Stress, Lifestyle, and Health

Question 1

distress

Answer 1

bad form of stress; usually high in intensity; often leads to exhaustion, fatigue, feeling burned out; associated with erosions in performance and health

Question 2

eustress

Answer 2

good form of stress; low to moderate in intensity; associated with positive feelings, as well as optimal health and performance

Question 3

health psychology

Answer 3

subfield of psychology devoted to studying psychological influences on health, illness, and how people respond when they become ill

Question 4

primary appraisal

Answer 4

judgment about the degree of potential harm or threat to well-being that a stressor might entail

Question 5

secondary appraisal

Answer 5

judgment of options available to cope with a stressor and their potential effectiveness

Question 6

stress

Answer 6

process whereby an individual perceives and responds to events that one appraises as overwhelming or threatening to one’s well-being

Question 7

stressors

Answer 7

environmental events that may be judged as threatening or demanding; stimuli that initiate the stress process

Question 8

alarm reaction

Answer 8

first stage of the general adaptation syndrome; characterized as the body’s immediate physiological reaction to a threatening situation or some other emergency; analogous to the fight-or-flight response

Question 9

fight-or-flight response

Answer 9

set of physiological reactions (increases in blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, and sweat) that occur when an individual encounters a perceived threat; these reactions are produced by activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the endocrine system

Question 10

general adaptation syndrome

Answer 10

Hans Selye’s three-stage model of the body’s physiological reactions to stress and the process of stress adaptation: alarm reaction, stage of resistance, and stage of exhaustion

Question 11

stage of exhaustion

Answer 11

third stage of the general adaptation syndrome; the body’s ability to resist stress becomes depleted; illness, disease, and even death may occur

Question 12

stage of resistance

Answer 12

second stage of the general adaptation syndrome; the body adapts to a stressor for a period of time

Question 13

cortisol

Answer 13

stress hormone released by the adrenal glands when encountering a stressor; helps to provide a boost of energy, thereby preparing the individual to take action

Question 14

hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis

Answer 14

set of structures found in both the limbic system (hypothalamus) and the endocrine system (pituitary gland and adrenal glands) that regulate many of the body’s physiological reactions to stress through the release of hormones

Question 15

daily hassles

Answer 15

minor irritations and annoyances that are part of our everyday lives and are capable of producing stress

Question 16

job burnout

Answer 16

general sense of emotional exhaustion and cynicism in relation to one’s job; consists of three dimensions: exhaustion, depersonalization, and sense of diminished personal accomplishment

Question 17

job strain

Answer 17

work situation involving the combination of excessive job demands and workload with little decision making latitude or job control

Question 18

Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS)

Answer 18

popular scale designed to measure stress; consists of 43 potentially stressful events, each of which has a numerical value quantifying how much readjustment is associated with the event

Question 19

cardiovascular disorders

Answer 19

disorders that involve the heart and blood circulation system

Question 20

hypertension

Answer 20

high blood pressure

Question 21

immune system

Answer 21

various structures, cells, and mechanisms that protect the body from foreign substances that can damage the body’s tissues and organs

Question 22

immunosuppression

Answer 22

decreased effectiveness of the immune system

Question 23

lymphocytes

Answer 23

white blood cells that circulate in the body’s fluids and are especially important in the body’s immune response

Question 24

psychoneuroimmunology

Answer 24

field that studies how psychological factors (such as stress) influence the immune system and immune functioning

Question 25

psychophysiological disorders

Answer 25

physical disorders or diseases in which symptoms are brought about or worsened by stress and emotional factors

Question 26

cardiovascular disorders

Answer 26

disorders that involve the heart and blood circulation system

Question 27

heart disease

Answer 27

several types of adverse heart conditions, including those that involve the heart’s arteries or valves or those involving the inability of the heart to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs; can include heart attack and stroke

Question 28

Type A

Answer 28

psychological and behavior pattern exhibited by individuals who tend to be extremely competitive, impatient, rushed, and hostile toward others

Question 29

Type B

Answer 29

psychological and behavior pattern exhibited by a person who is relaxed and laid back

Question 30

coping

Answer 30

mental or behavioral efforts used to manage problems relating to stress, including its cause and the unpleasant feelings and emotions it produces

Question 31

perceived control

Answer 31

peoples’ beliefs concerning their capacity to influence and shape outcomes in their lives

Question 32

biofeedback

Answer 32

stress-reduction technique using electronic equipment to measure a person’s involuntary (neuromuscular and autonomic) activity and provide feedback to help the person gain a level of voluntary control over these processes

Question 33

relaxation response technique

Answer 33

stress reduction technique combining elements of relaxation and meditation

Question 34

social support

Answer 34

soothing and often beneficial support of others; can take different forms, such as advice, guidance, encouragement, acceptance, emotional comfort, and tangible assistance

Question 35

happiness

Answer 35

enduring state of mind consisting of joy, contentment, and other positive emotions; the sense that one’s life has meaning and value

Question 36

flow

Answer 36

state involving intense engagement in an activity; usually is experienced when participating in creative, work, and leisure endeavors

Question 37

optimism

Answer 37

tendency toward a positive outlook and positive expectations

Question 38

positive affect

Answer 38

state or a trait that involves pleasurable engagement with the environment, the dimensions of which include happiness, joy, enthusiasm, alertness, and excitement

Question 39

positive psychology

Answer 39

scientific area of study seeking to identify and promote those qualities that lead to happy, fulfilled, and contented lives