Stress & Health study guide

Flashcards covering key concepts from the study guide on stress and health, focusing on definitions and relationships among terms.

Stressors

environmental events that seem threatening or demanding; stimuli that initiate the stress process

Stress

Stress is a process whereby an individual perceives and responds to overwhelming or threatening events

Types of Stressors

Internal stressors (e.g., negative self-talk, perfectionism) vs. external stressors (e.g., workload, relationship conflict).

Three components of the stress response

Physiological (e.g., increased heart rate), Psychological (e.g., anxiety), Behavioral (e.g., procrastination).

• Gives a response

Cognitive Appraisal

The evaluation process determining the nature and extent of the stress response; includes primary appraisal and secondary appraisal.

Physiology of Stress: HPA Axis

The interaction between the sympathetic nervous system, hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands leading to the release of cortisol.

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) stages

Hans Selye’s three-stage model of the body’s physiological reactions to stress and the process of stress adaptation: alarm reaction, stage of resistance, and stage of exhaustion

Stress and Immunity

Stress suppresses immunity, reduces lymphocytes, weakens vaccine response, and increases inflammation.

Chronic stress effects on the Cardiovascular System

Linked to hypertension, heart disease, and increased risk of cardiac events due to negative emotions.

Bidirectional relationship between Depression and Heart Disease

Each increases the risk of the other and can be both a stressor and a response to chronic stress.

Problem-focused coping

A strategy that targets the stressor directly.

Emotion-focused coping

A strategy that targets emotional reactions to stress.

Evidence-Based Stress Management Techniques

Includes exercise, meditation, social support, cognitive reframing, and relaxation.

Happiness & Well-Being predictors

Strong predictors include social relationships and age, while attractiveness and parenthood are not strongly correlated.

Coping Strategy: Perceived Control

Belief in one's ability to influence outcomes, which can improve health.