Health Psych Exam 3

What is the core premise of the Diathesis-Stress Model?

Psychological disorders develop from a combination of long-term vulnerability (diathesis) and immediate triggers (stress).

What are three common predisposing factors (diathesis) in the Diathesis-Stress Model?

Genetics, personality, and early life experiences.

What are three common precipitating factors (stress) in the Diathesis-Stress Model?

Trauma, life events, and acute stress.

According to the Diathesis-Stress Model, when does a disorder actually manifest?

When the combination of vulnerability and stress crosses a specific threshold.

How does chronic stress contribute to weight gain?

Stress increases cortisol, which boosts appetite, triggers cravings for high-fat/sugar foods, and promotes abdominal fat storage.

Why does the body promote fat storage during chronic stress?

The body perceives stress as a survival threat and attempts to store energy for future use.

What are the three stages of General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)?

1. Alarm stage, 2. Resistance stage, 3. Exhaustion stage.

What occurs during the Alarm stage of GAS?

The fight-or-flight response is activated and adrenaline levels increase.

What characterizes the Resistance stage of GAS?

The body attempts to adapt to the stressor while cortisol levels remain elevated.

What happens during the Exhaustion stage of GAS?

The body's resources are depleted, leading to an increased risk of illness.

What does the SAM system stand for and what is its primary function?

Sympathetic-Adreno-Medullary system; it handles the immediate, short-term stress response.

What hormones are released by the SAM system?

Adrenaline and norepinephrine.

What does the HPA axis stand for and what is its primary function?

Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis; it handles the longer-lasting stress response.

What hormone is primarily released by the HPA axis?

Cortisol.

What is the key difference between the SAM system and the HPA axis?

The SAM system provides a fast, short-term response, while the HPA axis provides a slow, long-term response.

What is the 'freeze response' in the context of stress?

A state where the body becomes immobile or unable to act in response to a perceived threat.

Which individuals are more likely to experience the freeze response?

People with high trauma exposure, chronic stress, or anxiety/PTSD.

What is 'allostatic load'?

The cumulative 'wear and tear' on the body resulting from chronic stress.

What are the long-term health effects of high allostatic load?

A weakened immune system, increased disease risk, and various mental and physical health problems.

Approach Coping

Directly tackles the problem head on

Avoidant Coping

Avoids dealing with the problem

Problem-Focused Coping

Focus on fixing the problem itself

Emotion-Focused Coping

Focus on managing emotions

Relationship-Focused Coping

Focus on maintaining relationships

Instrumental Support

Tangible help

Informational Support

Advice or guidance

Emotional Support

Comfort and care

Mindfulness

Being present in the moment and aware of thoughts/emotions without judgment

Relaxation Response

Body's calm, opposite response to stress

How to activate the Relaxation Response

Meditation, Deep breathing, Visualization

BIG IDEA of the Relaxation Response

Reduces stress by calming the body and lowering physiological arousal

Social Determinants of Health

Conditions in which people are born, live, work, and age that impact health

Economic Stability

Income, employment, financial security

Education Access & Quality

Schooling, literacy, education level

Healthcare Access & Quality

Insurance, access to providers, quality care

Neighborhood & Built Environment

Housing, safety, environment, transportation

Social & Community Context

Relationships, support systems, discrimination

Justice as Fairness (Rawls)

Society should be structured to ensure fairness

Rawls' Key Ideas

Equal basic rights (freedom, participation), Equal opportunity for all, Inequalities are only okay if they benefit the least advantaged

Daniels (applies Rawls to health)

Health is necessary for equal opportunity

Daniels' Key Takeaways

Society must provide: Access to healthcare, Resources like education & childcare; Focus should NOT just be profit → should reduce health inequalities

Whitehall I (1978)

British civil servants (all employed, not poor); Lower job status = higher death rates

Whitehall II

Same results (even with women included)

Whitehall Main Finding

Health follows a social gradient; Lower status = worse health; NOT just income → position in hierarchy matters most

CARDIA (U.S. study)

Looked at race + socioeconomic status

CARDIA Main Findings

Lower social status = Worse self-rated health, Higher depression, Higher hypertension (most groups)

CARDIA Trend

Effects weaker in some groups, but trend still exists

Health-Promoting Pathways

Factors that improve health

Health-Adverse Pathways

Factors that harm health

BIG IDEA: How is health shaped?

Health is shaped by multiple levels (individual + social + structural)

BIG IDEA: How do pathways influence health?

These pathways influence physical + mental health over time (life course)

Implicit Bias

Automatic, unconscious attitudes or beliefs about others

What does Implicit Bias come from?

Comes from socialization

What does Implicit Bias affect?

Healthcare decisions, Communication, Patient outcomes

Minority Stress

Stress experienced by marginalized groups due to their identity

Key Takeaways: What are the three characteristics of stress in Minority Stress Theory?

Unique (specific to minority status), Chronic (ongoing, not one-time), Socially based (comes from society, not the individual)

Distal (external) stress

discrimination, violence

Proximal (internal) stress

fear of rejection, concealment, internalized stigma

What does Minority Stress Theory explain?

Why marginalized groups have worse mental & physical health outcomes and that their stress does not come because of their color it is due to the way society has treated them.

Stigma

Negative attitudes, beliefs, and discrimination toward a group

Public Stigma

Negative attitudes/actions from others

What does Public Stigma include?

Enacted (actual discrimination), Perceived (believed discrimination happened), Anticipated (expected discrimination)

Internalized Stigma (Self-Stigma)

Person applies negative beliefs to themselves

Structural Stigma

Institutional/system-level discrimination

What constitutes Structural Stigma?

Laws, policies, societal systems that disadvantage groups

Health promoting and Health adverse pathways

Premium

Monthly payment for insurance

Deductible

Amount you pay before insurance starts covering

Copay

Fixed cost per visit/service (e.g., $20 doctor visit)

Coinsurance

Percentage you pay after deductible (e.g., 20% of bill)

Medicare

For people 65+ (EXAM HINT); Also for some disabilities; NOT income-based; Same rules nationwide

Medicaid

For low-income individuals; Not age-based (varies by state); Eligibility varies by state

Affordable Care Act (ACA) Main Impacts

Makes insurance more affordable & accessible; Expands Medicaid (low-income coverage); Creates Marketplace for buying insurance

ACA Required Coverage

Pre-existing conditions; Preventive care (screenings, vaccines); Mental health services

Age limit for staying on parents' insurance

Until age 26

Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA)

Hospitals must treat & stabilize ANY patient in emergency, regardless of ability to pay or insurance

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Rights

You have a right to your medical records; You can share your records with others if you choose; Your health information cannot be shared without your consent

Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act (PSQIA)

Protects healthcare workers who report unsafe conditions

Physical Noise

External distractions (e.g., loud environment)

Physiological Noise

Body-related issues (e.g., hearing problems, fatigue)

Psychological Noise

Mental/emotional interference (e.g., stress, bias)

Sociocultural Noise

Differences in culture, language, beliefs affecting understanding

Source

Where the message originates

Transmitter (Encoder)

Converts message into signals (e.g., speaking, typing)

Channel

Medium message travels through (e.g., slides, phone)

Receiver (Decoder)

Interprets the message

Destination

Final target of the message

Health Literacy

Ability to receive, understand, and use health information to make decisions

Gain-Framed Message

Focuses on benefits of taking action

Loss-Framed Message

Focuses on consequences of NOT taking action