Stress, anxiety and health

Question 1

Physiological Reaction (NS)

Answer 1

Fight or Flight response, Sympathetic Nervous system and Adrenal Cortical system stimulated.

Question 2

General Adaption Syndrome

Answer 2

Selye : Process of stress:
Alarm => resistance => exhaustion … exhaustion reduces resistance
Severe and sustained stress can cause disease (occupational burnout)

Question 3

Psychoimmunology

Answer 3

Cohen et Al : Stress causes depression of immune function

Question 4

Psychological Reaction (cognitive)

Answer 4

• Cognitive impairment (bad concentration span and disorganised thoughts)
• Anger (frustration) …
• Depression (apathy and learned helplessness) …
• Anxiety through Acute Stress Disorder

Question 5

Post Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD)

Answer 5

Natural emotional reaction to a deeply shocking experience
Symptoms:
Reliving event,
Avoidance of memories and Emotional Blunting, Hyperarousal and Survivor’s guilt.

Question 6

Stress as a Stimulus (Holmes & Rahe)

Answer 6

Holmes & Rahe : Devised a Social Readjustment scale, reflects amount of adjustment required

Question 7

Hassles & Uplifts Scale (Lazarus & Folkman)

Answer 7

Lazarus & Folkman : rate something as a hassle or an uplift that occurs in day to day life

Question 8

Personality Styles as a Mediator

Answer 8

How they affect an individual’s ability to cope with stress

Type A: risk factor for heart disease, x2 risk of heart attack - BUT better prognosis of if they survive a heart attack

Question 9

Type A Behaviour

Answer 9

Competitiveness, Time urgency, Hostility

Question 10

Lifestyle Intervention

Answer 10

Stress => -ve behaviour changes => impaired immunity => disease
Ornish Programme : Comprehensive and demanding package involving exercise, diet, group support for stress management. Investigations carried out by Billings (2000) and Sieberman (2010)

Question 11

Appraisal

Answer 11

Reflection upon that it is not the stressor that stresses an individual, it’s their Perception of its Controllability and Predictability
Lazarus & Folkman : Appraisal process:
Primary – assess perception of demands
Secondary - available coping options
Re- appraisal - re-evaluation of ability to cope and repeating

Question 12

Coping strategies (2 categories)

Answer 12

1. Problem focused – Change or avoid the physical situation.
2. Emotion focused – Behavioural strategies- (physical exercise, drinking, venting anger) OR Cognitive strategies- (denial, discussion)