SOCIAL PSYCH AND HEALTH/ anais - CONSTRUAL AND HEALTH - BENEFITS OF PERCIEVED CONTROL AND OPT

Shelley Taylor’s research on breast cancer patients

Perceived control proved to be a source of good health. Taylor found that more than 2/3 of the women reported a sense of control over their situation

• A woman thinks that if they can have control over exercise, diet, and positive beliefs could influence the course of their disease

what determines which women coped best?

those who had any sense of agency and control over the benefits of the body

the more the patient reported perceived control the better she responded to treatment

langer & rodin (1976) nursing home study : what question was it trying to answer? what were the main findings

• explore the effects of increasing the sense of control among residents of a nursing home

• had a sense of control = happier compared to a Does low sense of control 4

  • A higher sense of control is more likely to attend a free movie, 4x more likely to improve their overall functioning

• question trying to answer

  • introducing a sense of control into the lives of ppl with declining health improves their well-being?

cortisol

• increase heart rate, blood pressure, sweating

• suppress the immune system

• increase flash bulb stress-related memory recall

chronic stress

• constantly in fight or flight

• taxing to the body

socioeconomic status and chronic stress

low ses more likely to suffer from chronic stress, associated w health problems

reduce stress

• stable support systems= increase oxytocin , reduce cortisol levels

optimism

• having a positive outlook towards the future, even during hard times

• less likely to develop chronic stress

• more likely to engage in healthy coping behaviors