Chapter 3

Question 1

What is stress?

Answer 1

Nonspecific response of the body to any demand made upon it;
the arousal, both physical and mental, to situation or events that we perceive as threatening or challenging

Question 2

What is a stressor?

Answer 2

Trigger or stimulus that prompts a stressful reaction

Question 3

What is eustress?

Answer 3

Pleasant, desirable stress

Question 4

What are the major sources of stress?

Answer 4

• Life changes
• chronic stressors
• hassles
• frustrations
• conflicts

Question 5

What are life changes?

Answer 5

• Cross cultural

- Social readjustment rating scale

Question 6

Define chronic stressors

Answer 6

–Ongoing arousal in which the parasympathetic system cannot activate the relaxation response
–War, bad marriage, poverty, ill health, intolerable political climate, bad season for the Steelers
–Constant state of perceived threat

Question 7

What are Hassles?

Answer 7

–Small problems of daily living that accumulate

–Significant major life events sometimes create more hassles

Question 8

What is frustration?

Answer 8

–Unpleasant tension, anxiety, and heightened sympathetic activity resulting from a blocked goal
–The more motivated we are, the more frustration we experience when our goals are blocked

Question 9

What is conflict?

Answer 9

Anytime you have opposing or incompatible actions, objections, or ideas

Question 10

What are the effects of stress?

Answer 10

Sympathetic part of autonomic nervous system is activated - Heart rate increases, blood pressure increases, respiration quickens, muscles tense

Question 11

What is the general adaption function?

Answer 11

–Three stage alarm system - Alarm, resistance, exhaustion

***

Question 12

Sympatho-adreno-medullary (SAM) & Hypothalamic pituitary Adrenocortical

Answer 12

controls reactions to stress and regulates many body processes, including digestion, the immune system, mood and emotions, sexuality, and energy storage and expenditure.

Question 13

Hypothalamic pituitary Adrenocortical Axis

Answer 13

Stress sets off neurons in the hypothalamus to release a hormone known as corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH). CRH is then transported to the pituitary gland (another part of the brain) which then secretes another hormone, adrenocorticotropic

Question 14

•How does stress affect our immune system?

Answer 14

–Increased cortisol levels initially help us fight stressors, but if these levels stay high, our immune system is suppressed

–We become susceptible to disease

Question 15

•How does stress affect cognitive functioning?

Answer 15

Cortisol can prevent the retrieval of existing memories as well as laying down new

Question 16

Define effects of cancer

Answer 16

–Cells rapidly divide and form a tumor
–Usually the immunes system checks the uncontrolled growth and attacks abnormal cells
–Stress causes adrenal glands to release hormones that suppress immunes system

Question 17

What are effects of heart disease from stress?

Answer 17

Stress causes release of epinephrine and cortisol which increases heart rate and release fat and glucose to give muscles quick availability

Question 18

What is Health Psychology?

Answer 18

Study of how biological, psychological, and social factors interact in health in illness

Question 19

What is coping?

Answer 19

an attempt to manage stress in some effective way

Question 20

How do we appraise events?

Answer 20

•Primary appraisal – deciding if a situation is harmful, threatening, or challenging
•Secondary appraisal – assessing our resources and choosing a coping method (emotion or problem focused)
–Emotion focused coping – managing one’s emotional reactions to a stressful situation
–Problem solving coping – dealing directly with a stressor to decrease or eliminate it

Question 21

What are the best resources for stress management?

Answer 21

–Health and exercise
•Minimizes anxiety and depression, relieves muscle tension, improves cardio function
–Positive beliefs
•Hope and positive self-image reduces anxiety
–Social Skills
•Anxiety is lessened by knowing how to communicate our needs and desires and decrease hostility in tense situations
–Social Support
•Help take care of our health, make us feel important, provide stability to offset changes in our lives
–Control