Stress and Health

Page 1: Stress and Health

Page 2: Definition of Stress

  • Stress: A response elicited when a situation overwhelms a person's perceived ability to meet the demands of the situation.

Page 3: Stressors

  • Stressors: Events that trigger a stress response.

Page 4: Primary Appraisal

  • Primary Appraisal: A quick assessment of the meaning of a given environmental event for the individual.

Page 5: Secondary Appraisal

  • Secondary Appraisal: Self-assessment of the resources available to cope with stress.

Page 6: Glucocorticoids

  • Hormones responsible for maintaining the activation of physiological systems during emergencies.

Page 7: HPA Axis

  • Sequence of responses during stress:

    • Hypothalamus releases Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF).

    • Activates the Adrenal-medullary system and Pituitary gland.

    • Produces Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).

    • Adrenal glands secrete cortisol:

      • Increases energy from storage.

      • Regulates immune system.

    • Increases secretion of norepinephrine:

      • Increases heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure.

Page 8: General Adaptation Syndrome

  • Stage 1: Alarm stage

    • All body resources respond to perceived threat.

  • Stage 2: Resistance stage

    • Extended effort by the body to deal with a threat.

  • Stage 3: Exhaustion stage

    • Resources depleted, and illness is more likely.

Page 9: Coping Strategies

  • Coping: The management of stress.

    • Problem-focused coping: Doing something to improve the situation.

    • Emotion-focused coping: Regulating one’s emotional reaction.

      • Helps manage emotions without solving the problem directly.

Page 10: Coping Strategies Research

  • Monteiro et al. (2018):

    • Emotion-focused strategies: Accepting situation, seeking comfort, finding joy, spiritual commitment.

    • Problem-focused strategies: Exerting effort for improvement, asking for support, planning.

    • Dysfunctional coping strategies: Avoidance, refusal to accept reality, self-blame, substance use.

Page 11: Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI)

  • PNI: Science of how psychological factors relate to changes in the immune system.

  • Overview of the Immune System:

    • Defends against disease, inspects for mutations, cleans up cellular debris.

    • Two lines of defense:

      • Natural immunity: First response to antigens.

      • Acquired immunity: Antibodies produced in response to specific antigens (e.g., vaccines).