psych 101 chap 16

What is health psychology?

field with emphasis on psychology’s role in establishing and maintaining health and preventing and treating illness

What is behavioural medicine?

interdisciplinary field that focuses on developing and integrating behavioural and biomedical knowledge to promote health and reduce illness

What do health psychology and behavioural medicine have in common?

both inform two related fields: health promotion and public health

What are the two theoretical models of change?

theory of reasoned action and theory of planned behaviour

What is the theory of reasoned action?

theory which states that effective change requires specific intentions about behaviour, positive attitude, and perception of social support groups

What is the theory of planned behaviour?

basically theory of reasoned action + perceptions of control over the outcome

What is a criticism of the theoretical models of change?

sometimes our health decisions are not rational but automatic

What is the stages of change model?

five progressive stages of change

1. precontemplation (denial)

2. contemplation (mixed feelings)

3. preparation/determination (planning to change)

4. action/willpower (putting change into motion)

5. maintenance (maintaining the change)

What are implementation intentions?

if-then plans for changing maladaptive behaviour

What are the 3 benefits of social support?

tangible assistance (goods and services), information (recommendations), and emotional support

What is Hans Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)?

the experience of physical response to stressors in 3 stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion

What is Hans Selye’s GAS alarm stage?

the body mobilizes its resources

What is Hans Selye’s GAS resistance stage?

the body strives mightily to endure the stressor

What is Hans Selye’s exhaustion stage?

resistance becomes depleted

What is the HPA axis?

the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis; a complex set of interactions between the hypothalamus (part of brain’s limbic system), pituitary gland (the master gland of the endocrine system) and the adrenal glands (endocrine system glands on each kidney)

What does the HPA axis regulate?

digestion, immune system response, emotion, energy expenditure, reaction to stressors

What is psychoneuroimmunology?

field which explores connections among psychological factors, the nervous system, and the immune system

What are the 3 main psychoneuroimmunology hypotheses that cause vulnerability to disease?

1. stressful experiences lower the efficiency of the immune system

2. stress directly promote disease-producing processes

3. stressful experiences may cause the activation of dormant viruses

What are 4 factors associated with effective coping?

positive emotions, optimism, hardiness, and a sense of personal control

What kind of therapy are stress management programs based on?

cognitive behavioural therapy; causes reduced blood pressure

What is benefit of aerobic exercise?

to help protect telomere strength

How much exercise is recommended each day for adults?

at least 30 minds of moderate physical activity on most/all days of week

What are the risks associated with drinks/week (0-7)?

0 drinks: better health and sleep quality

2 drinks or less: likely to avoid negative alcohol-related consequences

3-6 drinks: increased risk for cancer (colon, breast)

7 or more drinks: significant increased risk of heart disease or stroke

What percent of lung cancer is caused by smoking and what percent of cancer-caused deaths are caused by smoking?

85% of lung cancer cases, 30% of deaths caused by cancer