PSY202 Stress and Health

week 7

What is Stress?

Tension, discomfort and produce physical symptoms.

What is a Stressor?

Threatening or demanding situations that cause tension and discomfort.

What are __Catastrophes?__

* Very-large-scale disasters or horrible events; impact an entire community 
* Despite the stress, catastrophes increase social awareness and cement people’s interpersonal bonds

What are the Approaches to Stress?

* Stressors as Stimuli
* Stress as a Transaction
* Stress as a Response

Stressors as Stimuli.

* Focuses on identifying types of stressful events, situations that cause more stress, and people who are more vulnerable to stress
* Catastrophes

Stress as a Transaction.

* How people cope with stressors
* Cognitive Appraisal Theory
* Primary and Secondary Appraisals

What is the __Cognitive Appraisal Theory?__

Looks at the critical factor for determining why we react to stressful events.

What is a __Primary Appraisal__?

If the stressor can be handled, then a person will not be stressed.

What is a __Secondary Appraisal__?

* If the stressor is a *threat*, then the person __will__ be stressed 
* If the stressor is a *challenge*, then the person __will not__ be stressed

Stress as a Response.

* Psychological and physiological reactions to stress
* Physiological Measures and Psychological assessments which is how we react and cope with stress
* Lab-Included or Real-World stressors

How is Stress Measured?

* Significant Life Events (SRRS)
* Daily Hassles (Hassles Scale)

What is the __Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS)?__

* A list of 43 events ranked to “life-changing units (LCU)”; things that readjust the lives of people
* The **lower** the number on the list, the less stressful; the **higher** the number, the more readjustment was needed for an event

What does the scoring on the SRRS state?

*

What is the __Hassles Scale__?

* Minor annoyances or nuisances that strain our ability to cope
* The scale is the cumulative load of hassles may be more responsible for stress than major events; the number and severity is significant
* People who face more hassles, face lots more major life events
* Living in Big Cities (personal space)

What does Living in Big Cities contribute to stress?

* Exposure to *potential stressors*
* Overcrowding VS Personal Space
* Invades personal space, and causes stress and discomfort; anxiety
* Tension state that affects mental health; a sense of insecurity

How do we Adapt to Stress?

* General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)
* Three stages of psychological reactions to stress

What is __General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)__?

* The reactions are general (all humans respond in a similar pattern) and nonspecific (we all react specifically, even animals)
* Three stages: 1. Alarm, 2. Resistance, and 3. Exhaustion

What happens in the __Alarm__ Stage?

* Stress hormones are released; physical symptoms of anxiety; “fight or flight” response
* State of __Shock__
* Loss in muscle control and blood pressure and body temperature drops; lasts a short period of time and then __Counter Shock__ hits which will bring you back to Normal resistance state

What happens in the __Resistance__ Stage?

* Adapt and find ways to cope with the stressor; resources are limited 
* Constantly high

What happens in the __Exhaustion__ Stage?

If the threat persists, eventually the body will give out.

How can we __Cope__ with Stress?

* Relaxation
* Reappraisal
* Social Support

What does __Relaxation__ have to do with Coping?

* Involves low arousal
* Incompatible with stress
* Biofeedback

What is __Biofeedback__?

* When people are given feedback on their body’s state through a machine
* May result in __Perceived Control__ and may reduce stress-related tension and pain

What does __Social Support__ have to do with Coping?

* Support from others, often in the form of comfort, caring, or help can lead to a healthy immune system and less stress
* Beneficial in reducing stress since more social support is associated with lower mortality rates
* Pet support can lead to less doctor trips and lower heart attack deaths

What does __Reappraisal__ have to do with Coping?

* Cognitive Appraisal
* A large part of the stress reaction is psychological 
* Using therapy and take a positive outlook on situations

What are Individual Differences to do with Stress?

* Perceived Control
* Personality Differences

What is __Perceived Control__?

* How much control one can see/believe they have over situations
* Having high perceived control reduces stress and has health benefits

What are __Personality Differences__?

* Optimism and Pessimism
* Optimism is associated with faster recovery after surgery, better immune system functioning, and a lower mortality rate

What are some __Physical Consequences__ of Stress?

* Stress may weaken the immune system
* “fight or flight“ → increased blood pressure
* Stress is linked to higher blood cholesterol
* Personality Types play a role in the consequences

What role do Personality Types play in the Physical Consequences of Stress?

* Type A: Impatient, Ambitious, Easily Annoyed; Low on “Agreeableness“
* A person can easily get angry, and when stressed they may show it; this component is linked with a high risk of cardiovascular diseases
* Type B: Patient, Laid Back, Flexible, Clam, Easy Going

What are some __Psychological Consequences__ of Stress?

If stress is intense enough, or lasts long enough, psychological problems can result. These include Depression, Anxiety, or PTSD.

What is __Problem Drinking__ and how does it affect Health?

* Binge drinking
* There are __Physical effects__ (increases in cancer, liver problems, pregnancy complications, brain shrinkage)
* There are __Cognitive effects__ (is a depressant, but inhibits or reduces anxiety; **Alcohol Myopia**)

What is __Alcohol Myopia?__

* The idea that intoxication may cause narrowed *perceptual* and *cognitive* functioning that can lead to aggressive behaviour; this increases with dosage
* (Narrowed Attention) They may ignore information that is significant or substantial
* (Narrowed Cognitive) May act against social norms without thinking; influenced by immediate cues without considering the long term consequences

What are some __behaviours that Promote Good Health__?

* __Aerobic Exercise__ (improves cardiovascular fitness, releases mood-altering neurotransmitters, and may increase perceived control)
* Thinking about Stress __Positively__

What does it mean to “Make Stress your Friend?“

* High-stress levels are linked with an increased risk of dying, but only for people who think of stress in a negative way
* __Oxytocin__ makes you “tend and befriend” 
* Makes us seek support from other individuals 
* Social connections are key to health benefits