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Nature of Stress

• Stress is defined in three different ways by theorists:

  • Stimulus: Refers to eliciting stimuli or events that place strong demands on a person, often termed stressors.

    • Example: "There’s all kinds of stress in my life right now. ": Multiple stressors like exams, losing possessions, and car breakdowns can lead to perceived stress.

  • Response: Stress can also be viewed as an individual's response to stressors, which includes cognitive, physiological, and behavioral components.

    • Example: Individuals may report feeling tense and unable to concentrate, indicating an emotional response linked to stress.

  • Interaction: Combines stimulus and response, viewing stress as a transaction between a person and their environment.

    • This perspective emphasizes cognitive appraisals of situational demands against resources available to cope with those demands (Lazarus, 1991, 1998).

Stressors

• Stressors are specific events or stimuli that challenge well-being and require adaptation.

  • Severity ranges from microstressors like daily hassles (e.g., slow traffic) to severe stressors like natural disasters or traumatic events.

  • The greater the imbalance between demands and resources, the more stressful the situation becomes.

  • Recent examples include the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused widespread stress.

Measuring Stressful Life Events

• Life event scales quantify the amount of stress experienced, asking about the nature of events and personal appraisals of them (Holmes & Rahe, 1967).

  • Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS): Assesses both positive and negative events, with studies showing negative events predict health outcomes more reliably.

  • Appraisal processes include:

    • Primary appraisal: Assessing the demands of a situation.

    • Secondary appraisal: Evaluating the resources available to cope.

The Stress Response

• Stressors activate a bodily response that includes:

  • **Physiological reactions ** (e.g., increased heart rate and respiration).

  • General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS): Describes three stages in response to stress:

    • Alarm Reaction: Immediate bodily response, activating the fight-or-flight response.

    • Resistance: Attempts to cope with stressor while physiological responses are maintained; resources are gradually depleted.

    • Exhaustion: Results from prolonged stress, leading to depletion of resources and increased vulnerability to illness.

Psychological Impact of Stress

• Psychological well-being can deteriorate from stress, particularly after catastrophic events.

  • Types of trauma include natural disasters, war, sexual violence, and significant losses.

  • Victims can experience conditions like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which includes severe anxiety, emotional numbing, and reliving traumatic events.

Coping with Stress

• Coping strategies fall under three categories:

  • Problem-focused coping: Directly addressing the issue causing stress.

    • Example: Studying for an exam or resolving a misunderstanding.

  • Emotion-focused coping: Managing emotional responses instead of addressing the problem.

    • Could include denial of the problem, which may worsen stress.

  • Seeking social support: Turning to others for assistance which can buffer stress impacts.

Personality and Stress Approaches

• Type A personality: Characterized by time urgency, competitiveness, and hostility, this personality type has heightened risks of stress-related health issues (coronary heart disease).

• Optimism and resilience: Tendencies towards positive outlooks can buffer against the harmful effects of stress.

Stress and Health

• Chronic stress is linked to various health issues including:

  • Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and mental health disorders like anxiety and depression.

  • Relationships also play a crucial role, as supportive relationships can mitigate negative health impacts from stress.

Positive Psychology and Health Promotion

• Positive psychology focuses on improving well-being, emphasizing strengths and virtues rather than just the treatment of illness.

  • Activities such as regular exercise, social interaction, and cultivating gratitude are linked to enhanced happiness and reduced stress.