12ATAR Psychology Applications of Psychology to Health

Eustress

positive stress that results from challenging but attainable and enjoyable or worthwhile tasks, it can have an energising or motivating effect

Distress

negative stress that results from being overwhelmed by demands, losses, or perceived threats, it commonly has an overwhelming and fatiguing effect

Selye 1936

Stress According to _______:

defined good stress (eustress) and negative stress (distress)

types of stressors

• environmental

• psychological

• social

• cultural

characteristics of stressors

• nature

• duration

• strength

environmental

type of stressor where environmental conditions can affect an individual’s wellbeing. e.g. pollution, natural disasters, climate

psychological

type of stressor where internal and often related to an individual’s thoughts, emotions and mental health. e.g. work pressure, academic challenges, personal expectations

social

type of stressor that arises from interactions with others. e.g. peer pressure, social isolation, interpersonal conflict

cultural

type of stressor from societal norms, values and cultural expectations. e.g. discrimination, prejudice, cultural assimilation

stress

a person’s response to situations where the demands of the task/activity exceed resources available

stress according to Selye 1936

the non-specific response of the body to any demand for change

duration

acute - short term and high intensity stressors

chronic - long term and persistent stressors

episodic acute - frequent occurrence of acute stressor

nature

environmental, psychological, social or cultural

strength

mid stressors - low intensity stressors that cause minor disruptions

moderate stressors - moderate intensity that can disrupt normal functioning

severe stressors - high intensity stressors that can cause substantial disruptions

GAS (General Adaptation Syndrome) model of stress

made by Selye 1983, it views stress as a physiological response pattern:

1. Alarm

2. Resistance

3. Exhaustion

alarm reaction stage

sympathetic nervous system is activated which prepares the body for increased activity during heightened physical and emotional arousal

resistance stage

parasympathetic nervous system reverses the effects of the sympathetic NS to allow the body to restore its resources and repair itself

exhaustion stage

prolonged or chronic stress that leads to a drain on physical, emotional and mental resources to the point where the body is no longer able to cope with the stress

strengths of GAS

• supported by empirical evidence

• first model to highlight that stress has major impact on immune system

limitations of GAS

• tested on animals so cannot be generalised to humans

• doesn’t take into account unique biological factors of individual that could influence stress response

contrast between eustress and distress

eustress is a positive psychological response to a stressor that improves performance and motivation whereas distress is a negative psychological response to a stressor that inhibits performance and motivation.

SRRS

Social Readjustment Rating Scale made by Holmes and Rahe which assesses the impact of life events on an individual’s stress levels.

Stress as a stimulus

Lazarus and Folkman 1984

Transactional Model of Stress: Theorists and Date

methods of coping with stress

problem based coping is the practical steps taken to manage a problem whereas emotion based is managing emotions when stress appears

Transactional Model of Stress framework

1. Primary Appraisal: assess how threat affects wellbeing.

2. Secondary Appraisal: evaluate whether resources are available to cope with situation.

3. Use Coping Strategies: to manage the stressful situation.

strengths of transactional model

• acknowledges that stress is a subjective experience.

• recognises that a person’s psyche, emotions and personality are taken into account when dealing with stress

limitations of transactional model

• doesn’t focus on biological factors

• difficult to test through experimental research

adaptive strategies

coping strategies that are healthy and constructive ways of dealing with stress.

maladaptive strategies

coping strategies that are unhealthy and destructive ways of dealing with stress.

physiological response to stress

heart rate: increases

breathing rate: increases

strengths of SRRS

• provides a standardised method of assessing life events and their ‘stressfulness’

• scale has validity in predicting stress-related health problems

limitations of SRRS

• the scale only focuses on major life events

• scale was developed in Western cultural context, so cannot be generalised to all cultures.

cognitive appraisal

the process of evaluating a situation to determine its significance or your wellbeing

primary appraisal

judge whether an event is irrelevant, benign or stressful.

secondary appraisal

evaluate coping resources that are available to handle situation