Stress Flashcards
Define stress
A mismatch between the demands of a situation and your ability to deal with it
Define ‘a stressor’
A stimulus from the environment which will trigger stress
What are 4 symptoms of stress
Sweating
Increased heart rate
Aggression
Dialated pupils
What part of the body triggers the fight or flight response
Hypothalamus
What are the two physiological stress responses
Pituatry adrenal system
Sympathomedullary pathway
Explain the pituitary adrenal system (HPA)
Hypothalamus releases CRH into blood stream
CRH causes pituitary gland to release ACTH
ACTH stimulates adrenal cortex
Stress hormones such as cortisol stress released
Explain the sympathomedullary pathway
Hypothalamus triggers sympathetic branch of autonomic nervous system
This causes adrenal medulla to release adrenaline and noradrenaline into blood stream
Where is the adrenal medulla located
Above the kidneys
What changes to the body does the sympathomedullary pathway cause to the body.
Increase of energy
Increase of blood flow
Reduces digestion
Dilates pupils
What changes does the Hypo pituitary adrenal system cause to the body
Suppressed immune system
Maintains glucose supply
Reduces pain sensitivity
Why does Taylor et al criticise the physiological response to stress?
It’s gender bias as women are more likely to tend and befriend a threat as they have higher levels of oxytocin which brings about bonding and caring behaviour, it also lowers cortisol
Why did Lazarus 1999 criticise the physiological stress response
Lazarus claimed the body’s response is influenced by the way an individual perceives a stressor
What is the body’s long term stress response
Hypo-pituitary adrenal system
Hypothalamus secretes CRH to pituitary gland which releases ACTH which triggers adrenal cortex to release cortisol which suppresses the immune system
What is the body’s short term stress response
Sympothamedullary pathway
Hypothalamus triggers sympathetic branch of autonomic nervous system which triggers adrenal medulla to release adrenaline and noradrenaline to increase heart rate, breathing rate, inhibit digestion.
Once threat passes parasympathetic branch of autonomic nervous system returns body to resting state
Who created GAS
Selye
What is GAS
When animals exposed to unpleasant stimulus they respond with a universal response
What are the three stages of GAS
Alarm
Resistance
Exhaustion
Explain the alarm stage of GAS
Threat is detected and body responds
Hypothalamus triggers SAM and HPA pathway
Explain the resistance stage of GAS
If stressor persists body enters second stage.
Attempts to cope with demands of persistent threat.
Activity in adrenal medulla reduced and adrenal cortex activated - immune system less effective
Explain the exhaustion stage of GAS
If stressor still present body can no longer cope.
Organisms defence system becomes exhausted.
Some initial symptoms of SAM re-appear such as increased heart rate. Adrenal glands may be damaged from over activity - individual now likely to suffer diseases
Evaluate general adaption syndrome
Supportive evidence - Selye exposed rats to harmful stimuli including extreme cold, surgical injury, excessive exercise. They all showed similar response no matter what the stressor was. Found similar results in human study
Weakness - doesn’t consider individual differences. Some may have cognitive coping strategies which enable effectively deal with stress without becoming ill
Weakness - illness that occurs in exhaustion may not be due to depletion of recourses. Research shows recourses do not become depleted after extreme stress. It is now believed the increased production of stress hormones such as cortisol lead to stress related illness
Practical applications - seyle first identified a link between stress and illness. Strength as could lead to development of stress reduction programmes designed to improve health of people who report to be stressed - benefit economy
What are two stress related illnesses
Cardiovascular disorders
Immunosuppression
What are cardiovascular disorders
Any disorder of the heart and circulatory system
Examples of cardiovascular disorders
Coronary heart disease
High blood pressure
Strokes
How can stress lead to cardiovascular diseases
High levels of adrenaline
- increase heart rate (it works harder)
- constriction of blood vessels increased blood pressure which puts tension on blood vessels causing wear and tear
- increased pressure can dislodge plaque on the walls of blood vessels (plaque is composed of fats, cholesterol, calcium) this can lead to blocked arteries and may cause a heart attack or stroke
Describe research into cardiovascular diseases
Wilbert-Lampen
Looked at frequency of heart attacks during football matches played in Germany during 1996 World Cup. Sudden emotional arousal was deemed to be an acute stressor.
On days when Germany played, cardiac emergencies increased by 2.6 times compared to others.
