Stressors can be:

Answer 2

• Positive
• Negative
• Internal
• External

Question 3

‘Stressors can also be viewed in terms of type’.

Explain.

Answer 3

Can be viewed in terms of:

• Physical or psychological
• Duration
• How long it has been present
• Strength/intensity

Question 4

What does a person experience when they are stressed?

Answer 4

A person usually experiences physiological arousal (in the form of the fight-or-flight response) and emotional tension that causes changes in their thinking processes and behaviours.

Question 5

List some characteristics of stressors.

Answer 5

NATURE
- Physical (Sleep deprivation, hot/cold, thirst)
- Psychological (Anxiety from failing test, grief from losing a loved one)
DURATION
- Short term (Sitting exam, first date)
- Long term (Family problems, chronic illness)
STRENGTH/INTENSITY
- Low (School formal, new school year)
- High (Loss of loved one, terminal illness)

Question 6

Which branch of the nervous system is responsible for arousal?

Answer 6

Sympathetic nervous system.

Question 7

Give an example of a psychological and physical stressor.

Answer 7

Psychological - Anxiety about SAC.

Physical - Hot weather.

Question 8

When is the HPA Axis activated?

Answer 8

During times of physical, psychological or environmental stress.

Question 9

Ouline what occurs in the HPA Axis.

Answer 9

• Stressor is perceived.
• Hypothalamus releases corticotrophin (CRH).
• Activates pituitary gland to release adrenocorticotrophin hormone (ACTH).
• Prompts adrenal glands to release adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol (stress hormones).
• Physiological changes occur (Eg. Increased HR, Increased respiration rate, increased production of glucose).

Question 10

Eustress

Answer 10

Refers to a positive psychological response to a perceived stressor.

Question 11

Distress

Answer 11

Refers to a negative psychological response to a perceived stressor.

Question 12

What is GAS? What does it consist of?

Answer 12

'General Adaptation Syndrome'.
Consists of:
1. Alarm
2. Resistance
3. Exhaustion

Question 13

Briefly explain what occurs in each stage of GAS.

Answer 13

1. Alarm: Fight-or-flight response is activated;shock and counter shock occur.
2. Resistance: ‘Adaptive stage’; signs of illness begin.
3. Exhaustion: Cannot cope with the stressor, body’s resources are depleted, person becomes very tired.

Question 14

Lazarus and Folkman worked with real peepz.

Answer 14

-.-

Question 15

What did Lazarus and Folkman learn upon forming their transactional model of stress and coping?

Answer 15

It became apparent that it was not just the response to the stressor itself that was important but, rather, the individual’s perception and assessment of that stressor.

Question 16

According to the transactional model of stress and coping…..?

Answer 16

Stress is regarded as a ‘transaction’ between the person and the environment where the person’s individual interpretation or cognitive appraisal determines how to deal with a situation.

Question 17

A person’s appraisal can also be influence by what?

Answer 17

• Beliefs
• Goals
• Personal circumstances
• Life experiences
• Personality

Question 18

What did Lazarus and Folkman emphasise about stress?

Answer 18

Emphasised the importance of psychological or cognitive processes involved in dealing with a stressful situation.

Question 19

What are the two stages of the transactional model when assessing a situation?

Answer 19

1. Primary appraisal

2. Secondary appraisal

Question 20

Define primary appraisal.

Answer 20

Is the initial evaluation process where the person determines whether the event (stressor) is a threat or a challenge.

It is an unconscious process.

Question 21

What occurs during primary appraisal?

Answer 21

The significance of a situation is classified as:

• Harm/loss (‘I just failed a SAC’).
• Threat (‘I might fail the SAC’ - potential for future harm/loss).
• Challenge (‘I will work hard to pass the next SAC’ - opportunity for personal growth).
• Neutral/Irrelevant/Benign (‘My neighbour failed his SAC’ - Little or nor importance or relevance).

Question 22

Explain secondary appraisal.

Answer 22

Where a person considers what options are available to them and how they will respond.

It is a conscious process.

