Exam4- Stress and Adaptation Flashcards
what is stress?
- any disturbance in a person’s normal balanced state
- unique response by each person to a stressor
- can be harmful or motivating
Categories of stress
- distress
- eustress
- developmental
- situational
- physiological
- psychological
what is distress?
- negative form of stress
- can threaten health (hospitalization, continual financial worries, death of a spouse, divorce)
what is eustress?
-good stress (workout)
what is developmental stress?
associated with life stages (college graduation, getting married, having a baby, losing parents)
what is situational stress?
random, unpredictable (hurricane, accident, job change)
what is physiological stress?
affects body: structure/function
diseases, mobility problems
what is psychological stress?
arise from life events (work pressure, family arguments)
3 general approaches for coping, depending on the situation:
- Alter the stressor: change jobs
- Adapt to the stressor: change thoughts about BSNA program and skills checkoffs
- Avoid the stressor: end a relationship
adaptive coping strategies
- healthy choices
- direct reduce negative effects of stress
examples: change in lifestyle, problem solving
maladaptive coping strategies
- unhealthy style, temporary fix
- possible other harmful effects
examples: substance abuse, overeating
what is adaptation?
- a possible/desired outcome of stress
- involved adjusting to the stress/stressor
adaptation allows for:
- normal growth and development
- effective responses to life’s challenges
ability to adapt depends on:
- intensity of the stressor
- effectiveness of coping skills
- personal factors
personal perception of stressor (factors that influence adaptation)
- is understanding of stressor realistic?
- how successful have previous adaptation attempts been?
overall health status (factor that influence adaptation)
the number of illnesses present and the chronicity of illnesses may affect the ability to adapt to new stressors
support system (factors that influence adaptation)
- friends, family providing emotional, financial, physical help
- strong support= better adaptation
personal factors (influence adaptation)
- age
- developmental level
- life experiences
physical responses to stressors:
general adaptation syndrome (GAS)
- Selyet’s theoretical model of physiological responses to stress
- nonspecific bodily responses shared by all people
- response to distress as well as eustress
- involves 3 stages
stages of general adaptation syndrome
- alarm stage (fight or flight)
- resistance stage
- exhaustion stage
- recovery stage
