Stress

Question 1

What is stress?

Answer 1

Stress is the physical, psychological and social reaction of an individual when the demands of a situation outweigh/ overcome the resources that one has

Question 2

What is the Model used to explain Stress?

Answer 2

The General Adaptation Model (GAS) model

Question 3

What are the stages of the GAS Model?

Answer 3

1) The Alarm Stage
2) The Resistance Stage
3) The Exhaustion Stage

Question 4

What are the Sources of Stress

Answer 4

-Work
-Life Events: eg- illness, death, vacation

-Personality

Question 5

What happens during the Alarm Stage of the GAS Model

Question 6

What happens during the Restistance Stage of the GAS Model

Answer 6

• This stage requires energy, so heart rate, blood pressure and breathing are rapid to help deliver oxygen and energy throughout the body
• Non essential functions such as digestion, growth and reproduction operate at a slower pace than normal . This may explain why mensuration in woman may stop
• The body continues to work very hard to release the stressor, if the threat is brief, the body will have enough resources to fight it. However, if the threat is long, the body stays in a state of physiological arousal, and problems begin to emerge
• The body neglects physical and psychological functions, and the exhaustion stage steps in

Question 7

What happens during the Exhaustion Stage of the GAS Model

Question 8

Explain Work as a source of stress

Answer 8

Chondola et al aimed to determine the biological and behavioural factors linking work, stress and CHD

The findings showed
1) Cumulative work stress is a risk factor for CHD
2) Chronic work stress was stronger among participants below the age of 50
3) Work stress was associated with a higher morning rise of cortisol

Question 9

State the Biological measure of Stress

Answer 9

-Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

-Pulse Oximeter
-Sample tests for Salvary Cortisol

Question 10

What study Serves as supporting evidenc for these measurres, and what was its aim?

Answer 10

Wang et al (2005) aimed to measure cerebral blood flow changes in response to a mild and moderate maths task

Question 11

describe the sample of the study

Answer 11

-30 American ppts
-23 in exp cond, 7 in ctrl cond
exp cond: av 24yrs, ctrl exp: av 23 yrs

Question 12

Give the results of the study

Question 12

What are characteristics of Type A personalities?

Answer 12

• Very competitive and self critical

-Constant sense of time urgency (impatient)

-Prone to anger and Hostility

Question 12

State tools used in the Biological measure of Stress

Answer 12

-Friedman and Rosenman’s Personality Test

-Holmes and Rahe’s Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS)

Question 13

WHat is a type B peronality?

Answer 13

They are more relaxed, patient and easy-going

also more creative, more tolerant and experience lower anxiety