Health, stress and coping

Question 1

Area of health psych

Answer 1

Behavioural medicine

• psychological influences on how people stay healthy and why people become ill and how people respond when they are ill.

Question 2

Role of stress and stress response

Answer 2

Pscyholgoical stressors - event that forces a person to adapt - life events, chronic problems,

Measuring stress - SRSS - social readjustment rating scales

Life experiences survey LES

Measures life events and cognitive appraisals and new stressors may be added by respondents. face to face interviews

Question 3

Process of stress

Answer 3

Stressors - life changes, catastrophic events, acute stressors, daily hassles, chronic stressors

Stress mediators - cognitive appraisal, predictability, control, coping resources and methods, social support

Stress response - physical psychological emotional, cognitive, behavioural

Question 4

GAS model

Answer 4

• in response to fight or flight

1. alarm stage - fight or flight
2. resistance stage - alarm stage subsides & physiologically working hard to resist a stressor.

Sympathoadreno medullary system mobilises the body for action and releases adrenaline and noradrenalin = increased BP , muscle tension, blood sugar

Question 5

Organ systems involved in GAS model

Answer 5

Sympatho-adreno-medularry system mobilises the body for action by releasing adrenaline and noadrenaline.

Hypothalmic pituitary adrenocortical system triggers the release of endorphins. Stimulates the release of corticosteroids, resist stress and suppress the immune system.

Question 6

Emotional stress

Answer 6

stressors are persistent or close together - emotional reactions causing tension, irritability, sadness, or anxiety and may develop into severe problems.

Question 7

Cognitive response

Answer 7

reductions in the ability to concentrate, think clearly or rememeber accurately. E.g rumination, catastrophising, mental sets, functional fixedness and impaired decision making

Question 8

Behvioural response

Answer 8

• changes in how ppl look, act or talk and can have negative impacts on health.
• Attempts to escape or avoid stressors may include = alcohol, drug abuse, overeating, changes in sleep patterns and attempting suicide.
• Precludes learning more adaptive ways to cope

Question 9

Cognitive appraisal

Answer 9

impact depends on how stressors are perceived less intense if seen as challenges to be overcome

Question 10

Predictability and perception of control

Answer 10

unpredictable stressors have more impact and if people can exert some control over stressors, they usually have less impac

t - hospitals allow patients to control their own pain medication and feeling a lack of control may promote physical and psychological problems

• feelings of helplessness and hopelessness = physical and mental disorders.

Question 11

Coping resources

Answer 11

• Problem - focused coping strategies; alter or eliminate source of stress.
• E.g confronting, seeking social support, planful problem solving
• Emotion-focused - regulate negative emotions associated with stress
• E.g self-control, distancing, positive, reappraisal, accepting responsibility and escape avoidance (wishful thinking

Question 12

Social Support

Answer 12

• Emotional, practical or informational resources
• Expression of pent-up thoughts and emotions
• Important to know that others care and will help quality
• Quality of support may depend on own ability to cope

Question 13

Stress and personality

Answer 13

• Disease-prone personalities - ignore stressors, perceive stressors as long- term, catastrophic threats, pessimistic about overcoming stressors
• Disease-resistant personalities - see stressors as challenges, dispositional optimism, hope & curiosity.

Question 14

Promotion of healthy behaviour

Answer 14

• Altering or eliminating behaviours the pose risks to health - smoking, unsafe sex, social disrancing
• Encouraging healthy behaviour patterns - health eating and exercise
• Rosenstock’s health brief model - Four factors -
• Perceiving a personal threat or susceptibility, perceiving the seriousness and consequences of illness, belief that changing behaviour will reduce the threat , perceived costs and benefits of changing.

Question 15

Psychoneuroimmunology

Answer 15

• stress = autoimmune disorders as immune system cells attack normal body cells - crohns disease, attacking healthy GI tract cells = inflammation

Cardiovascular system - coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke - sympathoadrenal medullary system

Question 16

Developing a program for coping with stress

Answer 16

• Assessment - identify sources and effects of stress
• Goal setting - list the stressors and stress responses, decide which stressors are and are not changeable
• Planning - list the specific steps to be taken
• Action - implement coping plans
• Evaluation - look at changes in stressors and stress responses
• Adjustment - Alter coping methods to improve results, if necessary.

Question 17

Cognitive coping strategies

Answer 17

Thinking calmly, rationally and constructively

Replacing catastrophic thinking by viewing stressors as challenges rather than threats

Cognitive restructuring - identify upsetting thoughts, develop and practice more constructive thoughts to use under stress, not eliminate stressors, less threatening and are less disruptive

Question 18

Emotional coping strategies

Answer 18

• Finding social support
• Feeling I am cared and valued by others
• talking about sources of stress and feeling heard
• Accepting practical support

Question 19

Behavioural Coping Strategies

Answer 19

• Change behaviour in ways that minimise the impact of stressors
• E.g improved time management strategies
• Helps control catastrophising thoughts by providing reassurance that there is a way to handle things.