Health Psychology: Stress and Illness

  • Health Psychology

    • A subfield of psychology focused on

    • The impact of psychological, behavioral, and sociocultural factors on health and wellness.

    • Health psychologists advocate for

    • Healthy behaviors and wellness policies.

    • Areas of focus include:

    • Physical health

    • Emotional health

    • Stress

    • Coping mechanisms

  • Understanding Stress

    • Defined as:

    • The process of perceiving and responding to stressors, which can be viewed as threatening, challenging, or motivating.

    • Statistical Insight:

    • 35% of individuals globally report feeling “a lot of stress” daily.

  • Types of Stress

    • Main Types:

    1. Catastrophes

    2. Significant life changes

    3. Daily hassles

    • Eustress (+):

    • Positive stress that enhances well-being, e.g.,

      • Anticipation of a first date

      • Competition

      • Job promotion

      • Marriage

      • Parenthood

    • Distress (-):

    • Negative stress which can affect well-being, e.g.,

      • Catastrophic events (natural disasters, loss of loved ones)

      • Daily difficulties (traffic, work deadlines)

  • Impact of Stress on Mental Health

    • Significant events like Hurricane Katrina led to a doubling of serious mental illnesses among low-income survivors.

  • Perceived Stress Scale

    • Questions assess feelings and thoughts over the past month; scoring ranges from 0 to 40:

    • Lower scores indicate lower perceived stress; higher scores indicate higher stress levels.

  • Physical Effects of Stress

    • Immune Suppression:

    • Chronic stress increases cortisol, weakening immune functions.

    • Can lead to negative habits (poor sleep, nutrition, substance use).

    • Hypertension (High Blood Pressure):

    • Stress hormones can raise heart rate and blood pressure, leading to detrimental health effects.

  • Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

    • Traumatic events in childhood that influence long-term health and mental health.

    • Types of ACEs include physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, neglect, and household challenges (e.g., substance misuse, divorce).

    • ACEs are linked to numerous health consequences, including chronic diseases and mental health issues.

    • Outcomes include impaired immune function, greater stress management difficulties, obesity, and lower life expectancy.

  • Stress Responses

    • Stress responses involve appraisal (cognitive evaluation) of situations.

    • General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS):

    • Three phases: Alarm, Resistance, Exhaustion

      • Phase 1: Alarm Reaction

      • Body prepares to confront a stressor (fight-or-flight response).

      • Phase 2: Resistance

      • Body maintains elevated levels of stress response resources.

      • Phase 3: Exhaustion

      • Depletion of resources can lead to stress-related diseases or collapse.

  • Balancing the Autonomic Nervous System

    • Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS): activates during stress (arousal).

    • Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS): calms the body post-stress.

    • Responses in Stress Conditions:

    • The body’s pupil reaction, saliva production, heart rate, and digestive motility all vary with SNS/PNS activation.

  • Social Support and Stress

    • Under stress, individuals may seek support from others, particularly through nurturing behaviors.

    • Known as the tend-and-befriend response, this indicates a social dimension in handling stress.

  • Exam Tips

    • Understand the difference between stress responses (fight-or-flight vs. GAS).