Lecture 3 Flashcards
Define coping
process where people try to manage the perceived difference between demands and resources they’re appraising in a stressful situation
A dynamic process. Could be successful or not
coping and its primary functions (with examples)
3 functions
-
Problem-Focused Coping
* Direct efforts to solve the problem.
* Changing the situation : Weighing pros & cons
Making a plan of action. Increasing efforts to make things work
* Changing ourself
Seeking information from other sources
Learning new skills/practising
Taking a course -
Emotion-Focused Coping
* Efforts to manage emotions generated by the stressful situation.: Denial, Distancing, Emotional suppression, Self-care
prayer -
Relationship-Focused Coping
* Efforts to maintain and manage: social relationships during stressful periods
Understanding how other person felt. Support seeking. Compromise. Confrontational (problematic). Interpersonal withdrawal (problematic)
Discuss effective coping strategies
Meaning focused coping:
* Effort to manage the meaning of an even/situation
* Using own belief, values, goals to motivate and sustain coping and well-being in difficult times
Approach vs avoidance
resilience
Approach vs avoidance
Approach coping:
* Actively deal with problem/manage tension
* Cognitive: to see the positive
Behavioural: talking to friend
* Good: when the action is appropriate. Allows the release of emotions and reduces stress
* Bad: non productive worry & rumination
Avoidance coping:
* Distance oneself from the problem
* Cognitive: trying not to think about it
* Behavioural: drinking to reduce tension
* Good: short term reduction in stress, dosing , increasing hope and courage
* Bad: more cost than benefit. Increases distress, emotional numbness
Resilience:
definition & examples
Positive adaptation coping after stressful/adverse situation
Indigenous communities:
* Resilience is demonstrated by efforts to take back the land & connections/engagment with mature/land -> leads to decrease in youth suicide, improved education
SES:
- Shifting oneself-> reappraisal of stress
- Persisting -> enduring while maintaining meaning and optimism
- The ability for some individuals to overcome low-SES
Discuss effective stress management strategies
Positive reappraisal
(emotional) Disclosure:
Deal with things, problem-solve. (problem-solving /denial/avoidance)
Process and express your feelings. (disclosure / rumination)
Engage positive emotions; find benefits/meaning. (positive reappraisal)
Accommodate the stressor as needed. (acceptance)
Find support and collaborate. (support-seeking / empathy / withdrawal)
Positive reappraisal
- highly adaptive strategy focused on gaining meaning from a stressful event
- associated with higher current and future positive emotion, as well as lower anxiety and depression
(emotional) Disclosure:
- Adaptive strategy where a person describes feelings about stressful/traumatic experience
- verbal/written
- Important aspect of emotion regulation
- more emotional disclosure had significantly less pain and reported higher well-being compared to less emotional
Distinguish between social support and social networks
Social support
* The quality of the social relationship
* Protective factor against stress & environmental demands to improve health.
Social network:
* The quantity & degree of social integration
* Subjective loneliness worsens cold symptoms
* Is important to some extent
* ‘Clusters of happiness’: happy extends up to 3 degrees of separation
compare direct effects model & stress buffering hypothesis.
Stress buffering hypothesis
* Higher perceived social support helps to increase perceived quality of life for both patients and caregivers
Direct effects model
- social support directly affecting health
* For the support givers: Increasing oxytocin. Reduced hypertension. Reduced depression
Good types of social support
5 types and whats the best one
Emotional/Esteem
* feeling loved and cared for by others; valued and respected by others; empathy, concern, positive regard.
Tangible/Instrumental
* receiving material aid, assistance from others.
Informational Support
* getting advice & information from others.
Companionship Support
- availability of others to spend time with.
Invisible Support
- One of the best because it allows the person to feel a sense of control while being unknown that they are being helped
Bad social support types:
2
Protective Buffering
* keeping information from someone in order to protect them; avoiding potential for negative interaction.
* Lack of control, ideal of being kept out of the loop
Solicitousness
* expressing concern; helping without request
* Allowing the person to keep thinking about the topic even if they have moved on from it
role of online social media/technology in health
Usually negatively associated with health:
- Loneliness, frustration, anger, depression, narcissism, neg body image.
Causes us to interact less with people that are actually around us
Decreasing media usage = less lonely
general research findings on human-animal interaction, underlying mechanisms.
Associations between friendly animals & health benefits
Physiological
* reduced blood pressure;
* improved cardiovascular health;
* enhanced immune system functioning
* improved pain management
* lower cortisol output.
Psychosocial
* improved mood
* Reduced aggression
* increased trustworthiness and trust of others
* reduced impact of stress
Mechanisms
* Activation of oxytocin system when touching/petting something soft & mutual gaze
Oxytocin
lowers HR, BP, etc.; modulates HPA activity; increases social behaviours
plays a role in attachment, pair-bonding, trust, social recognition, and stress reduction; also out-group aggression
