Lecture 5: Stress and Health

Question 1

What are the components of the stress process?

Answer 1

• Stressors
• Stress reactions
• Stress mediators

Question 2

What are psychological stessors?

Answer 2

Any event that forces a person to adapt.

Question 3

What are some examples of psychological stressors?

Answer 3

• Catastrophic events
• Life changes and strains
• Chronic problems
• Daily hassles

Question 4

What are the stages to the psysical responses to stress: General adaption syndrome.

Answer 4

Alarm stage
Resistance stage
Exhaustion stage

Question 5

What are the organ systems involved in the general adaption syndrome.

Answer 5

• The sympatho-adreno-medullary system (blue arrows), mobilizes the bodyfor action
• The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical system (purple arrows) triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers
• The HPA also stimulates the release of corticosteroids, which help resist stress and suppress the immune system

Question 6

What are the emotional responses to stress?

Answer 6

Emotion reactions may persist
May cause tension, irritability, sadness or anxiety.
In extreme cases by develop anxiety disorders or major depression.

Question 7

What are the cognitive responses to stress?

Answer 7

Reductions in ability to concentrate, think clearly or remember accurately.

Question 8

What are some examples of cognitive responses to stress?

Answer 8

Ruminative thinking, catastrophizing, mental sets, functional fixedness, impaired decision making.

Question 9

What are the behavioural responses to stress?

Answer 9

Changes in how people look, act or talk which may have negative impacts on health.

Question 10

What are some examples of attempts to escape or avoid stressors (behavioural responses)

Answer 10

Alcohol abuse
Overeating (especially high-fat comfort foods)
Changes in sleep patterns
Aggression 
Quitting jobs
Dropping out of school
Attempting suicide

Question 11

What four austerity issues can affect suicide rates?

Answer 11

Loss of jobs
Cuts in benefits
Funding cuts in mental health services
Back to work programmes – stress and low self-worth

Question 12

In terms of stress mediators explain cognitive appraisal.

Answer 12

Impact depends on how stressors are perceived
Less intense if seen as challenges to be overcome
Eg. Those instructed to remain detached from vidoes of bloody accidents were less upset than unprepared viewers

Question 13

In terms of stress mediators explain Predictability and Perception of Control.

Answer 13

Unpredictable stressors have more impact

If people can exert some control over stressors, they usually have less impact: Many hospitals now teach relaxation skills, and allow patients to control their own pain medication

Question 14

In terms of stress mediators explain social support.

Answer 14

Expression of pent-up thoughts and emotions
Important to know that others care and will help
Quality of support may depend on own ability to cope

Question 15

What happens when there is a lack of social support for stress?

Answer 15

Lack of social support is
associated with higher mortality rates
risk factor for anxiety
elderly show high levels of cortisol (stress hormone)

Question 16

What is a stress mediator?

Answer 16

A way to control stress.

Question 17

What is Psychoneuroimmunology

Answer 17

When stress affects the body’s immune system

Question 18

What are the affects of Psychoneuroimmunology?

Answer 18

Wounds slower to heal
Students after exam – lower levels of T-cells
Alters the effectiveness of cortisol in regulating the inflammatory response (Cohen et al, 2012)

Question 19

What is the condition called (spelling) when stress affects the immune system?

Answer 19

Psychoneuroimmunology

Question 20

What are autoimmune disorders?

Answer 20

When the immune system cells attack and destroy normal body cells (often due to inflammatory response).

Question 21

What illnesses can stress be associated with?

Answer 21

Issues with immune system
HIgh blood pressure
Coronary heart disease
stroke