ch14 Stress and health
Introduction
Overview of stress and its effects on health.
Page 1: Book Details
Authors: Deborah M. Licht, Misty G. Hull, Coco Ballantyne.
Third Edition, published by Worth Publishers.
Page 2: Case Study
Event: Christy Sheppard's fitness exam leads to transient global amnesia.
Definition: Transient global amnesia is sudden memory loss lasting less than 24 hours.
Contextual Stress: Highlighted the stressful life context surrounding the event.
Page 3: Defining Stress
Stress: Response to perceived threats or challenges.
Stressors: Events or stimuli causing physiological, psychological, and emotional reactions.
Key Point: Stress is the response; stressors are the triggers.
Page 4: Types of Stress
Distress: Unpleasant stress response.
Eustress: Positive stress response leading to engagement and dedication in work.
Page 5: Major Life Events Measurement
Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS): Participants list life events in the past year for scoring based on severity and frequency.
Health Link: Certain life events are correlated with illness outcomes.
Page 6: College Undergraduate Stress Scale
Adapted scale for college students focusing on relevant stress events.
Findings: More severe life events correlate with higher illness rates.
Page 7: Group Activity Proposal
Tasks: Update CUSS with new stressors based on group discussions and pilot data collection with classmates.
Page 8: Chronic Stress Overview
Definition: Long-term state of nervous arousal.
Example: 1.1 million people in the US with HIV; stressors linked to the disease are considered.
Page 9: Poverty as a Stressor
Statistics: 1 in 5 children living in poverty as of 2017.
Impact: Stressors from low income affect health and create a cycle of poverty.
Page 10: Impact of Poverty on Health
Research Link: Low SES affects cognitive and mental health development, impacting performance.
Vulnerability of the Brain: Chronic stress affects the hippocampus, crucial for memory formation.
Page 11: Group Discussion on Poverty
Topics: Discuss stressors of living in poverty and use perspectives from Chapter 1 to understand the causes.
Page 12: Acculturative Stress
Definition: Stress from adapting to a new culture.
Responses to Acculturative Stress: Assimilation, separation, integration.
Page 13: Factors Influencing Acculturative Stress
Key Influencers: Language proficiency, cultural differences, discrimination, social support.
Page 14: Hassles and Uplifts
Daily Hassles: Common minor problems causing stress.
Uplifts: Positive experiences that can bolster happiness.
Research Findings: Link between daily hassles and health outcomes.
Page 15: Hassles and Uplifts Scale
Scale Application: Measures daily hassles and uplifts in different domains of life.
Page 16: Conflicts as Stressors
Types of Conflicts: Approach-approach, approach-avoidance, avoidance-avoidance conflicts.
Page 17: Fight or Flight Response
Physiological Reaction: Prepares body for emergencies through activation of the sympathetic nervous system.
Response Effects: Increases heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration; digestions slow.
Page 18: HPA System Activation
Function: Stress stimulates hypothalamus to activate pituitary and adrenal hormones like cortisol.
Response Similarity: HPA activation mobilizes defense against stressors like pathogens.
Page 19: Short-Term Stress Responses
Mechanism Illustration: Involves the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, adrenal glands, and physiological changes.
Page 20: General Adaptation Syndrome
Stages of Response: Alarm (energy for threat), resistance (mobilized resources), exhaustion (vulnerability).
Page 21: Immune System Response
Immune Defense Mechanism: White blood cells activated to fight invaders affected by chronic stress.
Page 22: Stress-Related Health Issues
Gastric Ulcers: Stress and H. pylori interaction impacts ulcer development.
Cancer: Stress suppresses immune response crucial for tumor monitoring.
Page 23: Heart Disease and Stress
Job Loss Impact: People unemployed after natural disasters experience heightened risk for cardiometabolic events.
Social-Evaluative Threats: Concerns of judgment linked to heart disease.
Page 24: Substance Use and Stress
Alcohol and Stress: Self-medication regarding stress leads to higher consumption rates among youth.
Smoking Trends: Increased stress correlates with greater smoking frequency.
Page 25: Energy Needs Under Stress
Carbohydrates as Energy Source: Increased energy demand during stress.
Sweets Preference: Stress from childhood correlates with sweet preferences into adulthood.
Page 26: Optimal Arousal
Arousal Theory: Individuals seek an optimal arousal level, impacting career choices and stress response.
Page 27: Cortisol Effects on Kids
Health Consequences: Elevated cortisol levels affect physical and cognitive functions.
Page 28: Paramedic Stress and Burnout
Burnout Definition: Fatigue from exposure to stressors in work settings.
Health Risks: Ongoing stress challenges health maintenance.
Page 29: Health Psychology Overview
Biopsychosocial Perspective: Interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors affecting health outcomes.
Page 30: Appraisal and Coping Strategies
Coping Definition: Approaches to handle perceived stressors (cognitive, behavioral, emotional).
Types of Appraisal: Primary (personal impact) and Secondary (response strategy).
Page 31: Coping Strategy Types
Problem-Focused Coping: Directly addressing issues.
Emotion-Focused Coping: Managing emotions related to stress.
Page 32: Group Activities
Focus on Appraisals and Coping Types: Discuss and share understanding of appraisal dimensions and coping methods.
Page 33: Personality and Stress Coping
Type A Personality: Competitive and aggressive patterns.
Type B Personality: Relaxed and patient demeanor.
Type D Personality: Worrying and social inhibition traits impacting stress management.
Page 34: Hardiness Traits
Hardiness Definition: Resilience under stress characterized by commitment, control, and challenge.
Page 35: Control and Health Relationship
Perceived Control: Relates to health outcomes; feeling of control reduces disease risk.
Page 36: Locus of Control
Internal vs. External: Beliefs about control in life circumstances affect stress vulnerability.
Page 37: Stress Management Techniques
Nutrition and Exercise: Importance of healthy habits in mitigating stress impact.
Page 38: Additional Stress Management Techniques
Relaxation and Biofeedback: Techniques to control physiological responses to stress.
Social Support: Relationships provide significant health benefits.
Page 39: Altruism and Spirituality
Altruism: Helping others reduces personal stress levels.
Spirituality Link: Connections to faith enhance well-being and happiness.
Page 40: Blue Zones
Definition: Regions with a high number of centenarians (e.g., Ikaria, Okinawa).
Page 41: Features of Blue Zones
Lifestyle Characteristics: Plant-based diets and natural movement habits.
Page 42: Mindfulness Meditation
Practice Explanation: Focused attention practice, aids in stress reduction.
Page 43: Brief Mindfulness Instructions
Mindfulness Technique: Practical steps for everyday stress mitigation through breathing focus.
Page 44: Case Conclusion
Christy’s New Role: Transitioned to a demanding job; managing stress post-transition.