Health, Stress, & Coping

A series of flashcards covering key concepts from Chapter 13 on Health, Stress, and Coping, including definitions and explanations of terms related to health psychology, stress, and coping mechanisms.

Health Psychology

Aims to address health through behavioral principles to promote health and prevent illness.

Behavioral Risk Factors

Actions that increase the chances of disease, injury, or early death.

Disease-prone personality

A personality that leaves individuals feeling depressed, anxious, hostile, and frequently ill.

Health-Promoting Behaviors

Actions recommended to improve health, such as regular exercise and maintaining a balanced diet.

Stress Reaction

The autonomic nervous system arousal that occurs during stress, similar to emotional responses.

Primary Appraisal

Deciding if a situation is relevant, irrelevant, or positive.

Secondary Appraisal

Assessing resources and choosing a way to meet a threat or challenge.

Defense Mechanism

Mental processes used to avoid, deny, or distort sources of threat or anxiety.

Denial

Refusing to accept or believe an unpleasant reality.

Rationalization

Making excuses to explain behavior; justifying actions with irrational but false reasons.

Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS)

A scale to estimate health hazards based on life stress events.

Life Change Units (LCU)

A measure used to rate life events and their impact on health.