Stress Flashcards
1
Q
GAS
A
General adaptive syndrome
Selye
2
Q
adapting to a stressor
GAS
A
alarm reaction- when the stressor is perceived the psychological response is activated for fight or flight
resistance- body trys to adapt by resisting the stressor the parasympathetic nervous system is activated to conserve energy as stress is becoming chronic
exhaustion- body fails to adapt to chronic stressor, resources become drained and symptoms of sympathetic arousal appear again, stress related illnesses now likely-alopecia
3
Q
research into GAS
selye
A
exposed rats to various stressors, regardless of stressor the same response occurred 6-48 hours after stressor was presented.
4
Q
research into GAS
Mason
A
replicated selye procsudure using monkeys. exposed them to 7 stressors, different stressors have different effects on urinary cortisol levels
5
Q
Weaknesses to GAS
A
unethical
extrapolation issues
Mason- individual/gender differences in cortisol/adrenaline levels
6
Q
strengths of GAS
A
Selye- observed human patients and found they shared common symptoms eg aches and pains no matter the injury. same result with rats. physiological reaction same
practical application to reduce symptoms.
7
Q
SMP
A
Sympathomedullary pathway
8
Q
sympathomedullary pathway
SMP
A
hypothalamus triggers activity in the sympathetic nervous system, ACTH is released.
adrenaline and noradrenaline are released into the blood stream
adrenaline and noradrenaline effect the body in different ways eg. heart rate
9
Q
research in SMP
Taylor et al
A
found acute stressors produce fight or flight response in men however women produce tend and befriend due to women producing more oxytocin which promotes relaxation and nursing
10
Q
research into SMP
mccarly
A
blood plasma levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline were equal in rats of varying ages before subjecting them to an electric shock for one minute. older rats has lower levels after the shock shows older rats hormones decrease so struggle to adapt.
11
Q
research into SMP
horwatt
A
animals exposed to same stressor everyday for several weeks. SMP started to adapt as catecholamines changed production.
12
Q
strengths of SMP
A
objective-reliable
fight/flight seen in all mammals- reductionist, generalisable
people without hormones supplements need adrenal glands- practical application
13
Q
weaknesses of SMP
A
variations of level and type of hormones released-Taylor et al- validity
ignores psychological factors- Lazarus- add conscious thought, not valid
gender differences-Taylor
extrapolation
14
Q
HPA
A
hypothalamic pituitary-adrenal system
15
Q
Hypothalamic pituitary-adrenal system
HPA
A
hypothalamus triggers the release of CRH, this then stimulates the interior pituitary gland and releases ACTH.
ACTH then travels through the body and stimulates the adrenal cortex, the adrenal cortex then releases cortisol that converts protein to glucose giving the blood energy this is needed to replace what was used up by the bodys first reaction to stress
long term effect of high cortisol levels can damage the immune system and negatively impact memory.
