Chapter 10 OverviewChapter 10 Overview

Sources of stressSources of stress Responding to stressResponding to stress Health and illnessHealth and illness Lifestyle and healthLifestyle and health

Sources of StressSources of Stress

Stress Stress is the physiological and is the physiological and psychological response to a condition psychological response to a condition that threatens or challenges a person that threatens or challenges a person and requires some sort of adaptationand requires some sort of adaptation

Stress is associated with the Stress is associated with the fight or fight or flight responseflight response– Response in which the nervous system Response in which the nervous system

and endocrine glands prepare the body to and endocrine glands prepare the body to fight or fleefight or flee

StressorsStressors– Stimuli or events that can produce Stimuli or events that can produce

physical or emotional stressphysical or emotional stress

What was the Social What was the Social Readjustment Rating Scale Readjustment Rating Scale designed to reveal?designed to reveal? Developed by Holmes and Rahe to Developed by Holmes and Rahe to

measure stressmeasure stress Life events that produce the greatest life Life events that produce the greatest life

changes are considered the most stressfulchanges are considered the most stressful– Whether the changes are positive or negativeWhether the changes are positive or negative

Scale assigns point values to 43 life eventsScale assigns point values to 43 life events– Death of a spouse: 100Death of a spouse: 100– Getting fired at work: 47Getting fired at work: 47– Beginning or ending school: 26Beginning or ending school: 26– Vacation: 13Vacation: 13

What was the Social What was the Social Readjustment Rating Scale Readjustment Rating Scale designed to reveal?designed to reveal?

SRRS scores are correlated with a SRRS scores are correlated with a variety of health indicatorsvariety of health indicators– Scores over 300Scores over 300

80% chance of major health problems within two 80% chance of major health problems within two yearsyears

– Scores of 150-300Scores of 150-300 50% chance of major health problems within two 50% chance of major health problems within two

yearsyears

Main criticism of SRRSMain criticism of SRRS– It assigns point values to life events without It assigns point values to life events without

taking into account how an individual taking into account how an individual perceives or copes with each stressorperceives or copes with each stressor

What roles do hassles and What roles do hassles and uplifts play in the stress of life, uplifts play in the stress of life, according to Lazarus?according to Lazarus?

According to Richard Lazarus, According to Richard Lazarus, hassleshassles cause more stress than major life cause more stress than major life eventsevents– Hassles are little stressors encountered in Hassles are little stressors encountered in

daily lifedaily life Research has found that hassles are Research has found that hassles are

significantly related to health problemssignificantly related to health problems– But But uplifts uplifts may neutralize the effects of may neutralize the effects of

hassleshassles

How do choice-related conflicts How do choice-related conflicts and lack of control contribute and lack of control contribute to stress?to stress?

Making choices can be stressfulMaking choices can be stressful Three choice-related conflictsThree choice-related conflicts::

– Approach-approach conflictApproach-approach conflict Having to choose between equally desirable Having to choose between equally desirable

alternativesalternatives

– Avoidance-avoidance conflictAvoidance-avoidance conflict Having to choose between undesirable Having to choose between undesirable

alternativesalternatives

– Approach-avoidance conflictApproach-avoidance conflict Conflict arising when the same choice has Conflict arising when the same choice has

desirable and undesirable featuresdesirable and undesirable features

How do choice-related conflicts How do choice-related conflicts and lack of control contribute and lack of control contribute to stress?to stress?

People feel less stress when a stressor is People feel less stress when a stressor is predictable than when it is unpredictablepredictable than when it is unpredictable

People also feel less stress when they People also feel less stress when they have a sense of control over a situationhave a sense of control over a situation– Langer & Rodin (1976): Nursing home Langer & Rodin (1976): Nursing home

residents are healthier and happier when residents are healthier and happier when they feel they have control over some they feel they have control over some aspects of their livesaspects of their lives

– Glass & Singer (1972): Loud noises are less Glass & Singer (1972): Loud noises are less stressful when participants can terminate stressful when participants can terminate the noise, even if they don’t choose to do sothe noise, even if they don’t choose to do so

For people to function effectively For people to function effectively and find satisfaction on the job, and find satisfaction on the job, what nine variables should fall what nine variables should fall within their comfort zone?within their comfort zone?

According to Albrecht (1979), effective According to Albrecht (1979), effective functioning and job satisfaction depend on functioning and job satisfaction depend on nine variables being within one’s comfort zone nine variables being within one’s comfort zone – WorkloadWorkload– Clarity of job description and evaluation criteriaClarity of job description and evaluation criteria– Physical variablesPhysical variables– Job statusJob status– AccountabilityAccountability– Task varietyTask variety– Human contactHuman contact– Physical challengePhysical challenge– Mental challengeMental challenge

How do people typically react How do people typically react to catastrophic events?to catastrophic events?

