health psych

Coping

Cognitive and behavioral efforts to manage stressors that exceed available resources

Coping Process

Stressful event → appraisal → coping response → coping task → coping outcome

Negative Affectivity

Tendency toward anxiety depression and hostility associated with poorer health outcomes

Positive Affectivity

Tendency toward positive emotions associated with better coping and health

Optimism

Expectation of positive outcomes that promotes active coping

Psychological Control

Belief that one can exert control over stressful events

Self-Esteem

Positive evaluation of oneself associated with lower stress

Conscientiousness

Trait associated with healthy behaviors and treatment compliance

Resilience

Ability to adapt recover and thrive despite adversity

Resources Promoting Resilience

Purpose in life humor trust religious beliefs and meaning

Religious Beliefs and Health

May improve health through social support healthy behaviors and reduced anxiety

Coping Style

Characteristic way a person responds to stress

Avoidant Coping

Avoiding denying or escaping a stressor

Approach Coping

Confronting and dealing directly with a stressor

Problem-Focused Coping

Taking action to change or eliminate a stressful situation

Emotion-Focused Coping

Managing emotional reactions to a stressful situation

External Resources for Coping

Time money education employment friends family and social support

John Henryism

High-effort coping with chronic social and economic adversity

Mindfulness Meditation

Nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment

Expressive Writing

Writing about stressful experiences to improve health and well-being

Self-Affirmation

Reflecting on personal values to reduce stress and defensiveness

Progressive Muscle Relaxation

Alternating muscle tension and relaxation to reduce stress

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Accepting thoughts and emotions while committing to valued actions

Coping Effectiveness Training

Program that teaches adaptive coping and stress management skills

Social Support

Information from others that one is loved valued cared for and part of a network

Emotional Support

Reassurance that one is loved cared for and valued

Informational Support

Providing advice guidance or information

Material Support

Providing money goods or tangible resources

Instrumental Support

Providing practical assistance and services

Protective Factor

Characteristic that reduces the impact of stress and adversity

Direct Effects Hypothesis

Social support benefits health regardless of stress level

Buffering Hypothesis

Social support protects health primarily during stressful periods

Matching Hypothesis

Support is most effective when it matches the needs created by the stressor

Cortisol

Stress hormone that is reduced by social support

Oxytocin

Hormone involved in bonding trust and social connection

Neural Reward Pathways

Brain systems activated by supportive relationships that reduce stress

Loneliness

Subjective feeling of social isolation

Community-Based Support

Support obtained from community groups and organizations

Family-Based Support

Support provided through close family relationships

Hypochondria (Illness Anxiety Disorder)

Excessive fear of having a serious illness despite little evidence

Cyberchondria

Increased health anxiety caused by excessive online symptom searching

Medical Student Disease

Believing you have diseases after learning about them

Attentional Differences

Greater attention to the body increases symptom perception

Stress and Symptom Perception

Stress-related bodily changes may be mistaken for illness symptoms

Functional Dyspepsia

Chronic indigestion without an identifiable physical cause

Patient-Provider Communication

Exchange of information between patients and healthcare providers

Medical Jargon

Complex medical terminology that may impair communication

Health Literacy

Ability to obtain understand and use health information