Lecture 7 - stress

Question 1

reaction-focused models

Answer 1

based on reaction of the human body to unspecific situations
- Cannon (1914)
- Selye (1956)

Question 2

Cannon 1914

Answer 2

the body is in a state of homeostasis
- stimulus –> short-term effect (fight or flight)

Question 3

Selye, 1956

Answer 3

general adaptation syndrome (long-term consequences)
o Alarm phase: immediate response to stressor –> sympathetic nervous system
o Resistance phase: effort to manage the stressor –> glucocorticoids
o Exhausting phase: exhaustion of physiological resources –> impairment of health

Question 4

stimulus-focused models

Answer 4

stress is provoked by external stimuli

Question 5

cognitive-transactional models

Answer 5

stress is a cognitive transaction between internal and external demands. It explains individual differenced and is based on a evaluative (appraisal) process.

Question 6

CTM primary appraisal

Answer 6

nterpretation of stressor (what is at stake?)

Question 7

CTM secondary appraisal

Answer 7

analysis of resources ( do I have the capacities to successfully deal with the stressor

Question 8

CTM coping

Answer 8

overcoming stress
o Problem-focused: change the situation
o Emotion-focused: change your relationship to the situation

Question 9

CTM re-appraisal

Answer 9

pacing and learning (are my attempts to reduce stress successful?)

Question 10

physiological stress response

Answer 10

• sympathetic activation
• HPA activation

Question 11

sympathetic activation

Answer 11

Cerebral cortex: classification of event as harmful
- Hypothalamus: early response of sympathetic nervous system arousal (fight or flight) –> stimulates medulla of adrenal glands –> secretes catecholamines, epinephrine, norepinephrine (cranked-up feelings)
- Leads to: increased heartrate, increased sweating, contraction of peripheral blood vessels, enhanced blood flow to muscles

Question 12

HPA activation

Answer 12

Hypothalamus releases CRF –> stimulates pituitary gland –> ACTH –> stimulates adrenal cortex to release glucocorticoids –> cortisol
 Conserves stores of carbohydrates
 Reduces inflammation
 Heps the body to return to steady state
 Chronic high cortisol –> chronic stress –> higher risk for civilization diseases (CHD, mental disorders)
- Elevates growth hormone (prolactin) levels and beta-endorphin and enkephalin (responsible for immune-related disorders

Question 13

stress and negative health outcomes

Answer 13

Russ et al (2012): analysis of relationship between stress and mortality
- Mortality risk twice as high for people with high stress scores
- Stress elicits strong physiological responses –> negative consequences for health

Question 14

relationships between pa and stress

Answer 14

• physical activity reduces stress
• stress reduces physical activity
• physical activity <–> stress

Question 15

3 types of studies

Answer 15

• Cross-sectional studies: high levels of pa are associated with lower perceived stress
• Prospective studies: baseline measures of physical activity can predict stress at follow-up
• Longitudinal studies: reciprocal (<–>) relationship between pa and stress

Question 16

Aldana 1996

Answer 16

-Relation between leisure time pa and perceived stress
-N= 32.229 (big sample)
-Low amount of pa –> 0.78-0.62 times less likely to have less stress (1.0 at no pa)
-Moderate pa –>0.5 –> half the rate of perceived stress
-Causality: what influences what? Stress < – >pa
- Other studies: stress leads to reduction in pa

Question 17

crossed-lagged panel design

Answer 17

a study of the relationships between two or more variables across time in which one variable measured at an earlier point in time is examined with regard to a second variable measured at a later point in time, and vice versa. (to look at causality)

Question 18

Luz 2007

Answer 18

Perceived stress predicted pa negatively, not the other way around

Question 19

stress buffer hypothesis

Answer 19

pa buffers the negative effects of stress on health
-Stress has bad negative consequences on health, pa reduces these negative effect
-Pa reduces reactivity towards stressors (HR, BP, cortisol)
-Pa gives more rapid recovery of stress parameters (cardiovascular and endocrine)
- cross-stressor response

Question 20

cross stressor response

Answer 20

Pa functions as a stressor and trains the neurophysiological stress activity system, the stress systems adapts and therefor responds less strong to that and other stressors

Question 21

Sothmann 1996

Answer 21

• cross-stressor response
• Conclusion: trained men reacted less strong (physiological and self-reports) to psychological stress compared to untrained men

Question 22

O’Dougherty 2012

Answer 22

negative effects of critical life events on depressive symptoms are buffered by aerobic training

Question 23

TSST

Answer 23

• trier social stress test
• naturalistic exposure to a socio-evaluative stressful situation
• 5 min public speaking task
• 5 min calculations in front of others
• 3 min preparation

Question 24

EMA

Answer 24

ecological momentary assessment
- Method of assessing intense and chronic stressors in everyday settings
- Assessment of self-report questionnaires (stress and well-being) and physiological parameters (ECG, accelerometer) at fixed timepoints or at certain events using a smartphone

Question 25

AA

Answer 25

ambulatory assessment
- Monitors movement, physiological functions, contextual information (GPS) and EMA in realtime

Question 26

causes of stress during pa

Answer 26

• Physiological factors (intense training)
• Environmental factors (training conditions)
• Social factors (social relationships)
• Psychological factors (expectations)

Question 27

Fletcher and Fletcher 2005

Answer 27

most important stressors in sport
- Stressors during or right before competition (fear, nervousness, competition density, previous failure)
- Organizational stressors (communication, media, travel)
- Chronic stress (constant high-performance pressure, financial uncertainty)
- Social stress (problems at home)
- Transition phases (junior –> senior, end of career)