UNIT 9

health psychology

is understanding the psychology behind health and healthy behavior + illness and unhealthy behavior

cold virus and stressor study

measuring stressors/stress

coping - emotion focused coping

regulates the emotion that comes with stressor

coping - problem focused coping

addressing event causing stress (stressor)

coping - active (cognitive and behavioral) vs avoidant

factors affecting stress & health - control belief

belief you must have control over situation

factors affecting stress & health - self-efficacy

belief that you can complete tasks and achieve goals

factors affecting stress & health - social integration

number of social roles you have

factors affecting stress & health - social support

tangible, advice, emotional/affection, positive interaction

factors affecting stress & health - Type A

competitive, hostile, time urgent (higher stress riskt)

factors affecting stress & health - Type B

relaxed, patient (lower stress risk)

happiness

life satisfaction, low negative feeling, and/or high positive feelings

happiness - internal causes

personality, temperament, outlook, resilience

happiness - external causes

sufficient material and social resources, desirable society

happiness - 3 interventions

1) gratitude letter 2) three good things in life 3) count your blessings

3 interventions - gratitude letter

write a letter to someone expressing your gratitude for your relationship

3 interventions - three good things in life

write 3 things that went well each day every day for a week

3 interventions - count your blessings

recall events from which you are grateful and write them down each day for a week

happiness - 3 ways to be happier

1) seek to make other happy and help others, not just receive support from others

2) express gratefulness and compliments

3) find work that you will love and be good at

oppression-based stress

chronic stress and potential traumatization experienced by members of group that are affected by social oppression

oppression-based stress - weathering

early aging and health deteriorations as a consequence of cumulative impact of repeated experience with social or economic adversity and political marginalization

oppression-based stress - allostatic load

cumulative wearing and tearing on the human body’s system due to need to constantly adapt to stressors

oppression-based stress - symptoms

• hypervigilance - keyed up and scanning environment for danger

• intrusion symptoms like nightmares or flashbacks

• changes in mood and self-esteem

• avoidance of places of people that remind them of previous negative racialized experiences