PSYC 365: Week 2 - Stress and Coping

Stress

The non-specific mental or somatic results of any demand upon the body

Coping

The strategies that an individual employs to deal with stresses cause by the ever-changing demands of the environment

Stress Literacy

The degree to which an individual (Or Community) understands the effects of stress

Issues of Defining Stress

1. Multidimensional Phenomenon
2. Stress as a social construct
3. Can be studies in various approaches (Stimulus-based, Response-Based, Interactional)

Stimulus-Based Stress Research

Assesses the impact of life events and their relationship with physical illness when stress is excessive

Response Based

Connections between the physiological response to stress and physical illness

Interaction Perspective

Stress results from an imbalance between the perception of the demands of a situation and the ability to cope with those demands

Homeostasis

The dynamic physiological response to maintain a stable internal state in spite of the demands of the environment

Fight-Or-Flight Response

Autonomic reaction when faced with a perceived threat

Physiological Stress Response

Occurs when someone perceives a threat and involves two major components:
1. Nervous System
2. Endocrine System

Sympathetic Adrenomedullary System (SAM)

Initiates the body's rapid fight-or-flight response to stress through the release of epinephrine and norepinephrine from the adrenal medulla as mediated by the sympathetic nervous system
1. Hypothalamus
2. Sympathetic Nervous System
3. Adrenal Medulla
4. Catecholamines: Epinephrine & Norepinephrine

HPA-Axis

A delayed response to stress that attempts to minimize the initial impact of stress and restore the body to a balanced state
1. Hypothalamus
2. Pituitary Gland
3. Adrenal Cortex
4. Glucocorticoids & Mineralocorticoids

Limbic System & Stress

Adds emotions such as aggression, fear, anxiety, sexual arousal and pain

Reticular Formation & Stress

Communication network, filters input from the sensory system

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

Body repsonds to stressors in stages:
1. Alarm: Fight-or-Flight
2. Resistance: Mobilization of resources
3. Exhaustion: Break down or resistance

Diseases of Adaptation

Health problems that are the result of long-term neurological and hormonal changes caused by ongoing stress

Criticisms of GAS

1. Narrow biological focus (Animal studies)
2. Neglects psychosocial influences

Stress-Diathesis Model

Predisposing factors interact with stressors to trigger a stress response (Interaction between environment and heredity)

Cognitive Transactional Models

Focus expands from physiology to the individual-environment relationships and individuals subjective appraisal of this relationship
1. Cognitive Appraisal determine if an event will be perceived as stressful

Primary Appraisal

Initial Evaluation of a situation can be Irrelevant, Benight-Positive or Stressfull:
1. Harm/Loss Appraisal: Significant physical or psychological loss
2. Threat Appraisal
3. Challenge

Secondary Appraisal

An individuals evaluation of their ability to cope with a situation following the primary appraisal

Repraissals

A continuous experience in which existing appraisals of situation are changed or modified on the basis of new information

Factors in Appraisal

1. Vulnerability: When things of value are threatened
2. Person Variables: Commitments, Beliefs
3. Situation Variables: Novelty, predictability, event uncertainty

Type A Behaviour Patterns

Characterized by impatience, urgency, aggressiveness, hostility and competitiveness
1. Higher risk for coronary disease, in combination with a family history, lifestyle risks and anger

Social Dominance

A set of controlling behaviours, including the tendency to cut off and talk over the interviewer
1. Coronary disease risk factor, independent of hostility

Coping

A process aimed at reducing stress, involved managing appraised discrepancies between demands & resources

Stress Response Vs. Coping Response

Stress: Spontaneous
Coping: Intentional with coping goals (objectives ) and coping outcomes (results)

Problem-Focused Coping

Aim to solve the problem

Emotion Focused Coping

Aim to control emotions

Social Support & Personal Control in Coping

Can increase one's ability to successfully cope with stress

Positive Psychology Contributions

1. Resilience: Good outcomes in spite of serious threats to adaptation
2. Self-Compassion

Relaxation Techniques

Induce hypometabolic response and inhibit hypermetabolic response