Health Psychology Flashcards
health psychology
study of how psychological and behavioral processes affect health
stress
physiological, emotional, and behavioral responses to perceived threat or danger
is subjective and internal
what are the primary causes of stress?
cataclysmic events life changes chronic stress daily hassles job stresses frustration conflict
cataclysmic event
a sudden event that usually affects many people
chronic stress
persistent (perceived) threat or danger
life change
major change that is found to predict illness
daily hassle
everyday annoyances found to predict illness
job stress
concern related to a job
frustration
tension from blocked goal(s)
conflict
forced choice between incompatible goals
what are the types of conflict?
approach/approach
avoidance/avoidance
approach/avoidance
approach/approach conflict
choosing between two positive goals
avoidance/avoidance conflict
choosing between two negative goals
approach/avoidance conflict
choosing between a positive and negative goal
what are the impacts of stress?
poor performance
acute illness
chronic illness
shortened life
what are the phases of stress?
alarm (phase 1)
resistance (phase 2)
exhaustion (phase 3)
coping
process of dealing with (perceived) stress
what is the stress process?
1) a potentially stressful event occurs
2) subjective cognitive appraisal (personal assessment of the threat)
3) physiological, emotional, and behavior responses occur
cognitive coping
appraise and modify thinking about the situation causing stress
e.g. gain sense of self-control, detect and dispute negative self-talk
physiological coping
change the physiological response to stress
e.g. exercise, meditation
emotional coping
regulate stress emotions
e.g. prayer, listening to music
behavioral coping
address the event causing stress
e.g. getting help, do what needs to be done
what are examples of unhealthy coping?
giving up
blaming oneself
striking out at others
unhealthy behaviors (e.g. drug use, binge drinking)
characteristics of healthy personalities
type B
low anger
optimists
social
characteristics of type A behavior
rushed for time
impatient
competitive
hostile
what disease are type A people more than twice as likely to develop?
heart disease
optimism
belief system that positive events are caused by them, and negative events are out of their control
pessimism
belief system that positive events are out of their control and negative events are caused by them
what are examples of healthy behaviors?
exercise
good nutrition
not smoking
not abusing substances (drugs and/or alcohol)
effects of exercise
decreased risk of depression, respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, and cancer
effects of poor diet
increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer
effects of smoking
increased risk of cancer, heart disease, and respiratory disease
decrease in appearance
effects of substance abuse
more likely to participate in unprotected sex, be violent, commit homicide, and develop a psychological additction