16
Q
Weaknesses of HPA
A
Mason- different individuals produce different levels of stress hormones when exposed same stressor-individual difference
people are more active to cognitive or emotional stressors- Symington et al- conscious terminal cancer patients experienced more stress then those in a coma
17
Q
strengths of HPA
A
prolonged activation of HPA can lead to crushing’s syndrome-practical application to develop treatment
objective- reliable
18
Q
Direct effect of stress
A
stress response-glucose in blood-furring of the arteries-heart attach
19
Q
indirect effect of stress
A
stress-body can’t cope-illness
20
Q
changes due to stress
A
increased heart rate increased blood pressure short of breath increased sweating slows immune system slows digestion blood clots increased stress hormones increased stomach acid hormones eg ageing/sex decrease increase blood sugar blood flows to muscles
21
Q
immunosuppression
A
chronic stress
stress response-activates HPA- produces cortisol- inhibits production of lymphocytes(white blood cells)- invading viruses make us ill as bacteria isn’t attacked
22
Q
Research into immune suppression
Kiecolt-Glaser at al
A
blood samples from medical students. (49 males/26 females volunteers) samples taken a month before and during exams. immune functioning assessed by T cell activity. blood sample from month before contained more t-cells then during exams
23
Q
research into immune suppression
Evans et al
A
students giving mildly stressful presentation had increased sigA(anti-body) suggesting short term stress can beneficial to the functioning to immune system
24
Q
Cardiovascular disorder
A
sympathetic nervous system constricts blood vessels increasing blood pressure and heart rate- increased heart rate wears away the lining of the blood vessels- increased glucose levels leads to clumps blocking the vessels
25
research into cardiovascular disorders
| williams
13000 people completed a 10 question anger scale. 6 years after test people who scored high on anger scale were 2.5x more likely to have a heart attach
26
research into cardiovascular disorder
| cobb and rose
compared medical records of air traffic controllers with other air traffic worker. air traffic controllers has higher levels of hypertension
27
Social readjustment rating scale
| Holmes and Rahe
```
443 potentially stressful events
used 1000's of medical records
marriage arbitrary measure of 500 units
sample of 400 asked to rate stressfulness of each event
death of a spouse most
```
28
research into SRRS
| Rahe et al
American sailors, found positive correlation between life event and physical illness of 0.118
29
research into SRRS
| stone et al
had married couples fill in daily checklist of events daily if undesirable events increased illness often occurred
30
strengths of SRRS
supportive research
real life applications- self help books
predictive power
shows robust signification correlation
31
weaknesses of SRRS
subjective
retrospective data
as evidence is correlation can't establish direct cause and effect
extraneous variables
32
Daily hassles and uplifts scale
| Kanner et al
scale consisting of 117 hassles meansure on 7 categories
135 uplifts on same categories
3 point scale
100 american participants (52 women 48 men)
tested once a month for 10 months
33
Research into daily hassles and uplifts
| Boutteyre at al
relationship between daily hassles and mental health of students moving to uni
first year psych students
complete this and becks ABC to measure depression
positive correlation between students suffering from depression and score on daily hassles
34
research into daily hassles and uplifts
| Gervais
how daily hassles and uplifts affected job performance for nurses
asked nurses to keep a dairy for a month recording all daily hassles and uplifts
hassles increased job strain while uplifts increased job performance
35
Weaknesses of daily hassles and uplifts
retrospective data
social desirability
correlation-no direct cause and effect
36
Strengths of daily hassles and uplifts
supportive research
cost effective
quantitative data
37
Why study workplace stress
Cost to tax payer
Performance
Presenteeism
Risks to health
38
Research into role conflict
Increase in mothers participation in the workforce but little change in gendered allocation of household tasks
39
Practical applications of workplace stress
| Ritvanen et al
Aerobic fitness to reduce psychological stress for teachers
26 participants
Monitored adrenaline, noradrenaline, cortisol, bp, hr, muscle tension and perceived stress
High levels of exercise lower physiological reactions to stress
40
Practice application to workplace stress
| Galantinao
Mindfulness
Association of subject reported stress and symptoms in health-care professionals
8 weeks mindfulness training
Reduce symptoms
41
Factors that contribute to workplace stress
Workload
| Control
42
Research into workplace stress
| Marmot et al
7372 civil servants in London
Longitudinal study-5 years
Self report
Assessed for cardiovascular disease
Controlled extraneous variables e.g.smoking
No correlation between workload and stress
Lower grades of civil servants had more incidents of cardiovascular disease
43