Acute stress of watching favourite football team more than doubled participants risk of suffering cardiovascular disorders
arousal of sympathetic branch of ANS linked to cardiovascular disorders
How can stress lead to immunosuppression
Direct - Cortisol reduces body’s immune system response.
Immune system less able to fight off potentially harmful viruses and bacteria
Indirect - stressed people engage in behaviours that have a negative effect on immune system such as smoking and drinking alcohol
Who conducted research into stress and immunosupression
Kiecolt- Glaser et al
Explain research into stress and immunosupression
Natural experiment took blood samples from 75 medical students a month before their exam and the dsy of their exam, they also completed questionnaire to measure other life stressors and completed a ‘loneliness scale’
Found immune system functioning was reduced following stressful exam, natural killer cell activity significantly reduced in high stress condition
Immune systems even weaker in those who experienced other stressful life events and were lonely
Immune system functioning also affected by psychological variables
Evaluate role of stress in illness
Challenging evidence - for claim all stressors impact immune system. Researcher conducted meta analysis of 300 studies found different stressors have different effect. Found stressors of limited duration lead to no overall effect on immune system. Chronic stress such as caring for dementia patient leads to decreased immune system functioning
Weakness - does not consider individual differences e.g gender differences. Research suggests women show more change in immune system than men. Those with higher blood pressure more at risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Weakness - difficult to show stress can cause illness. Health may be influenced by many factors such as genetics and lifestyle. Health is generally stable and slow to change. Would have to monitor individuals for long time to know if cause and efffecr which is impractical
What is meant by workload
The amount of effort or activity involved in a job
What is job control
The extent to which a person feels they can manage aspects of their work such as deadlines
What is workplace stress
Aspects of our working environment that we experience as stressful and causes stress response in our body
What is the job strain model
Model suggests workplace creates stress in two ways:
High workload
Low job control
What’s an example of high work load
Greater job demands
What’s an example of low job control
Overdue deadlines
Who researched into work place stress
Marmot
Johannson et al
Describe research into workload control in the work place on illness
Marmot
Studied over 10,000 male and female UK civil service employees in high grade (high work load and control) or low grade jobs (low level work load and control)
Participants answered questionnaire related to their role which assessed aspects such as level of job control, workload and social support. Tested for CHD and tested again five years later
No correlation found between CHD and workload
Negative correlation found between job control and illness, participants with low job control more likely to suffer CHD five years later even when other risk factors controlled
Describe research into workload and control in workplace
Johannson et al
Natural experiment comparing those with high workload and low control (sawyers) to those with low workload and high control (maintenance workers) Worked at same place
Participants matched in terms of education and job experience. Researchers recorded daily levels of adrenaline on work days and weekends to assess stress. Also obtained self reports of job satisfaction and illness.
Sawyers had high levels of adrenaline in urine on work days compared to rest days
Reported more illness
Felt greater sense of social isolation
Concluded low job control and high workload associated with stress and stress related illness
Evaluate work place stress as a source of stress
Weakness - focus on just few potential causes of workplace stress. focus on Marmots study just job control, potential reasons such as pay, conditions, job security not assessed. Weakness as can not be certain of reasons for higher rates of CHD
Weakness - most studies use questionnaires. Due to social desirability bias, questionnaires may distort importance of factors that cause stress in work place. One study found using interviews, stressors not usually covered in questionnaires where identified, whilst other stressors seen in interviews were rarely mentioned.
Weakness - individual differences account in way people react to job control and workload. Some people less stressed by having low control in workplace. Other research shows underloaded work can lead to stress related illness. Suggests job strain model oversimplified view
Weakness - lacks temporal validity - nature of work has changed with new technology and blurring of home/work environments. Current knowledge of workplace stress is out dated. Weakness as psychological research not keeping update with changing work practices, help given to manage workplace stress is in affective
What are 4 examples of life changes
Marriage
Having a baby
Going to university
Divorce
How can life changes lead to illness
Holmes and Rahe suggested experiencing life changed could lead to illness as significant amounts of readjustment can be stressful - both positive and negative life changes
Who researched into life changes and illness
Rahe et al
Explain research into life changed and illness
Rahe gave adapted form of SRRS known as Schedule of recent experiences to 2664 navy personnel.
Men asked to complete SRE for events they had experienced 6 months prior to their tour of duty. This produced their LCU score
A record was also kept of men visiting sick bay and what type and severity of illness this was. This produced an illness score
Rahe found positive correlation of 0.118 between LCU scores and illness score. Those who experienced stressful life 6 months prior to departure more illness on ship - more evident in married men
