Health psych

health psychology

interest in helping individuals achieve better health through public policy, education, intervention, and research

determinants of health

factors that influence an individual’s physical and mental well-being, often by affecting behaviors, stress responses, or coping mechanisms

biopsychosocial model

biological, psychological, and social factors to different health concerns

biological factors

gender, disability, physical health, neurochemistry, stress reactivity, genetic vulnerability

psychological factors

behavior, personality, attitudes/beliefs, learning and memory, coping and social skills, self-esteem and emotions

social factors

education, social support, peer relationships, family background, socioeconomic status

diathesis-stress model

uses joint influence of biological and environmental factors to predict the likelihood of a disorder

stress

process by which we appraise and cope with environmental threats and challenges (stressors)

stress process

stressor —> primary appraisal (challenge or threat; if challenge, that’s it;) if threat —> secondary appraisal (effective options or ineffective/no options); if effective, low threat; if ineffective, high threat

eustress

“good” stressor that motivates the individual to make necessary changes; helps promote homeostasis; can be physical, emotional, psychological

distress

uncontrollable or inescapable exposure to stressors; low resources to protect from stressor; can lead to allostasis

allostasis

a physiological shift that can cause disease and disability

distant distress

traumatic experiences that occurred in the past but continue to affect the person emotionally

chronic distress

usually do not have an end in sight

acute distress

stressor that does not have an end in sight and can range in severity

stress response

the pattern of physiological, cognitive, and behavioral reactions to demands that exceed a person’s resources; occur simultaneously and regardless of the stressor

fight-or-flight response

activates the sympathetic nervous system; increases heart rate and blood pressure; increases stress hormones; increases respiration; diverts blood to muscle tissues, decreases digestion, eyes dilate

hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis (HPA)

releases stress hormone; can suppress the immune system

ways stress effects the immune system

reduces release of white blood cells that fight bacterial and viral infections and foreign substances; increases vulnerability to colds, slows down healing