Module 6A: Stress, Health and Coping Flashcards
eustress
good form of stress; low to moderate in intensity; associated with positive feelings, as well as optimal
health and performance
stress
process whereby an individual perceives and responds to events that one appraises as overwhelming or
threatening to one’s well-being
primary appraisal
judgment about the degree of potential harm or threat to well-being that a stressor might
entail
secondary appraisal
judgment of options available to cope with a stressor and their potential effectiveness
fight-or-flight response
set of physiological reactions (increases in blood pressure, heart rate, respiration
rate, and sweat) that occur when an individual encounters a perceived threat; these reactions are
produced by activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the endocrine system
general adaptation syndrome
Hans Selye’s three-stage model of the body’s physiological reactions to stress
and the process of stress adaptation: alarm reaction, stage of resistance, and stage of exhaustion
hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis
set of structures found in both the limbic system (hypothalamus)
and the endocrine system (pituitary gland and adrenal glands) that regulate many of the body’s
physiological reactions to stress through the release of hormones
Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS)
popular scale designed to measure stress; consists of 43
potentially stressful events, each of which has a numerical value quantifying how much readjustment is
associated with the event
psychoneuroimmunology
field that studies how psychological factors (such as stress) influence the immune
system and immune functioning
hypertension
high blood pressure
Type A Personality
psychological and behavior pattern exhibited by individuals who tend to be extremely competitive,
impatient, rushed, and hostile toward others
Type B Personality
psychological and behavior pattern exhibited by a person who is relaxed and laid back
social support
soothing and often beneficial support of others; can take different forms, such as advice,
guidance, encouragement, acceptance, emotional comfort, and tangible assistance
problem-focused coping
attempting to manage or alter the problem that is causing increased stress; find possible strategies to solve problem; for problems viewed as “controllable”
Emotion-focused coping
change or reduce the negative emotions associated with stress; avoiding, minimizing, or distancing oneself from the problem; positive comparisons with others; seeking something positive in a negative event; reappraisal (could be self-deceptive); for problems viewed as “uncontrollable”