Research into workplace stress
| Johansson et al
Difference in stress levels between workers in a sawmill
24 male at a Swedish sawmill
High risk group-little control over work due to machinery involved. All wages dependent on them
Low risk group-more control, greater flexibility, less responsibility
Natural experiment
Adrenaline, ACTH, sickness, absenteeism
High risk adrenaline levels higher, more stress hormones on work days then rest days
44
Weaknesses of workplace stress
Reductionist
Hard to generalise
Karaseks- demands/control model not valid
45
Strengths of workplace stress
Practical applications
Objective research
Marmot-big sample size
46
Ways of measuring stress
Hassles and uplift
Life changes
Skin concordance response
47
Skin concordance response
Measured skin resistance to electricity
Arousal of the autonomic nervous system
Electrode attached to index/ middle finger
As sweat increases so does electricity conducted
Used alongside polygraph
48
Tonic skin concordance level
Baseline
No stimulus
Used to compare
49
Phasic concordance response
Experience a stimulus
50
Strengths of skin concordance response
```
Objective
Can be used for everyone as established baseline
Useful
Practical applications
Cheap
```
51
Weaknesses of skin concordance response
Can't be used for stabiles(people who don't show a physiological response to stress)
Needs a train practitioner
Affected by extraneous variables
52
Research into skin concordance response
| Bakker
Results can differ from day to day with same participant
53
Characteristics of type A personality
Impatient
Competitive
Hostile
54
Characteristics of type B personality
```
None competitive
Self confident
Tolerant
Reflective
Relaxed
```
55
Characteristics of type C personality
Sensitive
Perfectionist
Conformist
People pleaser
56
Characteristics of type D personality
```
Routine
Shun responsibility
Obedient
Prone to worry
Irritable
```
57
Research into type A and B personality
| Friedman and Rosenman
3000 American males
Men medically assessed as CHD free
Structured interview-find personality type
Questions involved reaction to everyday irritations
Later 257 men developed CHD
70% type A personality
Type A have higher levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline
58
Research into type C personality
| Dattore et al
200 veterans
75 cancer patients rest control group
Complete scale to measure repression of emotions/depression
Cancer patients had greater emotional repression but fewer depression symptoms then control
Supports that Those who repress emotions are less likely to acknowledge they're depressed
59
Features of hardiness
| Kobasa
Commitment
Challenge
Control
60
Commitment and hardiness
Hardy people throw themselves into all aspects of life rather then standing on the sidelines
61
Challenge and hardiness
Hardy people view stressors as opportunity for self-development rather than threats to self-esteem
62
Control and hardiness
Hardy people believe that stressful situations can be overcome through their own efforts
63
Research into hardiness
| Maddi
400 managers/supervisors
Phone company in America
Company went through reorganisation
Decrease in work performance and health of 2/3 of the workforce
1/3 had opposite effect- these scored higher on commitment, control and challenge
64
SIT
Stress inoculation therapy
65
SIT
| Stress inoculation therapy
Cognitive restructuring
| Change how people think about themselves and their lives to alter the emotional responses and behaviour
66
Conceptualisation phase
| SIT
Talk between therapist and client
Establish clients stressor through interview
Looks how client deals with stressor
Identifies things that need to change
Therapist teaches client to break down stressors
Client breaks down the problem
67
Skill acquisition and rehearsal phase
```
Teaches coping skills
Skills are matched to clients preferred coping style
Leaning to monitor and use self-talk
Rehearse skills
Plan how to cope when stressor occurs
```
68
Last phase
| SIT
Real life application
Therapist creates opportunity to apply new skills safely
Transfer into real life
Clients feedback if effectiveness
Therapist involvement reduced
Client helped to prepare for set backs
Clients prepared to consider success is due to their own work
69
Research into SIT and biofeedback
| Holroyd et al
31 participants
Experiencing chronic tension headaches
To either SIT group, biofeedback or control
Only SIT group improved
70
Strengths of SIT
Effective for long term-holroyd et al
Range of situations- patient/ carer
Flexible/change to fit everyone- stage2 litz et al
71
Weaknesses of SIT
Demanding
Stigma of therapy
Cultural differences- Taylor et al- American Europeans and American Asians more likely to benefit from social support
72
what do we mean by drug therapy
```
direct form of treatment
affects transmission of chemicals
slows down activity of the central nervous system
starting point
short term effects
```
73
BZs
benzodiazepine
74
BZs
| benzodiazepine
lessen anxiety
reduce arousal of central nervous system
enhance action of neurotransmitters
75
how BZs work
GABA receptor site on post synaptic neurone is inactive and chloride channel is closed
GABA binds receptors allowing chloride to pass