Question 23

What is emotional forecasting?

Answer 23

Where a person predicts the possible emotional impact of each potential response (occurs in both stages).

Question 24

What are Lazarus and Folkman’s two methods of coping?

Answer 24

1. Problem-focused coping.

2. Emotion-focused coping.

Question 25

Define and explain problem-focused coping.

Answer 25

``` Looks at the causes of a stressor from a practical perspective and works out ways to deal with the problem of stressful situation with the objective of reducing that stress. Strategies include: - Taking control - Information seeking - Evaluating pros and cons ```

Question 26

Define and explain emotion-focused coping.

Answer 26

Involves trying to reduce the negative emotional feelings associated with a stressor (Eg. Embarrassment, fear, anxiety, depression etc.). Strategies include: - Meditation - Relaxation - Talking to friends and family about the problem - Denial - Distraction (Eg. Watching TV) - Physical exercise (reduces stress because you are mainly focusing on a single stimulus)

Question 27

List two strengths and two weaknesses of Lazarus and Folkman's model.

Answer 27

STRENGTHS 1. Used human subjects in developing the model. 2. Used a cognitive approach to stress with a focus on how people cope with psychological stressors. WEAKNESSES 1. Greater focus on psychological factors meant less emphasis was placed on physiological elements of stress response. 2. Did not include cultural, social or environmental factors in looking at how individuals perceive a stressful event.

Question 28

Give examples of 'protective factors'.

Answer 28

- Stable life - Good job - Strong friendship network - Good family Each of these factors help people face stressors with greater resilience.

Question 29

List five of the top 10 stressors on the Holmes-Rahe life events scale.

Answer 29

1. Death of spouse 2. Divorce 3. Marital separation 4. Jail term 5. Death of family member 6. Personal injury/illness 7. Marriage 8. Fired at work 9. Marital reconciliation 10. Retirement

Question 30

List two common types of stress for physical, cognitive, emotional and behavioural stress.

Answer 30

Physical Stress: Rapid HR, fatigue Cognitive Stress: Memory impairment, difficult decision-making Emotional Stress: Anxiety, depression Behavioural Stress: Substance use, antisocial behaviour

Question 31

Who developed the allostasis model?

Answer 31

Sterling and Eyer (1988).

Question 32

Homeostasis

Answer 32

Where automatic bodily functions are maintained at a state of equilibrium by the parasympathetic nervous system.

Question 33

Allostasis

Answer 33

'Where the body maintain stability or homeostasis through change' - When a person interprets an event as being stressful; several internal physiological and behavioural processes are activated so that adaptation to the stressor (or allostasis) can be achieved.

Question 34

Allostasic Load

Answer 34

Refers to the cumulative effects of our body trying to re-establish allostasis in response to frequent and intense stressors.

Question 35

Allostasic Overload

Answer 35

When the demands of the stressor exceed the body's ability to repeatedly adapt, the person is no longer able to meet the demands.

Question 36

Review allostasis continuum in revision book!

Answer 36

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Question 37

List and explain four additional strategies for coping with stress.

Answer 37

- Biofeedback: Uses a variety of instruments to provide feedback on HR, temperature, respiration rate, brainewaves etc; person is taught to alter their thoughts, emotions and behaviour through operant conditioning). - Meditation/Relaxation: Induced ASC - meditation - focuses on one stimulus; relaxation includes breathing techniques - less attention is required. - Physical exercise - Social support: Network of friends, family etc. that provide emotional, physical and financial assistance.

Question 38

List advantages and disadvantages of the categorical approach.

Answer 38

ADVANTAGES - Promotes communication between mental health professionals. - Consistency in how different patients are diagnosed. DISADVANTAGES - Stigmatisation. - Lots of interlap between symptoms can make diagnosis tricky.

Question 39

List advantages and disadvantages of the dimensional approach.

Answer 39

ADVANTAGES - Reduces stigmatisation (because it is a spectrum). - More detailed description of disorder (takes into account a wide range of symptoms). DISADVANTAGES - Time-consuming. - Subjectivity.