Study Notes for Health Psychology: Stress and Illness

UNIT 5: Mental and Physical Health

Overview of Mental and Physical Health

  • The COVID-19 pandemic brought about significant emotional and physical distress.

  • Mental Health Impact: Stressors included illness, loss of loved ones, fear of disease, social isolation, job loss, and disruption of routines.

  • Statistical Insight: In the first year of the pandemic, anxiety and depression surged by 25 percent (WHO, 2022).

  • Interconnectedness: There is a strong link between mental and physical health; pre-existing physical conditions could increase susceptibility to mental health issues, while psychological disorders can exacerbate physical illness.

  • Focus of Unit:

    • Causes of stress and how it affects mental and physical health.

    • Management of stress and mental health approaches.

    • Classification, diagnosis, and treatment of psychological disorders.

Modules Overview

  • 5.1a: Introduction to Health Psychology: Stress and Illness

  • 5.1b: Coping With Stress

  • 5.2a: Positive Emotions and Traits

  • 5.2b: Enhancing Well-Being

  • 5.3: Explaining and Classifying Psychological Disorders

  • 5.4a-d: Categories of Psychological Disorders including Anxiety Disorders, Depressive Disorders, Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders, and more.

  • 5.5a-d: Treatment of Psychological Disorders, encompassing various therapeutic methods.

Module 5.1a: Introduction to Health Psychology

Definition:

  • Health Psychology: A subfield of psychology focusing on how psychological, behavioral, and cultural factors affect health and wellness.

  • Psychoneuroimmunology: The study of how psychological, neural, and endocrine processes collectively influence the immune system and health outcomes.

Learning Targets

  1. Examine the role of appraisal in stress reactions and identify types of stressors.

  2. Understand responses and adaptations to stress.

  3. Explore how stress can increase vulnerability to disease.

  4. Analyze predispositions to coronary heart disease.

  5. Investigate the causes and effects of anger.

Behavioral Medicine

  • Integration: Health psychology contributes to behavioral medicine, combining medical and behavioral science to enhance health.

  • Intervention: Health psychologists advocate for lifestyle changes incorporating health-promoting behaviors (e.g., exercise, nutrition).

  • Awareness: Regularly attending to health is essential—health maintenance should precede medical intervention.

Understanding Stress

Stress Overview

  • Global Perspective: 35% of individuals reported experiencing significant stress the previous day (Gallup, 2019a).

  • Types of Stress: Stress can be classified as:

    • Eustress: Positive stress that motivates.

    • Distress: Negative, debilitating stress.

Personal Experience of Stress

  • Contextual stressors: High school challenges, deadlines, and personal relationships can contribute to physical symptoms (e.g., headaches, disrupted sleep).

  • Anticipated stressors: Such as upcoming surgery can lead to worry and anxiety.

  • Sudden stressors: Events like accidents can trigger immediate physiological responses.

Appraisal and Stress Responses

  • Stress reactions involve appraisal processes:

    • Primary Appraisal: Assessment of whether an event is a threat or challenge.

    • Secondary Appraisal: Evaluating one’s ability to cope with the stressor.

    • Positive short-term stress can enhance learning and performance; however, prolonged stress can harm health.

Stressors Types

  1. Catastrophes: Large-scale disasters impacting mental and physical health.

    • Example: Post-Hurricane Katrina, suicide rates tripled in New Orleans.

    • 911 Effects: Following the event, 58% reported high anxiety levels.

  2. Significant Life Changes: Major transitions (e.g., death, divorce, graduation) can induce stress. Example: Adolescents report high stress in life changes.

  3. Daily Hassles: Minor irritations and daily frustrations (e.g., traffic, work pressure) that accumulate stress.

Stress Response System

Introduction

  • Stress involves physiological responses triggered by perceived threats.

Two Primary Responses:

  1. Fight-or-Flight Response: Immediate physiological changes triggered by the sympathetic nervous system.

    • Increases heart rate, redistributes blood flow, increases respiration, and inhibits pain perception.

  2. Endocrine Response: Glucocorticoid release (e.g., cortisol) initiated by brain signaling.

    • Cannon (1929): Noted that emotions (e.g., fear or joy) activate these systems.

    • Selye (1936): Expanded on Cannon's findings and outlined General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS).

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) Phases:

  1. Alarm Reaction: Body’s initial response to stress.

  2. Resistance: Continued effort to cope with the stressor, with heightened physiological responses.

  3. Exhaustion: Resources are depleted, increasing vulnerability to illnesses.

Emotional Responses to Stress

  • People may withdraw or become overwhelmed in the face of prolonged stress, or adopt a "tend-and-befriend" response, especially among women (Taylor, 2006).

Stress and Disease Vulnerability

Key Insights

  • Psychoneuroimmunology: Studies how psychological states and stress influence immune function and health.

  • Chronic stress can:

    • Lead to overreaction (autoimmune issues) or underreaction (increased infection risk).

  • Stress reduces immune function and can impact physical health years later.

Research Evidence

  • Surgical wounds heal slower under high-stress conditions (Kiecolt-Glaser et al., 1998).

  • Cohen's Studies: Show correlation between stress levels and the likelihood of catching a cold following exposure to virus (Cohen et al., 1991).

Effects of Stress on Heart Disease

Coronary Heart Disease Link

  • Type A Personality: Characterized by competitiveness, impatience, and aggression linked to higher heart disease risk.

  • Research Findings:

    • Friedman and Rosenman’s studies show Type A individuals display greater vulnerability to heart issues.

  • Ensuing studies support the link between negative emotions (anger, hostility) and cardiovascular disease.

Psychological and Physical Links

  • Stress-induced inflammation is a risk factor, as chronic stress can lead to depression and heart disease.

  • Understanding personality types conducive to stress can inform preventative health strategies.

Managing Anger and Stress

Anger as a Response

  • Anger can be an adaptive response to stress but may lead to chronic health issues when it turns hostile.

Cultural Influences

  • Different cultures perceive and express anger variably.

  • Western advice promotes aggressive expression, while collectivist cultures may lean towards restraint.

Suggestions for Anger Management

  1. Wait, allowing physiological arousal to dissipate.

  2. Engage in a healthy distraction (e.g., exercise).

  3. Practice self-distancing to gain perspective and reduce aggressive tendencies.

Conclusion: Stress and Health

Recap Content

  • Stress can be beneficial when mobilizing resources for challenges but detrimental when chronic, affecting mental and physical health.

  • Recognition of stressors in daily life is crucial for health maintenance coupled with coping strategies.