Gr. 12 Psychology, Stress and Health Study Notes

Chapter 17. Stress and Health

                                           

-          Stress is the arousal of one’s mind and body in response to demands made upon them. It forces the organism to adapt, cope and adjust.

-          Eustress is the positive stress that increases sharpness and motivation.

-          Distress is the negative stress linked to pressure and/or anxiety that can lead to severe psychological or physical effects.

-          Stressors (Sources of Stress):

1.      Frustration: being blocked from obtaining a goal

2.      Daily Hassles: time-pressure, illness, financial issues, inner-concerns (low self-esteem), household hassles, troubles at work …etc.

3.      Life Changes: moving, serious illnesses, death, separations.

Difference between daily hassles and life changes is that all hassles are annoying or irritating but life changes can be from worse to better (example marriage or traveling for education).

Hassles can occur regularly and on a daily basis while life changes tend to happen less frequently, after a long period of stability with little or no change.

4.      Conflict: being pulled in two directions by opposing forces (facing a difficult decision)

a.       Approach-approach: choice between 2 equally attractive alternatives

b.      Avoidance-avoidance: choice between 2 equally unattractive alternatives

c.       Approach-avoidance: whether or not to do something when part of the situation is attractive and part isn’t. (eg. Buying something you need/want that is off budget)

d.      Multiple approach avoidance: choice between alternatives that have both good and bad aspects equally. (eg. Studying for one of two tests).

-          Personality types based on stress:

1.      Personality type A: Intense; always under stress, put pressure on themselves, highly driven, competitive and impatient, attempt multi-tasking at all times, makes more money than personality type b, and has a much greater health risks including heart diseases than personality type b.

2.      Personality type B: Laid Back; more relaxed and patient, less driven, and does not become angry as fast as personality type A.

-          Factors that influence the effects of stress other than personality types:

1.      Self-efficacy Expectations: the belief that one has that he or she can accomplish goals he had set for himself. The belief that you can, helps you reach your goal. Closely related to self-confidence which helps one withstand stress. Confidence lowers adrenaline which helps one keep cool under pressure.

2.      Psychological Hardiness: personality characteristics that help people withstand stress.

a.       Commitment: regarding stress as a source of motivation

b.      Challenge: Preferring change to stability, regarding change as interesting rather than threatening

c.       Control: viewing one’s self as being in control of his or her life and able to influence & control the rewards and punishments one receives.

3.      Sense of Humor: Lightens the burdens of some of the stressors. Studies found that people who are more humorous than others in certain difficult situations experience less stress.

4.      Predictability: The ability to predict a stressor reduces the amount of stress it causes.

5.      Social support: advice, active social life, and receiving concern (listening) and support tend to lessen stress.

-          General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) is body’s physical or psychological reaction to stressful situations.

Three Stages:

1.      Alarm Reaction: when a stressor occurs it mobilizes the body’s defense action by releasing adrenaline (Fight or flight)

2.      Resistance: attempting to find a way to cope with a stressor even if it still haven’t been removed.

3.      Exhaustion: resources to combat stress are depleted and people reach a breaking point.

Signs of increased adrenaline secretion are increased heart rate and breathing, muscles tighten, and goosebumps.

-          Effects of Stress on Health and the Immune System:

1.      Stress eventually exhausts people because it stimulates their bodies to produce excessive adrenaline which suppresses the functions of anti-bodies secreted by the immune system which makes people more prone to diseases. (Social support decreases stress and increase the function of immune system).

2.      Anxiety and depression impair the functions of the immune system and make people more vulnerable to physical health problems.

3.      Headaches, heart diseases and cancer are the 3 most common health problems developed by the interrelationship between biological and psychological factors.