Lecture 12_Stress

Page 1: Introduction to Stress and Coping

• Overview of stress and coping mechanisms.

• Importance of understanding stress for mental health and well-being.

Page 2: What is Stress?

• Stress: An organism’s responses to stimuli that disturb its equilibrium.

• Stressor: Any internal or external event that induces stress.

• The subjective nature of stress experiences is influenced by cognitive processes.

  • Example: A new date can be exciting or terrifying, depending on individual appraisal.

Page 3: Major Types of Stress

• Frustration:

  • Occurs when goals are thwarted (e.g., traffic jams).

• Pressure:

  • Involves demands to behave in a certain manner.

Page 4: Major Types of Stress (Continued)

• Life Changes:

  • Significant shifts that need readjustment.

  • Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) measures life change stress:

    • e.g., Death of a spouse = 100 LCUs, Divorce = 73 LCUs.

Page 5: Life Change Stress Assessment

• Check for life events in the past 12 months, add LCUs:

  • 300: At risk of illness.

  • 150-299: Moderate risk.

  • <150: Slight risk.

Page 6: Conflict as Stress

• Conflict arises when incompatible motivations compete:

  • Approach-Approach: Choosing between two desirable goals.

  • Avoidance-Avoidance: Choosing between two undesirable goals.

  • Approach-Avoidance: Weighing pros and cons of one goal.

Page 7: Physiological Responses to Stress

• General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) has three stages:

  • Alarm Reaction: Initial recognition of threat.

    • Fight or flight response occurs.

Page 8: Resistance Phase of Stress

• Resistance phase follows alarm:

  • Body starts to repair itself, but remains alert.

  • Normal functions like heart rate begin to stabilize.

Page 9: Exhaustion Phase of Stress

• Exhaustion occurs with prolonged stress:

  • Physiological resources diminish.

  • Increased likelihood of physical diseases.

Page 10: Stress Resistance Levels

• Outline of resistance levels:

  • Phase 1: Alarm reaction.

  • Phase 2: Stage of resistance.

  • Phase 3: Stage of exhaustion.

Page 11: Psychosomatic Diseases

• Psychosomatic Diseases: Physical conditions influenced by psychological factors:

  • Examples: Hypertension, ulcers, asthma.

• Stress decreases the immune response.

Page 12: Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)

• Chronic risk factors for CHD include:

  • Smoking, lack of exercise, high cholesterol.

• Type A Personality characteristics:

  • Competitiveness, impatience, hostility (most predictive factor).

Page 13: Psychological Responses to Stress

• Burnout:

  • Leads to exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced self-efficacy due to chronic work stress.

Page 14: Components and Consequences of Burnout

• Components:

  • Exhaustion, cynicism, lowered self-efficacy.

• Consequences:

  • Increased physical illnesses, absenteeism, reduced job commitment.

Page 15: Trauma Responses

• Responses to trauma can be personal or global:

  • e.g., PTSD involving distressing recollections and emotional numbness.

Page 16: Broader Psychological Effects of Stress

• Stress contributes to various issues:

  • Poor academic performance, insomnia, substance abuse, and psychological disorders.

Page 17: Coping Mechanisms

• Coping: Managing internal/external demands perceived as threatening.

• Examples of maladaptive strategies include aggression and self-blame.

Page 18: Cognitive and Behavioral Coping Strategies

• Cognitive Appraisal:

  • Primary appraisal: Identifying stressors.

  • Secondary appraisal: Evaluating available resources.

Page 19: Problem-Directed and Emotion-Focused Coping

• Problem-Directed Coping:

  • Confronting stressors directly.

• Emotion-Focused Coping:

  • Strategies addressing emotional impact of stressors.

Page 20: Modifying Cognitions

• Techniques like restructuring thoughts to view stressors as less threatening to enhance perceived control.

Page 21: Stress Inoculation Strategy

• Evaluate stress while identifying maladaptive behaviors.

• Develop adaptive behaviors and re-evaluate stress perceptions.

Page 22: Social Support as a Coping Resource

• Forms of social support:

  • Emotional, tangible, informational support.

  • Strong support networks reduce the impact of stressors.

Page 23: Types of Stress: Distress and Eustress

• Distress: Overwhelming and disturbing stress.

• Eustress: Positive stress that can provide motivation and pleasure.

Page 24: The Relationship Between Stress and Performance

• Curvilinear relationship:

  • Low stress may hinder motivation.

  • Moderate stress enhances motivation.

  • High stress can interfere with performance.