Stress, Health, and Coping

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Stress, Health, and Coping

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“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Health Psychology

The field concerned with the promotion of health and the prevention and treatment of illness as it relates to psychological factors


StressThe general term describing the psychological and bodily response to a stimulus that alters the body’s state of equilibrium��

� Stressor� � � (p.589)� Acute stressor��

� Chronic stressor� ��

� Stress response



Psychological Reactions to Stress

� Anxiety:By anxiety we mean the unpleasant emotion characterized by such terms as “worry”, “apprehension”, ”tension”, and “fear”.

� Anger and aggression� Apathy and depression:Learned helplessness explains

how experience with uncontrollable negative events can lead to apathy and depression

� Cognitive impairment: Hard to concentrate and to organize their thoughts logically.


The Biology of Stress

� The alarm phase(��

� Fight-or-flight response� Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis� Sympathetic & parasympathetic systems

� The resistance phase�� Adaptation

� The exhaustion phase��


Figure 14.3 Fight-or-FlightResponse. The body’s

mobilization to attack or flee froma threatening situation.

Hypothalamus��

AM � �

AC � �

PG� � � �


The General Adaptation Syndrome(GAS)��

� A set of responses that is displayed by all organisms in response to stress� Alarm

� body mobilizes to confront a threat� Resistance

� the organism attempts to cope with the threat by fleeing it or fighting it

� Exhaustion� the organism may deplete its physiological

resources


Figure 14.4 The General Adaptation Syndrome. According to Hans Selye, the body reacts to a stressor in three phases. In the first, alarm, the body mobilizes to confront the threat, which temporarily expends resources and lowers resistance. In the resistance phase, the body actively confronts the threat, and resistance is high. If the threat continues, the body moves into the exhaustion phase.


Allostasis—Other StabilityThe multiple biological changes that allow you to adapt to stressors so your body functions within a comfortable range

� Allostatic load: it is affected by our past experience with the stressor, our genetic predisposition, and lifestyle factors


Sources of Stress��

� Cognitive appraisal(p.593)� � � � Primary appraisal��

� Secondary appraisal � ��

� Coping

� Perceived control � � � � Learned helplessness� Predictability� � �


Sources of Stress� Internal conflict (p.596)��

� Conflict� Approach-approach conflict � � � �� Avoidance-avoidance conflict � � � �� Approach-avoidance conflict � � � �

� Life’s hassles � � � �

� Daily hassles � � � �� Interruptions � � � � � �


Sources of Stress� Work-related factors

� Environmental factors� Lighting, noise, crowding� Floor plan

� Job-related factors� Demand-control model� Air traffic controllers

� Burnout

� Workplace violence� Economics


Hostility��

A personality trait characterized by mistrust, an expectation of harm and provocation by others, and a cynical attitude

� Associated with heart disease� Gender differences � � � Anger management programs � � � � � � � �


Stress, Disease, and Health

� The Immune System � �

� Cancer �

� Heart disease


The Immune System��

� White blood cells� B cells� T cells

� Natural killer cells

� Glucocorticoids and stress� Psychoneuroimmunology

� Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)� � � � � � �


The Immune System

� Cancer � �� Immune system suppression and NK cells� Stress� Perception of control

� Heart disease� Stress and blood pressure� Atherosclerosis��

� Depression and heart disease� Anxiety and heart disease


Health-Impairing Behaviors

� Behaviors that can damage health� Smoking� Substance abuse� � �

� Poor nutrition� Lack of exercise� Unsafe sex� Driving under the influence



� Why we do it?� Lack of knowledge� Perceived risk� Perceived severity� Illusion of invulnerability



� Changing health-impairing behaviors(p.606)� Precontemplation� Contemplation� Preparation� Action� Maintenance

� Self-test (p.607)



� Processes that encourage change� Consciousness raising � � � / � !� Social liberation" # $ %� Emotional arousal & ' ! � Self-reevaluation( ) * �


Coping Strategies� � � ��

� Problem-focused strategies + , - . $ /� Active coping� Planning� Instrumental social support� Suppression of competing activities� Restraint coping


Coping Strategies� � � ��

� Emotion-focused strategies + , 0 & ' $ /� Emotional social support� Venting emotions� Positive reinterpretation/growth� Behavioral disengagement� Mental disengagement


Coping Strategies

� Thought suppression� For the next 30 seconds, do not think of an

elephant� Rebound effect

� Humor� Immune system effects


Coping Strategies

� Aggression � (p.614)� Environmental factors

� Depression� Pain

� Hostile attribution bias� �

� Aggressive tendencies� Gender differences� Self-esteem �

� Narcissism � � : an overinflated, unjustified positive view of themselves


Personality and Coping� Hardy personality� � � � � �

� Commitment�� Control� �� Challenges

� Optimism� �

� Pessimism� �� True pessimism: negative expectations are anchored in

past experiences of failure� Defensive pessimism� � � � : a more negative

outcome is expected than is warranted by the facts. A proactive coping strategy

� Avoiders/repressors vs. nonavoiders /sensitizers� Genes and coping


Coping and Social Support

� Social support affects…� Survival � �

� Depression � �

� Immune system � � � �

� Perceived social support� The subjective sense that support is available

should it be needed� Enacted social support

� Specific support that is provided to you (a meal, marriage?)


Mind-Body Interventions��

� Common mind-body interventions� Hypnosis� �� Meditation � �� Yoga � �� Biofeedback� � � �� Visual imagery� � � �� Cognitive therapy� � � � Stress management/relaxation induction ! " # � / $ %& '

� Prayer( )� Tai chi* + , -


Effects of Mind-Body Interventions��

� Research results1 2 3 4� Improved mood and immune response� Increased lung functioning� Improved control of pain� Decreased stress and emotional distress� Fewer subsequent heart problems

� Placebo effects as a mind-body intervention


Gender, Culture, and Coping

� Gender differences and stress levels� Younger women reported feeling more hassled,

depressed, anxious and hostile (Scott & Melin,1998) p.622

� Cultural contexts 5 6 7 8� Crowding� � : density� � � �

� Social support: collectivist culture do not seek out social support—because they know that such support is available

Stress, Health, and Coping

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