BZs open channel for longer
person more relaxed
76
research into BZs
| Davidson
75 participants diagnosed with social-anxiety disorder
given drug/placebo for 10 weeks
early and sustained positive effect of drug patients-75%
20% improvement with placebo
side effects eg. forgetfulness
2 year follow up-advantage of drug use
77
research into BZs
| Baldwin
good evidence that BZs are significantly more effective then placebo in treating acute anxiety
supports Davidson
78
strengths of BZs
provides short term relief
cost effective
effective
introduced to counter act highly addictive drugs(barbituates)
79
BBs
beta blockers
80
BBs
| beta blockers
acts on the sympathetic nervous system
part of the sympathomedullary pathway
useful for some stress
performance enhancing drugs
81
how BBs work
BBs bind to beta receptors
stops receptors being stimulated
slows heart rate/blood pressure
82
research into BBs
| Gates
```
34 singing students
drug/placebo
low dose=small improvement
high dose=hindered performance
effective in small doses
```
83
research into BBs
| Kelly
BBs were effective for treating everyday anxieties
84
strengths for BBs
acts directly on the body
reduces symptoms of stress
not associated with addiction
cheaper
85
weaknesses of BBs
```
side effects- nightmares
don't address the cause of stress
masks effects
not effective for long term
not effective for psychological stressors
```
86
process of biofeedback
relaxation
feedback
operant conditioning
transfer
87
Instrumental support
Practical help e.g. Lending money
88
Emotional support
Giving a shoulder to cry on to make them feel better
89
Biofeedback procedure
Taught techniques of relaxation to reduce activity of the sympathetic and peripheral nervous system
Reduces adrenaline/noradrenaline
Attached to various machines providing information for autonomic nervous system
E.g. EMG or EEG
Practice relaxation whilst observing biofeedback
Seeing the reduction in physiological response is rewarding
Conditioning takes place without conscious learning
Transfer skills into real life
90
EMG measures
Muscle change
91
EEG measures
Brain activity
92
Weaknesses of Biofeedback
Not as effective as other treatments-holroyd
Individual differences
Dicara-couldn't replicate to find same results
93
Strengths of Biofeedback
Supportive research
More ethical-people that can't have SIT
Objective
94
Physiological explanations- gender differences
Both experience same response-adrenaline/noradrenaline
Both fight or flight but women tend and befriend
Difference parental involvement- women each child individually
95
Gender differences
| Taylor et al
Tend and befriend response
| Only women
96
Gender differences- oxytocin
Produced by both sexes
Women produce more
Role in creating mother-infant bonds
97
Gender differences-oxytocin and testosterone
Testosterone increases stress
| Weakens oxytocin
98
Gender difference-oestrogen and oxytocin
Oestrogen increased oxytocin
99
Oxytocin
| Taylor et al
Higher oxytocin linked with lower cortisol levels
100
Gender differences
| Lazarus and folkman
2 types of coping styles for dealing with stress
| Problem focused and emotion focused
101
Psychological gender differences problem focused
```
Direct way
Control to remove the stress
Learn new skills
Treats illness
Learning new skills
Stereotypically men
```
102
Psychological gender differences
| Emotional focused
```
Indirectly
Tackling effects
Treat symptoms
Forms of avoidance
Stereotypically female
```
103
Weaknesses of personality types
Type A is too broad
Categories can over lap
Friedman & rosenmans research not controlled for extraneous variables
104
Strengths of personality types
Research support
Type A/B research- used some objective measure
Type C-use of control group-increase validity
105
Social support
| Stroebe
Esteem support
Emotional support
Instrumental support
Appraisal support-others assist to identify/understand stressor
Informational support- give advice/guidance to deal with stressor
106
Who identified 3 forms of social support
Schaefer et al
107
Research into social support
| Cohen
Phone 404 healthy adults every evening for 14 days to see how many hugs they received
Also complete questionnaire to assess perceived social support
Stress measure by daily interpersonal conflict
Place participant in quarantine, expose to cold virus
Monitor sign of illness
Most interpersonal conflict more likely to be ill
Hugs account for 1/3 of protective effect support. More hugs less chance of illness
108
Strengths of social support
Supportive research
Protects from negative effects of stressor
Practical application
109
Weaknesses of social support
Gender differences-women more likely to seek social support
No agreement on types of social support
Can confuse or overwhelm individual
110
Personality types
| Friedman and Rosenman
3500 healthy middle aged men
12 year longitudinal
asked questions relating to impatience, competitiveness, motivation for success, frustration and feelings of being under pressure
high score=A
low score=B
2x type A develop heart disease then type B
stressor aren't harmful it is how each personality perceives/ react is harmful
111
Type A personalities more likely to develop...
