Stress and Health

Question 1

Stress

Answer 1

Any circumstance that threatens or is perceived to threaten one’s well being
has both psychological and physiological components

Question 2

Frustration

Answer 2

the pursuit of a goal is prevented which then frustrates you (ex: unfair, reactions)

Question 3

Conflict

Answer 3

two or more competing and incompatible goals occur

Question 4

Approach-approach conflicts

Answer 4

a choice must be made between two desirable goals. The least stressful type of conflict

Question 5

Avoidance-Avoidance conflict

Answer 5

a choice must be made between two unattractive goals

Ex) Hung or shot? Breaking up with someone or spending another Saturday night figuring out plans?

Question 6

Approach-Avoidance Conflict

Answer 6

a choice must be made about to achieve a goal which has both positive and negative attributes
Ex) One thing you want but it has both attractive and unattractive elements. An amazing internship opportunity with Google that ends up being located in a small town in Iowa.

Question 7

Change

Answer 7

any notable difference in one’s life which requires adaptation. Both positive and negative life changes can be stressful – new perspectives/adjustments

Question 8

Holmes and Rahe Social Readjustment Scale

Answer 8

Death of a Spouse: 100 points
Marital Reconciliation: 45 points
Change in Financial Status: 38 points

Question 9

Pressure

Answer 9

expectations or demands that one behave in a particular manner

Question 10

General Adaptation Syndrome

Answer 10

All types of stressful situations lead to a similar stress response consisting of three stages.
Alarm: the body releases adrenal hormones, sympathetic nervous system is activated
Resistance: body is on “high alert”
Exhaustion: increased physiological vulnerability to stress

Question 11

Kanner

Answer 11

also studied stress in terms of “daily hassles”; the sum total of mundane life tasks combine to create significant levels of stress.
Ex) Grocery shopping/cooking dinner

Question 12

Stressors

Answer 12

specific events or chronic pressures that place demands on a person and/or threatens well-being.

Question 13

Coping

Answer 13

What strategies you use to buffer against the stress cycle. Active efforts to master, reduce or accept the demands created by stress.

Question 14

Repressive coping

Answer 14

avoiding the situation or thoughts of the stressor, having an “artificially positive” perspective

Question 15

Rational Coping

Answer 15

facing a stressor and working to overcome it

Question 16

Displaced Aggression (maladaptive Coping strategy)

Answer 16

harmful act to someone verbally or physically, who is not actually the true “object” of the hostility

Question 17

Catharsis (maladaptive coping strategy)

Answer 17

release of emotional tension

Question 18

Self Indulgence (maladaptive coping strategy)

Answer 18

compensate for deprived/frustrated feelings by trying to promote a feeling of satisfaction in another area
Ex) Eating Feta Bread from Pizza House to give temporary relief

Question 19

Constructive Coping Strategies

Answer 19

healthy efforts to deal with a stressful event making one more resilient to the stressor(s)

Question 20

Problem focused

Answer 20

how to change the situation

Question 21

Emotion focused

Answer 21

how to change perceptions/reactions to the situation

Question 22

Stress inoculation training

Answer 22

helps cope with stressful situations by designing positive ways to think about the situation
Ex) Children growing up with chores understand responsibility

Question 23

Optimism

Answer 23

people with more positive outlooks handle stress better

Question 24

Humor

Answer 24

the use of humor can help cope with stress; can defuse some situations (bullying)

Question 25

Relaxation

Answer 25

reduces tension by relaxing muscles in the body, slowing cortical activity, heart rate, respiration and blood pressure

Question 26

Social Supports

Answer 26

presence of social supports provide adaptive coping/release from pressures. Further underscores the benefits of family dinners (social support, compelling evidence on importance of spending time with family)
Ex) Someone offering to help pick up your kid, friends helping out

Question 27

Type A Personalities

Answer 27

competitive, impatient, more prone to aggression

Question 28

Type B Personalities

Answer 28

relaxed, easy-going, less quick to anger

Question 29

Hostility

Answer 29

is one of the best predictors of heart disease (more than cholesterol, caloric intake or smoking)

Question 30

Burnout

Answer 30

physical, emotional and mental exhaustion caused by long-term exposure to demands associated with lowered performance and motivation

Question 31

Health impairing Behaviors

Answer 31

Additional health issues associated with stress:
smoking
poor nutritional habits
lack of exercise 
alcohol / drug use
risky behaviors

Question 32

Smoking and Health

Answer 32

Smokers have a significantly shorter life expectancy than non-smokers
Lung cancer, heart disease as well as other cancers, hypertension and emphysema are all smoking related illnesses
Smokers underestimate the health risks
Smokers overestimate their ability to quit

Question 33

Conscientiousness

Answer 33

has been associated with positive physical health and higher rates of longevity (Terman’s sample)
May gravitate toward healthier environments
Less reactivity to stress
Less likely to exhibit unhealthy habits like smoking, drinking, risk taking

Question 34

Biological Factors

Answer 34

place women at greater risk than men for the severe health consequences of STDs/STIs.

Question 35

Chlamydia and Gonorrhea

Answer 35

pose a particular risk to the health of women, as both can result in infertility if untreated

Question 36

Aging and Stress

Answer 36

Declining Health: with age, more physical problems
Loss of Family and Friends: more loss on regular basis
Employment and Financial Problems: savings/investments over lifetime, Social Security is not enough
Alienation from the larger society
Loneliness

Question 37

Coping Strategis for elderly

Answer 37

Exercise improves both physiological and psychological well being, although health restrictions may limit participation
Recreational activities act as a buffer and coping strategy
Building a sense of community can be adaptive
Maladaptive coping includes substance abuse and social withdrawal
Elderly at risk for depression which is undiagnosed or untreated