Stress

Question 1

Stress

Answer 1

the condition that results when person - environment transactions lead the individual to perceive a discrepancy between the demands of a situation and his or her resources

Question 2

Causes of Stress

Answer 2

levels of anxiety

body’s reaction to thought processes

Question 3

Sources of Stress

Answer 3

Money
Work
Economy
Family relationships
Relationships
Physiology of Stress
Selye's GAS Model

Question 4

GAS

Answer 4

General Adaptation Syndrome

Question 5

Selye’s GAS Model (Definition)

Answer 5

sequence of physiological reactions to prolonged and intense stress

short term and long term reactions and adaptations to stress in order to restore homeostasis

Question 6

Stages of GAS Model

Answer 6

Alarm
Resistance
Exhaustion

Question 7

Alarm (GAS)

Answer 7

• fight or flight response to an emergency
• prepares the body’s resources
• mobilizes resources to defend against stressors
• body is fully mobilized at the end of this stage

ex. the body releases adrenaline to provide instant energy in an unexpected situation

Question 8

Resistance (GAS)

Answer 8

• arousal remains high as the body tries to defend against and adapt to the stressor
• physiological arousal remains higher than normal
• adrenaline depletes
• attempts to adjusts to stress but unable to fight new stressors
• such an impairment makes the body vulnerable to other illnesses

Question 9

Exhaustion (GAS)

Answer 9

• occurs when long-term stress is removed
• body’s energy reserves deplete
• ability to resist stress declines
• weakens the body’s immune system
• if stress continuous, death or internal organ damage may occur

Question 10

Exhaustion (GAS)

Answer 10

• occurs when long-term stress is removed
• body’s energy reserves deplete
• ability to resist stress declines
• weakens the body’s immune system
• if stress continuous, death or internal organ damage may occur

Question 11

Evidence to support the long term effects of GAS (2)

Answer 11

1. people who exp chronic levels of stress show heightened reactivity to stressors
   - greater blood pressure and high susceptibility to illness
2. as the body has to repeatedly adapt to new stressors (fluctuation of physiological processes), it accumulates over time — allostatic load – leads to tear or body and ability to adapt to future stressors

Question 12

Causes of Stress

Answer 12

Work (Chandola et al)
Life Events (Holmes and Rahe)
Personality (Friedman and Rosenman)

Question 13

Work place stress

Answer 13

a result of a conflict between the demands that a job might place on its employees and the extent of the control an employee has to meet the demands

high demands + low control = stress

Question 14

Sources of Stress on employees and Employers

Answer 14

2001, Higher Education Funding Council of England

1. long hours
2. job security
3. work relationships
4. access to resources

Question 15

Chandola et al. Stress at work and Coronary Heart Disease Study AIM

Answer 15

determine the biological and behavioral factors linking work stress with CHD

Question 16

Coronary Heart Disease

Answer 16

build up of waxy substance (plaque) inside coronary arteries

hardened plaque prevents oxygen rich blood from flowing to the heart

Question 17

3 Questions

Answer 17

1. is the accumulation of work stress associated with higher changes of developing CHD?
2. Is this association stronger among the working age population?
3. does work stress affect CHD directly through neuroendocrine mechanisms or indirectly through behavior risk factors?