chronic heart disease
112
Type C personality more likely to develop...
cancer
113
strength of hardiness
real life applications-US army special forces recruitment
supporting research- Maddi
Maddi- objective methods(medical records)
114
weaknesses of hardiness
subjective measure
can't establish direct cause and effect
3 C's may overlap
115
Drug treatments
| Benzodiazepine (BZs)
lessen the anxiety associated with stress
quickly reduce physiological arousal in the CNS
tap into one was in which the body naturally combats anxiety
enhances the action of GABA (body's natural anxiety relief)
116
Drug treatments
Benzodiazepine (BZs)
how they work
empty GABA receptors site on the postsynaptic neuron, receptor is in active and chloride channel is closed GABA binding with receptors, operating the channel allowing chloride into the cell
both GABA and BZs binding with receptor, opens the channel for longer and allows more chloride through
117
drug treatment
Benzodiazepine (BZs)
research- Davidson
assessment of BX
75 p's diagnosed with social-anxiety disorder
drug/placebo for 10 weeks
early and sustained positive effects (75%)
20% improvement with placebo
side effects
118
drug treatments
| strengths of BZs
cost effective
short term relief
effective
119
drug treatments
| weaknesses of BZs
dependancy
side effects- forgetting
research is unethical
120
```
drug treatment
beta blockers (BBs)
```
act on sympathetic nervous system
reduces arousal
blocks transmission from nerve impulses
block sites normally activated by hormones adrenaline
121
drug treatments
beta blockers (BBs)
how they work
BBs bind to beta receptors
stops receptor being stimulated
slows heart rate/blood pressure
122
drug treatment
beta blockers (BBs)
research-Gates
```
BBs and stage fright
34 singing students
drug/placebo
low dose- small improvement
high dose- hindered performance
```
123
drug treatment
| strengths of BBs
not associated with dependency
immediate effect
cost effective
124
drug treatment
| weakness of BBs
side effects-tiredness/ hallucinations
no long term effect
don't address cause only symptoms
125
stress inoculation therapy
```
cognitive reconstructing
reducing stress through cognition
3 phases: conceptualisation phase
skill acquisition and rehearsal
real- life application
```
126
SIT
| conceptualisation phase
therapist investigates clients stressors through interview
looks how client deals with stressors and evaluate effectiveness
identifies topic to change including negative self talk
client reconceptualises their problem
127
SIT
| skill acquisition and rehearsal
coping skill and taught and practiced
skills are matched to clients preferred coping style
use self talk
planning in advance how to cope when stress occurs
128
SIT
| real life application
therapist creates opportunity for client to apply new skills in a safe environment
transfer skills into real life
client feeds back suggest in further work is needed
client is to consider success as their own work and not by chance
129
SIT
| research- Holroyd et al
31 p's experiencing chronic tensions headaches to a SIT , Biofeedback or control group.
found that only the SIT group showed substantial improvement in daily reductions of headaches
130
strengths of SIT
applied to a range of stressors
Flexible
tailored to specific needs
131
weaknesses of SIT
Demanding
stigma of therapy
research unethical(Holroyd)
132
Biofeedback
```
body's physiological response to stress
not under control (ANS)
allows individual to exert voluntary control over involuntary behaviours
4 processes: relaxation
feedback
operant conditioning
transfer
```
133
Biofeedback
| procedure
taught techniques of relaxation to reduce activity of SNS
reduced adrenaline
attached to machines which provide info on ANS( heart monitor/blood pressure)
EMG measures muscle change, SCR and EEG measures brain activity
when individual sees reduction in physiological response is rewarding
takes place without conscious learning
transfer skill to real life
