HC 5 Flashcards
Is stress good/bad?
depends on the amount of stress and the treat value + resources of an individual to cope with a stressful situation
Yekes-dodson law
the optimum level of arousal vs performance: there is an optimum level of arousal that results in the maximum performance
When is tress unhealthy?
when we chronically activate stress systems which are developed for the acute fight-flight situations
Allostasis
Achieving homeostasis (stability) through psychological & behavioral adaptation, in response to a challenge
Allostatic (over) load
demands > energy supply: system works too hard to try to achieve a balance –> slowly breaks down
Overload of psy. system due to wear & tear of the body e.g. during repeated or prolonged stress
prolonged or repeated release of physical responses to stress can have negative effects, consequences:
reinstatement tot normal body functions (homeostasis) may fail & system will wear out (excessive energy consumption during high stress)
two stress systems:
- SNS –> sympathetic nervous system
2. HPA –> hypothalamic agents
SNS
singaling agents: neurotransmitters –> (nor)adrenaline
HPA
signaling agents: hormones –> glucocorticoids (cortisol)
= hormones, endocrine system (blood)
Physiological stress response (SNS, HPA)
SNS–> short lived response-immediate action
HPA –> longer-term arousal
Difference sympathetic vs parasympathetic arousal
sympathetic = activation parasympathetic = relaxation
Feedback loops
when the stress has abated, feedback loops initiate an automatic turn off
prolonged stress response
if acute psycho stress system responses are repeatedly activated, tissue damage and diseases can occur
Stress and the brain
chronisch stress causes remodeling of dendrites and synaptic connections in may brain regions
psychological stressresponse in illness: direct & indirect effects
direct effect: slowing down cell repair in cancer patients
indirect effect: influence on behavior –> increased risk behaviors or illness perception (appraisal)
GAS - general adaptation syndrome (Selye)
stress is an innate drive to maintain homeostasis
3 stages:
1. alarm - initial response/increased arousal
2. resistance - adaptation & mobilisation
3. exhaustion - depletion of bodily resources
Types of stressors
- transient (specific events –> stress)
* repeated or chronic (intermittent stress)
transient stress
- acute time limiting stressors
- traumatic events
- (major) life events –> life events theory
repeated or chronic stress
- daily hassles
- work-related stress
trait anxiety & stress exposure
- partially mediates the stress exposure and PTSD
- fully mediates this relation with depression
predisposition for psychopathology (ptsd, depression) mainly depends on trait anxiety + life events, but genetic variation of the HPA-axis and gender are also important
transactional model of stress (stress as a subjective experience)- (Lazarus)
- cognitive appraisal is central
- interaction between an event (stressor) and individual characteristics
primary appraisal
- perceived demands –> challenge or threat?
personal meaning of an event, consideration of quality & nature of event
Closely related emotions & dependent on motivational relevance/congruence and ego involvement
3 type of stressors:
- harm-loss
- threat (future harm/loss)
- challenge (demands seen as opportunities for personal growth)
secondary appraisal
personal belief of capacity to reduce the stressor, consideration of resources (internal + external) and coping potential
stress (cognitive transactional model of stress, Lazarus)
= mismatch between perceived demands and resources`
Criticism lazarus framework
Perceived demands (primary appraisal) vs coping resources (secondary appraisal)
- how do they interact? (circulatory)
- are they separate concepts?
- are they both necessary for explanation?
- Do resources need to outweigh demands?
