Rathus_PSYCH_7e_PPT_CH11

Chapter 11: Stress, Health, and Coping

Overview

• Textbook Reference: Spencer A. Rathus, Psych, 7th Edition, 2022 Cengage.

• Focus: Understanding stress, its impacts, coping strategies, and resilience.

Icebreaker: Discussion Points

• Identify personal stressors and discuss their implications.

• Explore stress related to college life and stress-relief strategies.

Chapter Objectives

• 11.01 Define stress and identify various sources.

• 11.02 Factors fostering resilience.

• 11.03 Effects of stress on the body (focusing on the endocrine, autonomic nervous systems, and immune system).

• 11.04 Role of cognitive appraisal in coping.

• 11.05 Methods of emotion-focused coping.

• 11.06 Methods of problem-focused coping.

Understanding Stress: Definitions and Types

What is Stress?

• Definition: Demand on an organism to adapt, cope or adjust.

• Types of Stress:

  • Eustress: Positive stress (e.g., new jobs, first dates).

  • Distress: Negative stress resulting from intense/long-term stressors.

Effects of Prolonged Stress

• Overwhelming adjustments can lead to:

  • Mood disturbances.

  • Impaired pleasure.

  • Physical harm.

Health Psychology

• Focus: Relationship between psychological factors and health.

  • Investigates how stress and behavior patterns affect health.

  • Examines interactions between stress and pathogens impacting the immune response.

Daily Hassles vs. Life Events

• Daily Hassles: Regular events threatening well-being (finances, health).

• Life Changes: Positive events occurring irregularly (marriage, new jobs).

• Stress Ratings for major life events (e.g., rape, finals).

Stress in America

• Surveys by the American Psychological Association reveal stress sources:

  • National future concerns, social divisiveness, healthcare.

  • Additional stressors for Generation Z include mass shootings and climate change.

Warning Signs of Stress

• Symptoms include:

  • Memory issues, headaches, fatigue, irritability, sleep problems, loss of appetite, short temper.

Conflict and Stress

• Conflict Types:

  • Approach-approach: Least stressful, both goals are desirable.

  • Avoidance-avoidance: Stressful, motivated to avoid negative outcomes.

  • Approach-avoidance: Choice involves both pros and cons.

  • Multiple approach-avoidance: Complex choices with several pros and cons.

Irrational Beliefs

• Albert Ellis Model (A → B → C):

  • Activating events lead to beliefs, resulting in consequences.

  • Catastrophic beliefs can increase anxiety and hinder coping.

Personality and Stress

Type A vs. Type B Behavior Patterns

• Type A: Competitive, high-strain, restlessness, coronary-prone.

• Type B: Relaxed, focused on life quality, less impatient.

Resilience and Self-Efficacy

• Resilience: Ability to withstand stress influenced by self-efficacy.

  • High self-efficacy reduces negative stress responses.

  • Positive cognitive shifts enhance emotional resilience.

Psychological Hardiness

• Resilient individuals show:

  • Commitment, challenge perception, and control.

  • Use humor to mitigate stress impacts.

Social Support

• Types of Support:

  • Emotional concern, instrumental aid, information, appraisal, social recreation.

• Emotional support buffers against stress effects, lowering stress hormones.

Understanding Stress Responses

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

• Developed by Hans Selye, outlining three stages:

  1. Alarm Reaction: Initial arousal and physiological responses.

  2. Resistance Stage: Body attempts to adapt to stressor.

  3. Exhaustion Stage: Prolonged stress leading to negative health outcomes.

Immune System Response

• Immunity: Produces leukocytes and antibodies to combat pathogens.

• Chronic stress can suppress immune function due to steroid production.

Cognitive Appraisal and Coping

Optimism and Self-Efficacy

• Beliefs in one's capabilities enhance health outcomes and stress management.

Appraisal Processes

• Primary Appraisal: Evaluating if events are stressful.

• Secondary Appraisal: Assessing coping resources and strategies.

Coping Strategies

• Emotion-Focused Coping: Regulating emotional responses (exercise, mindfulness).

• Problem-Focused Coping: Confronting and managing stressors directly (defining problems, setting goals, and evaluating solutions).

Summary of Key Learnings

• Sources of stress encompass daily hassles, life changes, and conflict.

• Self-efficacy and social support play crucial roles in managing stress and maintaining health.

• Understanding the physiological response to stress aids in developing effective coping strategies.