Week 5 Lecture Flashcards
What is the lay definition of stress?
I feel (strong emotion) I think (negative thought) I am (negative behaviour change)
What is generalised adaptation syndrome?
Unspecific reaction of the body to stressors in the environment
What are the 3 phases that were realised through the generalised adaptation syndrome?
- alarm reaction
- resistance phase
- exhaustion phase
According to Selye’s general adaptation syndrome, what happens if we remain in the resistance phase?
We enter the exhaustion phase
Describe the alarm reaction according to the generalised adaptation syndrome?
Causes downturn in bodily defences and blood pressure, heart falls then rises
Outline the stage of resistance according to the generalised adaptation syndrome.
body tried to adapt to stressor, body tries to maintain arousal level
Describe the stage of exhaustion according to the generalised adaptation syndrome
Exhaustion if resistance lasts too long
may results in cardiovascular disease, arthritis, asthma is proposed
What is acute stress?
short lived stress
What is chronic stress?
long lived stress,
What are some factors which affect chronic stress? (5)
- demand
- controllability
- predictability
- ambiguity
- lack of support
What are some things which chronic long term stress has been linked to? (6)
- cardiovascular disease,
- diabetes
- certain cancers
- autoimmune disease
- general frailty
- mortality
What have pro inflammatory responses of stress been linked to? (3)
- troubled relationships
- negative of competitive social interactions
- feeling lonely
What was stress understood as in earlier times?
As a stimulus
What did Holmes and Rahe develop?
The social readjustment rating scale. Made a list which would evoke a certain amount of stress.
What are some aspects which the Holmes and Rahe social readjustment rating scale ignore?
Personality, environment, support networks, life experience
Who developed the transactional theory of stress and coping?
Firstly, Lazarus, but then developed by Lazarus and Folkman
What does the transactional theory of stress and coping model describe stress as?
a product of a transaction between a person and his/her coping (a psychological appraisal)
Folkman and Lazarus describe coping in terms of what two aspects?
Thoughts and actions
How many times is Lazarus and Folkmans stress , appraisal and coping cited?
Over 63,244 times. Incredibly pivotal.
What are the four stages of the transactional mode?
- stressor
- Primary appraisal
- secondary appraisal
- coping response
What is primary appraisal?
Person decided if a stress is neutral, stressful or irrelevant
What is secondary appraisal
Person evaluates options and decides how to respond
Which appraisal do we decide on whether we have the internal/external resources to cope with a stressor?
Secondary
If a primary appraisal is seen as a harm/loss, which emotion did Lazarus and Folkman often associate to this?
sadness, depression, despair, hopelessness
If a primary appraisal is seen as a threat, which emotion did Lazarus and Folkman often associate to this?
anxiety, fear, anger, jealousy
If a primary appraisal is seen as a challenge, which emotion did Lazarus and Folkman often associate to this?
worry, hope, confidence
What are some factors which influence appraisal that Folkman and Lazarus found?
- timing
- unexpected
- unpredictable
- ambiguous
- risk
- undesirable
- lack of control
- life changing
What is the self-regulation model interested in, the same as the transactional model?
Cognitions
What is coping?
The process of managing demands that are appraised as taxing/exceeding the person’s resources
What are the two strongest predictors of psychological adjustment and quality of life?
coping and social support
Is coping simply anything a person does to reduce the impact of a perceived or actual stressor?
Yes
What are 3 outcomes of coping in regard to the Folkman and Lazarus model?
- short term physiological change
- emotions , social functioning, physical
- health and illness
What did Cohen and Lazarus have as 5 coping tasks?
- reducing harmful conditions
- tolerating/adjusting to negative events
- having a good self image
- having emotional equilibrium and decreasing emotional stress
- maintaining good relationships
The transactional model of coping proposed what two classes of coping?
problem focused and emotion focused coping
What is problem focused coping?
efforts to change the nature of aspects of a problem or situation
What is emotion focused coping
aims to regular emotions experienced because of the stressful event
What is approach oriented-avoidance oriented coping proposed by Suls and Fletcher?
Whether coping moves toward or away from the stressor
What is active versus passive ways of coping?
Moving toward to stressor, or avoiding/ignoring the stressor
What is a coping style example?
monitering or blunters (seek out information or avoid) it is how we approach a problem
What are coping strategies?
A situation specific coping response which reflects the context, stressor and personality
Is coping concerned with the effectiveness of a coping mechanism?
No, it is either coping or isn’t
Is there one right way to cope?
No, better to have a broad coping repertoire
Why is coping self-regulation an important skill?
Being able to reflect/adjust coping attempts is important
What are some maladaptive coping responses?
persistent avoidant, passive, helpless coping
Active coping is associated to what?
good adjustment
When is adaptive coping more effective?
When the control is more amendable to change (level of control)
How does the WHO define mental health?
physical, mental and social wellbeing
What are some positive responses to illness?
benefit finding, growth, appreciation with life, satisfaction
What are 5 factors which moderate stress?
- coping behaviour
- personality
- individual cognition
- emotion
- social support
Is there some evidence that there is an association between personality and health and illness?
yes, both directly and indirectly
What is neuroticism related to in terms of health?
Increased attention to internal states and increased somatic complaints, may underpin stress-health associations
What is hardiness related to in terms of health?
experience rich childhoods, control and challenge, thought to ‘buffer’ the experience of stress
What is optimism related to in terms of health?
coping, reduced symptom reporting, reduced negative mood or depression, increased well being
What does coping with stress from an optimist look like?
promotes active and persistent coping efforts, uses their resources effectively
What is social support?
The presence of others in whom one can confide and from whom one can expect help and concern
What are the three main types of social support?
- informational
- instrumental
- emotional
What is informational coping?
informs knowledge and coping
What is instrumental coping?
practical help or assistance
What is emotional coping
listened to, validated and cared for
What are the emotions that emotional support is associated wtith?
empathy, caring, concern
How does emotional support make one feel
reassured, comfortable and like they belong
What are the effects of instrumental support?
reducing strain or worry
What are the effects of network support?
Welcoming shared experiences
What are some aspects of social support? (3)
- availability
- network size
- satisfaction with support (how we perceive this is influential)
What does satisfaction with social support predict?
adaptive coping and better psychological adjustment
What is the direct effect social support?
That social support is always beneficial, and makes people less susceptible to the effect os stress initially
What is the buffering hypothesis?
the benefits of social support are mainly evidence in high stress situations
What are the physiological responses of social support?
reduces depression and anxiety
What is a response to lack of stress?
Adds another stressor
What are three results of social support?
- lowers likelihood of illness
- speed illness recovery
- reduces risk of death
What are 2 outcomes of high quality relationships?
- lower mortality
2. adherence to medical treatments
Why might social support adversely affect health?
if a peer group engages in health-compromising behaviours
The people who need social support more often are the least able to seek that skill. What are 3 examples of these people?
- shy and introverted
- depressed or anxious
- mistrustful
Were interpersonal coping processes addressed in Lazarus and Folkmans model?
no
What is dyadic coping?
mutual influences on coping processes in close relationships
What did George Burns quote happiness as?
Happiness is having a large, loving and caring close-knit family in another city
