Health Psychology and Disparities Lecture Notes

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers key concepts in health psychology including health disparities, socioeconomic status gradients, types of stress, physiological stress models, and the impact of positive emotions on health.

Health Disparities

Different groups of people have different health outcomes, like how often they get sick or die.

Socioeconomic Status (SES)

A person's social and economic position based on how much money they make, their wealth, and their education.

SES Health Gradient

People with lower SES generally have worse health, even if they can get healthcare.

Immigrant Paradox

New immigrants in the U.S. often have better health and education than their children.

Stress

A feeling of anxiety or worry when something stressful happens.

Eustress

Good stress that comes from positive events.

Distress

Bad stress that comes from negative events.

Coping response

Actions taken to avoid or reduce stress.

Major Life Stressors

Big changes in life that cause a lot of stress, like having a baby.

Chronic Stress

Ongoing stress related to long-term problems like being sick or poor.

Daily Hassles

Everyday annoyances, like being stuck in traffic or waiting a long time.

Fight-or-Flight Response

The body's natural reaction to danger, preparing to either fight or escape.

Tend-and-Befriend Response

A way that some people, especially women, take care of others and form bonds when stressed.

General Adaptation Syndrome

The three stages of stress response: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.

Alarm Stage

The first reaction to stress when the body prepares to fight or run.

Resistance Stage

When the body tries to handle a stressor for a longer time.

Exhaustion Stage

The final stage when the body starts to break down due to too much stress.

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis

A system in the body that controls stress responses by releasing a hormone called cortisol.

Cortisol

A hormone released during stress that helps with memory and feelings.

Allostatic Load

The damage done to the body from being stressed too often.

Buffering Hypothesis

The idea that having social support helps people deal with stress.

Positive Psychology

A study of what makes people feel happy and succeed.

Facial Feedback Hypothesis

The idea that our facial expressions can change how we feel.

Undoing Hypothesis

The idea that good feelings can help us recover from stress.