psylife4_ch11_lecppt

Chapter 11 Overview

• Big Questions:

  • What Affects Your Health?

  • How Does Stress Affect Your Health?

  • How Do Mediating Factors Affect Your Stress?

  • Can a Positive Attitude Keep You Healthy?

• Study Units:

  • 11.1 Biology, Psychology, and Social Factors Influence Your Health

  • 11.2 Obesity Has Many Health Consequences

  • 11.3 Exercise Benefits You Physically, Cognitively, and Emotionally

  • 11.4 Sexually Transmitted Infections Can Be Prevented by Practicing Safer Sex

  • 11.5 Smoking Is Dangerous to Your Health

  • 11.6 There Is Stress in Daily Life

  • 11.7 You Can Have Several Responses to Stress

  • 11.8 Personality and Emotional States Influence the Impact of Stress on Heart Disease

  • 11.9 Coping Mediates the Impact of Stress

  • 11.10 Using Psychology in Your Life: How Can You Reduce Exam Anxiety?

  • 11.11 Positive Psychology Emphasizes Well-Being

  • 11.12 Social Support Is Associated with Good Health

  • 11.13 Several Strategies Can Help You Stay Healthy

11.1 Biology, Psychology, and Social Factors Influence Your Health

• Traditional Medical Model:

  • Health viewed as absence of disease.

  • Patients as passive recipients.

  • Focus is on medical treatments (drugs).

• Integrated Approach:

  • Individual plays an active role in health.

  • Attitudes and behaviors are crucial for maintaining or regaining health.

Well-being

• Definition: Positive state includes striving for optimal health and life satisfaction.

• Health Psychology: Integrates health and psychology research to promote well-being.

Biopsychosocial Model

• Integrates biological, behavioral, and social factors in health and illness.

• Central in understanding health beyond the traditional medical approach.

Health Disparities

• Notable differences in life expectancy based on race (e.g., Black Americans vs. White Americans).

• Influenced by disease susceptibility, healthcare access, and cultural factors.

• Racial biases can contribute to healthcare disparities.

11.2 Obesity Has Many Health Consequences

• Body Mass Index (BMI):

  • Ratio of body weight to height used to measure obesity.

  • Obesity rates have tripled in the U.S. over 40 years; globally, rates tripled since 1975.

• Overeating and Weight Regain:

  • Many dieters regain lost weight plus more.

  • Exposure to multiple appealing foods influences eating behavior.

• Social and Genetic Influences:

  • Body weight can be socially contagious.

  • Research shows BMI of adopted children relates to biological parents, not adoptive.

  • Twin studies reveal strong genetic influences on body weight.

• Stigma of Obesity:

  • Fat shaming prevalent on social media; can lead to psychological issues.

  • Cultural differences in viewing obesity; example: some cultures associate it with higher social status.

• Restrictive Dieting:

  • Most diets fail due to biological resistance to weight loss.

  • Body's set point for weight influences metabolism and response to dieting.

  • Exercise is essential for effective long-term weight management.

11.3 Exercise Benefits You Physically, Cognitively, and Emotionally

• Physical Health Benefits:

  • Lowers cancer risk and heart problems.

  • Better fitness correlates with longevity.

• Cognitive Benefits:

  • Enhances memory, especially in older adults.

• Emotional Benefits:

  • Boosts self-confidence, reduces stress, increases energy, helps fight depression, and aids addiction recovery.

11.4 Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Prevention

• Definition of STIs: Infections transmissible via sexual contact.

• 20 million new STI cases annually in the U.S.

  • About 54,000 daily infections; predominantly in ages 15-24.

• Types of STIs and Treatments:

  • Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Herpes, HIV, HPV, Syphilis, Trichomoniasis - varying symptoms, treatments, and prevalence rates.

• Safer Sex Practices:

  • Abstaining or limiting partners, educating about sexual health, vaccinations, using barrier methods.

11.5 Smoking Is Dangerous to Your Health

• Health Risks:

  • Smoking linked to premature death, heart disease, respiratory issues, and cancer.

  • Statistics showing significant numbers of smokers despite known risks.

• Youth Smoking Trends:

  • Most smokers begin in adolescence, but recent trends indicate a drop in youth smoking rates.

• Vaping:

  • Usage of electronic cigarettes and associated risks.

  • Evidence suggests vaping may complicate smoking cessation efforts.

• Quitting Strategies:

  • Effective quitting methods include nicotine replacement, environmental control, and self-driven cessation efforts.

11.6 Stress in Daily Life

• Definition of Stress: Emotional, behavioral, and physical processes activated when events exceed coping capacity.

• Stressors: Imposed stimuli that threaten well-being.

• Types of Stress:

  • Eustress (positive) vs. distress (negative).

11.7 Responses to Stress

• General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS): Three stages:

  • Alarm: Initial reaction.

  • Resistance: Body adapts to stress.

  • Exhaustion: When stress persists too long, leading to health problems.

• Immune Response: Short-term stress can enhance immunity while chronic stress diminishes it.

• Negative Stress Responses: Increased likelihood of unhealthy behaviors such as overeating, smoking, drug use.

Personality and Stress Impact

• Type A vs Type B Behavior Patterns:

  • Type A: Competitive, aggressive traits linked to heart disease risk.

  • Type B: Relaxed, accommodating traits linked to lower risks.

11.9 Coping with Stress

• Coping Types:

  • Emotion-focused: Attempts to prevent emotional distress.

  • Problem-focused: Directly confronting the stressor through practical solutions.

• Hardiness and Resilience: Traits that enhance stress adaptation, involving commitment, challenge, and control.

11.10 Reducing Exam Anxiety

• Strategies:

  • Reframe thoughts, ensure rest prior, arrive early, use effective test-taking skills.

11.11 Positive Psychology

• Focus Areas:

  • Components of happiness: positive emotions, engagement, meaningful life.

• Social Support and Gratitude: Strategies enhancing health by reducing stress and improving coping mechanisms.

11.13 Strategies for Health and Well-Being

• Recommendations:

  • Eat natural foods, manage portion sizes, moderate alcohol, remain active, avoid smoking, practice safer sex, develop relaxation techniques, foster social support networks.