Ch. 14- Stress, Lifestyle, and Health

Chapter Overview

• Chapter Title: STRESS, LIFESTYLE, AND HEALTH

• Focus on:

  • The psychological and physiological understanding of stress.

  • Causes and consequences of stress.

  • Stress management techniques.

What is Stress?

• Definition: Stress refers to a variety of unpleasant feeling states: frustrated, angry, conflicted, overwhelmed, or fatigued.

• Stimulus-based Definitions:

  • Stress is characterized as a demanding or threatening event that causes reactions, but ignores individual differences in perception and reaction to stressors.

• Response-based Definitions:

  • Emphasizes physiological reactions to stressful situations but also falls short in defining stress completely.

Cognitive Appraisals

• Definition: Stress is a process where an individual perceives and responds to events appraised as overwhelming or threatening.

• Primary Appraisal:

  • Judgement regarding potential harm/threat from a stressor.

  • Types:

    • Threat: Potential for harm/loss.

    • Challenge: Potential for personal growth or gain.

  • Example: Graduating from college can be perceived as either a threat (loss of financial support) or a challenge (independence).

• Secondary Appraisal:

  • Judgement of available options to cope with a stressor and perceived effectiveness of those options.

Good Stress (Eustress) vs. Bad Stress (Distress)

• Eustress: Positive stress leading to motivation and sound health.

• Distress: Negative stress resulting in burnout and decreased performance.

• Stress performance relationship: Increases from low to optimal levels, after which it becomes detrimental.

The Prevalence of Stress

• Stress affects everyone to some degree; nearly half of U.S. adults report increased stress over recent years.

• Responses to stress can be:

  • Physiological: Headaches, accelerated heart rate.

  • Cognitive: Difficulties in decision making.

  • Behavioral: Increased alcohol consumption, smoking.

Health Psychology

• Definition: Subfield focusing on psychological impacts on health and illness.

• Investigates:

  • Stress-illness connections

  • Life choices affecting health

  • Effectiveness of interventions for behavior changes

  • Vulnerability based on demographic factors

• Demographic Findings:

  • Higher stress in women, unemployed individuals, and less educated people.

  • Retired individuals have the lowest stress levels.

General Adaptation Syndrome (Hans Selye)

• Stages of Stress Reaction:

  1. Alarm Reaction: Immediate reaction to a stressor.

  2. Stage of Resistance: Body adjusts but remains alert.

  3. Stage of Exhaustion: Body's resources are depleted, leading to potential health issues.

Stressors

• Types of Stressors:

  • Chronic Stressors: Long-term (e.g., unemployment).

  • Acute Stressors: Brief but impactful (e.g., accidents).

  • Traumatic Events: Significant threats to life or physical integrity (e.g., combat, assault).

Psychophysiological Disorders

• Definition: Physical disorders exacerbated by stress.

• Examples: Hypertension, headaches, asthma, and coronary heart disease.

Stress and the Immune System

• Chronic stress can lead to immune suppression.

• Psychoneuroimmunology studies how psychological factors influence immune function.

Coping Styles

• Problem-focused Coping: Managing stressors proactively.

• Emotion-focused Coping: Addressing emotional distress rather than the source of stress.

• Control in Stress: Personal control impacts reactivity to stress and overall health outcomes.

Social Support

• Importance of relationships for health.

• Social support enhances immune responses and helps manage stress.

Type A & B Personalities

• Type A: Competitive and highly driven, associated with higher heart disease risk.

• Type B: More relaxed, lower risk of stress-related health issues.

Stress Reduction Techniques

• Methods:

  • Exercise for stress resistance.

  • Meditation to calm physiological responses.

  • Biofeedback for managing involuntary responses.

Positive Psychology

• Focus on building human strengths and fulfillment.

• Factors influencing happiness: age, relationships, wealth, religion, culture.

Conclusion

• Understanding stress, its causes, and effects on health fosters improved psychological well-being and coping strategies.