Psych stress

Main causes of stress

money, job pressure, health, relationships

PSS (perceived stress scale)

online questionnaire used to measure stress (short and inaccurate, subjective)

Acute Stress

short-term

Chronic Stress

consistent, long-term and can cause harm

Stressor

any stimulus causing stress

Stress Response

the physical and emotional reactions to a stressor

cognitive appraisals

how we interpret a situation

Stress

state of worry or mental tension caused by an external trigger

How can we measure stress?

heart rate, blood pressure, cortisol

What is the TSST test (trier social stress test) - strength and limitation

- induces stress in humans then measures that stress

S: lab based
L: not consistent, people given different tasks

primary appraisals

first step in deciding if something's a threat

secondary appraisals

we decide if we can handle the stress; we think about our resources/options we have to manage the situation, if we can manage it we're less stressed

cognitive reappraisals

when we rethink a stressful situation to see it in a less negative way; this helps us manage our emotions and feel less stress

Why is it difficult to study the effects of appraisals on stress

appraisals are subjective; vary between individuals; makes it hard to establish consistent measurements

How and why do cognitive appraisals and reappraisals influence stress

we encounter a stressor -> we assess/appraise -> our initial appraisal shapes our emotional and biological response (threat causes anxiety) --> when reassessing, we may choose to view the situation in a different perspective, lowering our stress

Social Status

a person's position within a society

socioeconomic status

A person's position in society as determined by income, wealth, occupation, education, place of residence, and other factors

subjective social status

how a person perceives their social status

occupational stress

stress related to job duties in the workplace

occupational status

social status measured by a particular valued/unvalued job or profession

Adverse Childhood Experiences

traumatic events or stressors occurring in one's childhood

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

psychological theory organizing human needs into five tiers 1. physiological needs 2. safety needs 3. love and belonging 4. esteem needs 5. self

what are the limitations of the socio-cultural explanations of stress

they may not consider personal differences, biology, or other factors that also affect stress

how do ACE's demonstrate the need for biopsychosocial approach to studying stress

ACE's show that stress is caused by biology, psychology, and social factors working together, so all need to be studied

What are the biological causes of stress/what is the COMT gene?

COMT gene - produces enzyme used to break down stress hormones and neurotransmitters , has 2 variants (val-higher, met-lower), affects our response to stress

breaks down catecholamines (dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine)

high BP, high cortisol, high heart rate

what is the warrior/worrier hypothesis

a theory that suggests how a person's COMT gene variant may affect their response to stress, AA variant: lower pain tolerance, worrier, GG variant: higher pain tolerance, warrior

frameworks used to explain how genetic differences, particularly in the COMT gene, influence behavior, stress response, and cognitive performance. They are often discussed as two sides of the same coin, representing adaptations to different challenges

Amygdala

a part of the brain involved in processing emotions such as fear and stress; it plays a key role in the body's response to threatening stimuli. The amygdala activates the stress response and helps trigger functions like fight or flight, influencing emotional reactions.

What is the biopsychosocial model + advantage

model explaining the result of the interaction between biological, psychological, and social, holistic approach

What is the WHO's health promoting school framework?

wants to improve the health of students, school personnel, families and other members of the community through schools. 6 things: School policy, Physical environment, Social environment, Curriculum, Health care services, Community links

Limitations with school-based health promotion programs

limited resources and inconsistent implementation

Prevalence

The number or proportion of cases of a particular disease or condition present in a population at a given time.

prevalence rate

proportion that represents the number of existing cases of a disease in relation to the total pop.

Which gender is stress more prevalent? why?

women, multiple roles (job, mom, clean, cook), more emotional (affected by testosterone)

Neuro Emotional Technique (NET)

lowers stress through holistic approach, using acupuncture, aims to reduce stress in individuals

transactional model of stress and coping

emphasizes the interaction between a person and their environment in determining their stress response and coping mechanisms

What is the difference between stress and anxiety

stress - external trigger
anxiety - persistent feeling of worry

What is the HPA axis? What does it do?

it's a communication system between the hypothalamus, pituitary glands, and the adrenal glands

responsible for body's stress response and other functions

cardiovascular disease

a class of diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels, often linked to stress and lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise. Chronic stress is a risk factor for CVD due to its effects on blood pressure, inflammation, and overall cardiovascular health.