Stress - 2. The Role of Stress in Illness

Question 1

Two illnesses mentioned in the specification

Answer 1

Immunosuppression
Cardiovascular disease

Question 2

Immunosuppression

Answer 2

Immune functioning is impaired and suppressed, meaning it isn’t functioning as it should

Question 3

What is the immune system responsible for?

Answer 3

Fighting illness by targeting antigens (foreign toxins)

Question 4

What happens to immune function when experiencing chronic stress?

Answer 4

Production of cortisol reduces immune function

Question 5

What cells does the immune system contain?

Answer 5

Lymphocytes

Question 6

Role of Lymphocytes

Answer 6

Recognise and destroy harmful viruses and bacteria that enters the body

Question 7

Types of lymphocytes and their function

Answer 7

B cells: produce antibodies which are released into the fluid surrounding the body’s cells to destroy antigens
T cells: if the antigens get inside a cell, these destroy is be locking onto the infected cell and multiplying

Question 8

Who carried out key research into immunosuppression in 1984?

Answer 8

Kiecolt-Glaser et al

Question 9

Aim of Kiecolt-Glaser et al’s study into immunosuppression

Answer 9

To identify a correlation between stress-related illness and the immune system

Question 10

Procedure of Kiecolt-Glaser et al’s study into immunosuppression

Answer 10

Blood samples of 75 1st year medical students taken
Blood samples taken 1 month before final exam and on the day of the final exam
On both occasions, participants were given questionnaires to assess psychiatric symptoms (mental illness), loneliness and life events

Question 11

Results of Kiecolt-Glaser et al’s study into immunosuppression

Answer 11

Number of T cell activity declined between the two samples
Immune responses were especially weak in those students who reported feeling most lonely

Question 12

Conclusion of Kiecolt-Glaser et al’s study into immunosuppression

Answer 12

Stress associated with a lowered immune response
There was a number of different sources of stress and factors that could altercate immune response

Question 13

Positive evaluation of Kiecolt-Glaser et al’s study into immunosuppression (3)

Answer 13

Natural experiment (real students, real time and no manipulation of variables)
Naturally occurring stress studied instead of artificially induced stress
Large sample size with no gender bias

Question 14

Negative evaluation of Kiecolt-Glaser et al’s study into immunosuppression (2)

Answer 14

All participants were volunteers so the results may lack external validity
The individuals could’ve given socially desirable feedback to the questionnaires

Question 15

What does cardiovascular mean?

Answer 15

The heart and blood vessels

Question 16

How can stress cause cardiovascular disorders?

Answer 16

The fight or flight response increases blood pressure as well as heart rate. This increase can damage the blood vessels as the blood is being pumped faster and so at a higher blood pressure through the blood vessels

Question 17

How does cortisol link to cardiovascular disorders?

Answer 17

Stored glucose is needed for a long-term period of intensity
If your fight or flight response is being triggered, glucose energy isn’t enough so therefore cortisol is released.
Cortisol narrows the blood vessels and begins to build up

Question 18

What does cortisol in the blood vessels cause?

Answer 18

Causes increased risk of heart attack as the blood becomes thicker. This potentially leads to a blood clot occurring in the coronary artery.

Question 19

Does cortisol directly or indirectly contribute to cardiovascular disorders?

Answer 19

Indirectly

Question 20

What factors other than cortisol may link to cardiovascular disorders?

Answer 20

Smoking
History of heart disease
High-cholesterol diet

Question 21

Who conducted key research into cardiovascular disorders?

Answer 21

Williams et al

Question 22

Aim of Williams et al’s key research into cardiovascular disorders

Answer 22

To see if anger was linked to heart disease

Question 23

Sample size of Williams et al’s key research into cardiovascular disorders

Answer 23

13,000 people

Question 24

Procedure of Williams et al’s key research into cardiovascular disorders

Answer 24

Questionnaire given to 13,000 people without a heart disease. The questionnaires contained a 10 question anger scale.
After 6 years the health status of the participants was checked

Question 25

Results of Williams et al’s key research into cardiovascular disorders: participants who developed heart attacks

Answer 25

256

Question 26

Results of Williams et al’s key research into cardiovascular disorders: comparing those who with low and high anger scores

Answer 26

Those who scored highly on anger scale were 2.5x more likely to have had heart attack than those with low anger scores

Question 27

Conclusion of Williams et al’s key research into cardiovascular disorders

Answer 27

The physiological response to stress is closely associated with cardiovascular disorders

Question 28

Negative evaluation of Williams et al’s key research into cardiovascular disorders

Answer 28

Results provide correlation, not causation - factors such as diet and lifestyle can make people more susceptible to cardiovascular disorders