Psych 9C, Chapter 10: Stress and Health

Health Psychology

field that investigates links among behavior, cognition, and physical health

Biopsychosocial model

understanding what makes us health requires a recognition that biology, psychology and social context are closely interconnected in health outcomes

Components of biopsychocosial model

biology, psychology, and social context

stress

physiological response to some type of environmental event

three categories of stressors

catastrophic events, major life events, and daily hassles

major life event examples

divorce, marriage, move, etc.

daily hassles example

paper cuts, minor problems, over the course of a day

primary appraisal

our perception of the demands in a given situation

Secondary Appraisal

the evaluation of resources to cope with the stressful situation perceived in primary appraisal

Hans Selye

discovered link between stress and health

general adaptation syndrome

when posed with stress, the body sends out an all hands on deck response which has 3 stages

3 phases of general adaptation syndrome

alarm reaction → resistance stage → exhaustion stage

alarm stage

emergency reaction, initial shock, release of cortisol and epinepherine

resistence stage

defenses are maximized, cannot last overtime

exhaustion stage

systems begin to fail

sympathetic-adreno-medullary axis (SAM)

immediate or acute response to stress, impulsive superhero

hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis

more methodical sidekick, acts as hormone alarm call

Corticotrophic-releasing hormone (CRH)

alarm call utilized by HPA

challenge reactivity

sympathetic arousal which leads the heart to beat faster, blood vessels dilate

threat reactivity

blood vessels constrict rather than dilating

allostatic load

the sustained elevation of neuroendocrine response to stress which creates wear and tear on body

cytokines

molecules that cause fever and inflammation

alcohol myopia

focus of attention narrows and impulses are impaires

Type A personality

highly competitive, driven, etc.

Type B personality

more reflective, creative, etc.

Who is more likely to have a heart attack type A or B?

Type A

gene x environment interactions

stressful events affect some people more severely than others as a function of how genes and the environment interact

diathesis-stress model

genes we are both with can give us an inherent susceptibility for a given health outcome

differential sensitivities hypothesis

some poeple might simply have a genetic predisposition to being more strongly affected by their environment

perceived control

precieving that you have control even if you do not, can reduce stress

problem focused coping

emotion focused coping

broaden and build function

opening your mind for exploration

social support

support from others around them

flow

when people have such strong attention on a task that self-awareness disappears

implementation intentions

conscious and specific if-then thoughts designed to cognitively connect a desired action to triggering events or stimulus