STRESS: Bio - Cortisol A03

Question 1

Cortisol :)

Answer 1

Research Support:
Stress isn’t always bad for the immune system: Evans et al.
The role of social support: Seltzier et al.

Question 2

Cortisol :(

Answer 2

Conflicting research:
Low levels can cause health problems: Heim et al.

Stress doesn’t always raise cortisol levels: Lewis et al.

Question 3

Cortisol :) Stress isn’t always bad for the immune system

Answer 3

Stress may enhance the immune system
Evans et al. - Looked at antibody which helps protect against infection (slgA) during short-term and long-term stress in students

Research arranged students to give talks to other students → immediate stress

• Students showed increased slgA during talks (short-term)
• Students showed lowered slgA during exams (long-term)

Stress may have 2 effects on the immune system:
1. Up-regulation
- Increased immune system efficiency for short-term stress
2. Down-regulation
- Decreased immune system efficiency for long-term stress

Question 4

Cortisol :) The role of social support

Answer 4

Seltzier et al. - Sample of girls aged 7-12 years placed in stressful situations

Found that when given the opportunity to be comforted by their mothers (in-person / over the phone), oxytocin levels increased which reduced cortisol levels when compared to control group

• Suggests that social relationships may meditate the negative effects cortisol has on the body

Question 5

Cortisol :( Low levels can cause health problems

Answer 5

A sudden drop in cortisol levels occurs once a stressor is removed (may lead to inflammatory illness / effect)

Heim et al. - report on studies linking cortisol to health conditions (such as chronic fatigue syndrome & post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Unclear on exact hormonal mechanisms though…
- Suggested that balance of cortisol over time is more important than the release of cortisol

Question 6

Cortisol :( Stress doesn’t always raise cortisol levels

Answer 6

Lewis et al. - review of studies demonstrates a variation of response to exam stress

• Cortisol levels ranged from 58% decline to 95% increase in response to exam stress

Suggested that variations may be due to many factors such as:
- The length of time stressor continues
- Emotions the individual associates with the stressor