PSYC3033 Stress ctd Jan 21 2025
Page 1: Overview
Course Title: Health PSYC 3033
Topic: Stress
Date: January 16, 2025
Page 2: Theories of Stress
Several theories explain stress:
Cannon’s Fight or Flight Theory
Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)
Antonovsky’s Salutogenic Approach
Taylor’s Tend & Befriend Theory
Transactional Model (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984)
Page 3: Cannon’s Fight or Flight Theory
Introduced in 1932, focuses on physiological responses to stress:
Acute Stress Response
Stress Reactivity includes:
Increased muscle tension
Elevated blood pressure
Decreased saliva production
Increased hydrochloric acid in the stomach
Increased serum glucose
Increased perspiration
Utilizes sympathetic nervous system and endocrine system:
Catecholamines (epinephrine/norepinephrine) are released
Purpose: Removal of threat and return to homeostasis
Page 4: Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)
Introduced in 1956, outlines chronic stress effects:
Three stages:
Alarm: Initial reaction to stressor
Resistance: Body attempts to counteract stress
Exhaustion: Resources depleted; risks of hypercortisolism
Chronic stress leads to health issues and decreased resistance to stress effects, e.g., high blood pressure.
Page 5: Physiology of Stress - HPA Axis
HPA Axis activation process:
Hypothalamus releases corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), leading to:
Pituitary release of ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone)
ACTH stimulates adrenal cortex, releasing glucocorticoids, mainly cortisol.
Effects include managing carbohydrate stores and inflammation, essential for returning to homeostasis.
Chronic activation of HPA can lead to dysregulation and hypercortisolism.
Page 6: Stress Physiology Overview
Cortisol and Adrenaline are part of stress responses:
Fast route: Cortisol through the adrenal medulla (acute response)
Slow route: Hormonal response via ACTH (chronic stress)
SNS (Sympathetic Nervous System) is involved in automatic responses.
Page 7: Criticisms of Selye’s Model
Selye's model criticized for:
Underestimating psychological factors in stress response
Lack of uniform response among individuals (influenced by personality, perception)
Focusing on stress as an outcome without addressing anticipation of stressors
Studies primarily used animal subjects, limiting human applicability.
Page 8: Continuing Discussion of Stress
Quote by Randy Glasbergen reflecting on relaxation in the context of stress.
Page 9: Eustress
Positive stressors:
New baby
Exercise
Starting a new job
Taking a vacation
Meeting a deadline
Page 10: Distress
Negative stressors:
Work/family pressure
Conflict
Time constraints
Financial issues
Deadlines
Pandemic
Academic pressures
Feelings of aloneness
Page 11: Definitions of Stress
Reactivity: physiological reactions to stress
Diathesis-stress model: individual’s susceptibility to disorder influenced by genetic predisposition and environmental factors.
Page 12: Stress Physiology
Stress responses are mediated by the brain, translating stressors into bodily reactions.
Page 13: Age and Stress
Emerging adulthood and adverse childhood experiences influence stress response.
Page 14: Personality Types and Stress
Different personality types can influence stress experience:
Type A: Hostile and anger-based
Type B: Relaxed and easygoing
Type C: Cancer-prone tendencies
Type D: Distressed with negative affect and social inhibition.
Page 15: Factors Making Events Stressful
Emotional load of events
Lack of control over situations
Unpredictable events
Ambiguity and negativity
Feelings of overwhelm.
Page 16: Summary of Stress Theories
Recap of key stress theories:
Cannon’s Fight or Flight Theory
Selye’s GAS
Antonovsky’s Salutogenic Model
Taylor’s Tend & Befriend Theory
Transactional Model by Lazarus & Folkman.
Page 17: Tend and Befriend Theory
Developed by Taylor, focuses on gender differences:
Women tend to nurture and seek social support
Men often remove themselves from stressors.
Page 18: Oxytocin’s Role in Stress
Oxytocin may enhance social and maternal behaviors, influencing stress responses in females:
Higher oxytocin linked to reduced cortisol and HPA activity.
Page 19: Psychological Appraisal of Stress
Lazarus's view on stress appraisal:
Primary Appraisal: Evaluation of event's significance
Secondary Appraisal: Assessment of coping abilities.
Stress arises when perceived demands exceed resources.
Page 20: Transactional Model of Stress
Incorporates personal appraisal of events:
Event desirability and individual control contribute to stress levels.
Page 21: Antonovsky’s Salutogenic Model
Focuses on maintaining health through effective stress management:
Resistance to disorder through personal and social resources.
Page 22: Generalized Resistance Resources (GRR)
Factors that influence stress adaptation:
Optimism, social relationships, and physical resources contribute to one's sense of coherence (SOC).
Page 23: Factors of Sense of Coherence (SOC)
Three components:
Meaningfulness: Emotional interpretation of demands
Comprehensibility: Cognitive understanding of stressors
Manageability: Accessing coping resources.
Page 24: Benefits of SOC
A strong SOC leads to enhanced confidence, brain function, motivation for health, reinforced tension reduction, and resilience.
Page 25: Allostatic Load
Allostatic load refers to the cumulative physiological toll of chronic stress, leading to wear and tear on the body.
Page 26: Indirect Effects of Stress
Stress can alter immune functions and contribute to maladaptive behaviors (e.g., alcohol use, poor nutrition).
Page 27: Stress and Nutrition
"STRESSED" is "DESSERTS" spelled backwards—consideration of comfort food consumption during stress.
Page 28: Health Behaviors
Stress leads to:
Poor sleeping patterns
Increased alcohol consumption
Increased drug use
Changes in eating habits (e.g., comfort foods)
Page 29: Allostatic Load Reiteration
Allostatic load redefined as chronic exposure to fluctuating stress responses leading to health issues.
Page 30: Individual Differences in Stress Reactivity
Variability in stress responses potentially influenced by genetics, with differences in recovery patterns.
Page 31: Stress Resistance
Some individuals show greater adaptability to stress and recover more efficiently after stress exposure.
Page 32: Assessing Stress
Various methods to assess stress include:
Self-reported stress scales
Life change scales
Behavioral measures
Physiological assessments.
Page 33: Adaptation to Chronic Stress
Presence of chronic stressors does not guarantee adaptation and may lead to chronic strain or habituation.
Page 34: Stress without Direct Exposure
Stress can arise from anticipation or aftermath of events, not just direct experiences.
Page 35: Key Stress Theories Summary
Overview of significant stress theories:
Cannon’s Fight or Flight Theory
Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome
Antonovsky’s Salutogenic Model
Taylor’s Tend & Befriend Theory
Transactional Model of Stress.