Medical psychology, lecture 3, CONCEPT, DEFINITION AND EFFECT OF STRESS THEORIES

What is stress?

A state of tension and disturbed psychophysical balance caused by psychological, physical, or social endangerment.

How did Lazarus define stress?

A state in which a person cannot meet the excessive demands placed on them by the environment.

What is a stressor?

Any physical, psychological or social stimulus that brings a person to a state of stress.

What are acute and chronic stressors?

Acute: sudden environmental changes; Chronic: long-term unpleasant situations without escape.

What are the types of stress based on intensity?

Small everyday stresses, major life stresses, and traumatic life stresses.

What does Cannon's 'fight or flight' model describe?

A physiological response to external threats involving increased arousal and readiness to escape or fight.

What is eustress?

Positive stress that is beneficial and motivating.

What is distress?

Negative, harmful stress causing psychological discomfort.

Which systems mediate the stress response?

Autonomic nervous system and the endocrine system.

What is the role of the hypothalamus in stress?

Coordinates ANS and works with the pituitary gland to regulate endocrine responses.

What hormones are released by the adrenal medulla in stress?

Adrenaline and noradrenaline.

What are glucocorticoids?

Steroid hormones (like cortisol) involved in stress response, metabolism, and inflammation regulation.

What is the negative feedback mechanism in glucocorticoid regulation?

Low levels stimulate hormone release; high levels inhibit further secretion.

How does stress influence the immune system?

It reduces immune function, increasing vulnerability to illness and infection.

What is psychoneuroimmunology?

The study of how psychological factors affect the immune system via the nervous and endocrine systems.

How can stress affect the cardiovascular system?

It contributes to hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and arrhythmia.

What is Type A behavior?

Workaholic, competitive, time-urgent, perfectionist behavior linked to higher heart disease risk.

What is behavioral cardiology?

Field studying psychosocial factors in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of heart disease.

How does stress affect the respiratory system?

Triggers or worsens asthma via nervous and allergic responses.

What is psychogenic rheumatism?

Stress-related musculoskeletal pain and chronic fatigue.

How can stress contribute to cancer?

By suppressing immune surveillance, allowing malignant cells to grow.

What role does cortisol play in cancer risk?

Reduces active T cells, impairing immune defense against tumors.

What is Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome?

Three-stage stress response: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.

What happens in the alarm stage?

Body prepares for 'fight or flight'; immediate mobilization of energy.

What happens in the resistance stage?

Body tries to adapt and conserve energy; parasympathetic system takes over.

What happens in the exhaustion stage?

Functional systems break down; chronic stress depletes the body.

What is the role of inflammation in stress?

Can be adaptive or harmful; glucocorticoids regulate this process.

What are adaptation diseases caused by long-term stress?

Hypertension, cancer, metabolic disorders, immunodeficiencies.

What is Life Event Theory?

Stress results from events that exceed a person's adaptive capacity.

What does Lazarus's cognitive appraisal model emphasize?

Stress is based on personal evaluation of a threat and coping resources.

What are the two types of appraisal in Lazarus's model?

Primary: evaluation of the event; Secondary: evaluation of coping abilities.

What influences the experience of stress?

Personality structure, beliefs, coping capacity, and social support.

What is coping according to Lazarus and Folkman?

Efforts to manage demands from a stressful situation through cognitive, emotional, or behavioral means.

What are problem-focused coping strategies?

Efforts to change the situation: confrontation, planning, and seeking social support.

What are emotion-focused coping strategies?

Efforts to manage emotions: distancing, self-control, positive appraisal, acceptance.

What is the role of personality in stress?

Beliefs, coping style, and perceived control influence how stress is experienced.

What behaviors increase illness risk under stress?

Smoking, poor diet, alcohol consumption, lack of exercise.

How does stress relate to coronary heart disease?

It influences onset, coping, treatment compliance, and rehabilitation outcomes.

How can Type A behavior be modified?

Through behavioral programs like the Recurrent Coronary Prevention Project.

What is the importance of appraisal in stress?

It determines whether an event is seen as harmful, threatening, or challenging.

What role does humour and positive mood play in health?

They are associated with better immune functioning and stress resilience.