Health, Stress, & Coping

These flashcards cover key terms and definitions from the lecture on Health, Stress, and Coping.

Stress

A psychological and physiological (and behavioral) reaction that occurs when demands exceed existing resources to meet those demands.

Acute Stressor

A stressor that is short-term in nature.

Chronic Stressor

A stressor that is long-term or persistent in nature.

Cognitive Appraisal Theory

A theory by Lazarus and Folkman, which describes how individuals evaluate the demands of a situation (primary appraisal) and the resources they have to cope with it (secondary appraisal).

Fight-or-Flight Response

The body's immediate physiological reaction to a perceived threat, activating the sympathetic nervous system.

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

A three-phase model by Selye that describes the body's response to stress over time: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.

Problem-Focused Coping

A coping strategy that involves directly confronting and dealing with a stressor.

Emotion-Focused Coping

A coping strategy that emphasizes managing the emotional response to a stressor.

Social Support

Assistance and support from friends or family that can help individuals cope with stress.

Oxytocin

A hormone linked to social bonding and stress responses, often released in social situations.

Post-Traumatic Growth

The capacity to grow and experience positive effects in response to negative events.

Resilience

The ability to effectively recover from illness or adversity.

Vulnerability Factors

Factors that increase the likelihood of poor stress responses, such as emotional-focused coping and unhealthy habits.