Evolution cognitive appraisal theory of stress
Extent from conditions to emotions in a DYNAMIC interlinked manner,
Personal and interpersonal influences on appraisals and stress responses
- coping styles
- personality
- cognitions
- emotions
- social support
Coping
anything a person does to reduce the impact of a perceived or actual stressor
coping style
is a personal trait, unspecific to the stressor/context
coping strategy
varies according to the event/context (= situation-specific)
coping style: monitors
these people tend to approach problems, seek out threat relevant information
coping style: blunters
they generally tend to avoid or distract themselves from threat relevant info
Stress coping model
big role from: individual’s personal and social resources, and life goals
–> influences the degree to which a chronic illness is considered a source of psychological stress
Two main coping strategies
- problem-focused
reduce demands of stressor/ increase personal resources & emotion-focused-managing the emotional response
- confronting the source of stress
- venting anger
- approach-oriented
coping and avoidance depends on source of stress
* distraction
Adaptive coping
To be effective, amenable to change
problem-focused & emotion-focused coping may be used together
problem focused/ approach oriented coping tends to be more adaptive when something can be done to alter or control the stressor event
Emotion-focused coping tends to be more adaptive, where control of event/resources are low
How can personality indirectly influence disease risk & illness progression?
- personality may promote unhealthy behavior. This is a predictive of disease –> indirect link on disease risk
- personality may indirectly influence illness progression or outcome by influencing the individual’s appraisals
relation personality (trait/type) - illness
Neuroticism:
attention to internal states and increased somatic complaints, negative affectivity which reflects a view of the self and world in general negative terms –> subjective illness experience
Optimism:
positive outlook/outcome expectancies, better coping, reduced symptom reporting/negative mood/depression & increased well-being
+ infleunces appraisals making problem-focused coping more likely
Hardiness (“taaiheid”):
from rich, varied and rewarding childhood, is seen in feelings of commitment, control and challenge
thought to be a buffer in the experience of stress (buffering effect)
Personality type A
heart disease (coronary)
- active
- easily aroused
- impatient
- -> hostility + anger as predictors of illness
Personality type C
Elevated cancer risk
- passive
- cooperative
- repressed negative emotions
- -> fighting spirit & hope (problem-focused)
Personality type D
cardiac events (angina) - distressed: scoring high on negative affectivity and social inhibition
(un)conscious stress
Humans prolong stress with verbal cognitive processes –> excessive stress anticipation
Preservative cognitions
passive, repetitive & self-focused thinking about negative emotional states and implications
Consequences of negative emotional states
- worry:anticipation future events
- rumination: dwelling past events
perceived control
control reduces stressfulness of an event by altering the appraisal; e.g. by reducing emotional arousal or adopting a coping response
perceived locus of control
appraisal of control over the outcome, distinguishes between internal vs external loc
Types of control (potentially helpful)
- behavioral
- cognitive (distraction)
- decisional (choose between options)
- informational (find out more about stressor)
- retrospective
hope
= a positive motivational state that is based on an interactively derived sense of successfulness
a. agency - goal directed energy
b. pathways - planning to meet goals
hope highlights motivation and route to achieving goals
stress related illnesses (depression & anxiety) are related to worse health outcomes via:
- appraisals + coping actions
- unhealthy behavior
- direct physiological pathways
- feeling less able to seek social support
emotional disclosure
short writing about feelings
- -> possible moderator of coping
- -> long-term benefits of reduced stress
- -> low cost & easy intervention
! venting negative emotions is sometimes associated with poorer prognosis (increased attention paid to stressor)
Types of social support
- instrumental support (practical aid)
- emotional support (caring, concern)
- informational (advice)
Direct & indirect effects of social support
Direct: greater self-esteem, confidence, self-efficacy & positive outlook on life. Reduced blood pressure reactivity & cortisol
Indirect: = buffering effect, protect against negative effects of stress by influencing cognitive. appraisal & coping responses –> social support promotes proactive coping, anticipating stressors and acting in advance either to prevent them or to mute their impact
Oxytocin
- pro-social neurohormone
- affects social bonding processes and stress regulation.
= dependent on aspects of context and inter individual factors
Interpersonal stress: social rejection & achievement-related tasks
women report higher levels of stress –> interpersonal stress: ‘tend-and-befriend’ stress
Men are more susceptible to stress related to achievement-related tasks (e.g. exams)
Negative moderators
- neuroticism
- neg. affectivity
- social inhibition
- hostility & anger
- perseveratie cognitions
positive moderators
- social support
- optimism
- hardiness (belief of control, feeling involved and challenged; buffering)
- self efficacy
- perceived loc
- fighting spirit & hope
