W5: Stress, health and self-control Flashcards
What is stress divided into? - (2)
Eustress (positive)
Distress (negative) -
How can stress manifest in the body?
Biological - (2)
Increased heartrate
Cortisol release (if the event is stressful for long-term engages HPA axis)
How can stress manifest in the body?
Psychology - (2)
Perceived demands versus resources to meet demands
Challenge versus threat appraisals of stress
How can we measure stress?
Cardiovascular system - (2)
- Heart rate
- Blood pressure
How can we measure stress?
Endocrine system - (2)
- HPA activity
- Cortisol
How can we measure stress?
Immune system -
Interleukins
How can we measure stress?
3 systems - (3)
- Cardiovascular system
- Endocrine system
- Immune system
How do we measure stress psychologically?
- Use self-report measures
Most popular/common self-report measure to measure stress is (2)
- Perceived stress scale by Cohen et al (1983)
- Assesses stress-related feelings/thoughts from last month
Theories of stress
Cannon-Bard theory (5)
- When we experience stress it affects the sympathetic nervous system
- Immediately body responds to stress by increasing circulation, respiration and metabolism rate.
- Increases oxygen in the blood and lungs
- more energy is available to cope with the stressor
- This process happens automatically independent of the psychological appraisal of the stressor
Example of Canon-Bard Theory (3)
- See stimulus of a growling dog
- Triggers increase physiological arousal (increased heart rate)
- Independent and simulatenosuly have psychological perception of the stressor and then makes you feel fear
Theories of stress - General adaptation syndrome theory
Hans Selye researched effects of stress on rats and found person who experiences contiual stress go through same process (3)
- Adrenal glands (this release cortisol) became enlarged
- Stomach ulcers and loss of weight occurred
- Components of the immune system shrunk (because cortisol suppresses immune system)
General adaptation syndrome
When we experience/deal with the stress we go through these 3 specific phases (3)
- Alarm
- Resistance
- Exhaustion
General adaptation syndrome
Alarm phase (4)
- Intense arousal occurs
- There is the mobilisation of physical resources (activation of SAM axis)
- Arousal remains above normal - energetic to overcome stress
- Fight or flight response!
General adaption syndrome
Resistance phase (4)
- If the stress continues, the body adjusts to the continuing stressful situation
- Engagement of HPA axis
- Constriction of blood vessels, blood pressure increases
- Release of cortisol to increase the availability of glucose
General adaption syndrome
Resistance phase - Inability to cope with new stressors
- Body’s resources already engaged/allocated to this one stressor
General adaptation syndrome
Exhaustion (if the stress continues on) - (2)
- Physical exhaustion and damage appear (e.g weakened immune sys)
- Energy reserves depleted and adaptation to stress blunted
Theories of stress
The biopsychosocial model of stress (4)
- Biology (genetics, physiology, fitness, illness)
- Psychology (lifestyle, cognitive functioning, mental illness)
- Social factors (culture, family, relationships, social support)
- Each of these factors influences and interact with our ability to overcome and cope with stressors
Theories of stress
Another concept of stress is Resiliency (3)
- The idea that not everyone will respond to stress the same way
-
Ability to cope with stress, to adapt to negative or unforeseen circumstances, and to rebound after negative experiences
- This all depends on prior experiences with stress
Theories of stress
Seery et al. (2010) - Resiliency Concept in Stress (3)
- High and low levels of cumulative stress associated with poor health
- Experiencing some stress was healthier than experiencing no stress
- People who cope with a moderate stress develop most resiliency of stress
One of the major sources of stress for most people is
Daily hassles (5)
- Everyday inconveniences or frustrations stresses us out
- Experience several of these throughout the day
- Low-levels of stress which are additive
- Accounts for majority of stress we experience
- If you have enough of those little inconvencies per day, lead to poor health choices