Most people cope well with Most people cope well with catastrophic eventscatastrophic events

But some develop But some develop posttraumatic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)stress disorder (PTSD)– A prolonged, severe stress reaction, often A prolonged, severe stress reaction, often

characterized by flashbacks or nightmarescharacterized by flashbacks or nightmares– PTSD is associated with increased risk of PTSD is associated with increased risk of

suicide, depression, and alcohol abusesuicide, depression, and alcohol abuse

How do racism, socioeconomic How do racism, socioeconomic status, and unemployment status, and unemployment affect health?affect health? Some researchers believe that African Some researchers believe that African

Americans have higher blood pressure Americans have higher blood pressure than other groups because of stress due than other groups because of stress due to to historical racismhistorical racism

People with low People with low socioeconomic statussocioeconomic status have more stress-related health have more stress-related health problems than those with higher statusproblems than those with higher status– Although perceived status may be more Although perceived status may be more

predictive of health problems than actual predictive of health problems than actual statusstatus

Unemployment is also associated with Unemployment is also associated with increased incidence of health problemsincreased incidence of health problems

Responding to StressResponding to Stress

Psychologists have different views Psychologists have different views of the ways in which people of the ways in which people respond to stressful experiences. respond to stressful experiences. Each approach can help us gain Each approach can help us gain insight into our own experiences insight into our own experiences to deal more effectively with to deal more effectively with stress.stress.

What is the general adaptation What is the general adaptation syndrome?syndrome?

Proposed by Hans Selye (1907-1982)Proposed by Hans Selye (1907-1982) The The general adaptation syndromegeneral adaptation syndrome

((GAS)GAS) is a predictable sequence of is a predictable sequence of reactions that organisms show in reactions that organisms show in response to stressorsresponse to stressors

It consists of three stagesIt consists of three stages– Alarm stageAlarm stage– Resistance stageResistance stage– Exhaustion stageExhaustion stage

Alarm stageAlarm stage– Adrenal cortex releases Adrenal cortex releases glucocorticoidsglucocorticoids– Increased heart rate, blood pressure, blood Increased heart rate, blood pressure, blood

sugar energize body for fight or flightsugar energize body for fight or flight Resistance stageResistance stage

– Intense physiological efforts made to resist or Intense physiological efforts made to resist or adapt to stressoradapt to stressor

Exhaustion stageExhaustion stage– Occurs if organism fails to resist or adapt to Occurs if organism fails to resist or adapt to

stressorstressor– Stores of energy are depleted, resulting in Stores of energy are depleted, resulting in

exhaustion and eventually death exhaustion and eventually death

What is the general adaptation What is the general adaptation syndrome?syndrome?

What are the roles of primary and What are the roles of primary and secondary appraisals when a person secondary appraisals when a person is confronted with a potentially is confronted with a potentially stressful event?stressful event?

Primary appraisalPrimary appraisal– Cognitive evaluation of a potentially stressful Cognitive evaluation of a potentially stressful

situation to determine if its effect is positive, situation to determine if its effect is positive, negative, or irrelevantnegative, or irrelevant

Secondary appraisalSecondary appraisal– Cognitive evaluation of available resources Cognitive evaluation of available resources

and options for dealing with a stressful and options for dealing with a stressful situationsituation

– Level of perceived stress is largely based on Level of perceived stress is largely based on whether one’s resources are perceived as whether one’s resources are perceived as adequate for dealing with the stressoradequate for dealing with the stressor

What is the difference between What is the difference between problem-focused and emotion -problem-focused and emotion -focused coping?focused coping? Problem-focused copingProblem-focused coping

– A direct response aimed at reducing, A direct response aimed at reducing, modifying, or eliminating a source of stressmodifying, or eliminating a source of stress

Emotion-focused copingEmotion-focused coping– A response involving reappraisal of a stressor A response involving reappraisal of a stressor

to reduce its emotional impactto reduce its emotional impact A combination of these strategies is A combination of these strategies is

probably the best stress-management probably the best stress-management techniquetechnique– e.g., a heart-disease patient making lifestyle e.g., a heart-disease patient making lifestyle

changes such as diet and exercise (problem-changes such as diet and exercise (problem-focused) and maintaining an optimistic focused) and maintaining an optimistic outlook to deal with anxiety (emotion-outlook to deal with anxiety (emotion-focused)focused)

Health and IllnessHealth and Illness

WellnessWellness is a term associated with a is a term associated with a new approach to thinking about new approach to thinking about health, encompassing a growing health, encompassing a growing emphasis on lifestyle, preventive care, emphasis on lifestyle, preventive care, and the need to maintain wellness and the need to maintain wellness rather than thinking of health matters rather than thinking of health matters only when the body is sick. only when the body is sick.

How do the biomedical and How do the biomedical and biopsychosocial models differ in biopsychosocial models differ in their approaches to health and their approaches to health and illness?illness?

Biomedical modelBiomedical model– A perspective that explains illness solely in A perspective that explains illness solely in

terms of biological factorsterms of biological factors– The predominant view in medicine for The predominant view in medicine for

many decadesmany decades Biopsychosocial modelBiopsychosocial model

– A perspective that views health and illness A perspective that views health and illness as determined by a combination of as determined by a combination of biological, psychological, and social factorsbiological, psychological, and social factors

– Growing acceptance of this model has Growing acceptance of this model has given rise to the field of given rise to the field of health health psychologypsychology

What are the Type A, Type B, What are the Type A, Type B, and Type D behavior patterns?and Type D behavior patterns?

Type A behavior patternType A behavior pattern– Time urgency, impatience, competitiveness, hostility, Time urgency, impatience, competitiveness, hostility,

and angerand anger– Associated with increased risk for coronary heart Associated with increased risk for coronary heart

diseasedisease Type B behavior patternType B behavior pattern

– Relaxed, easygoing approach to life, without time Relaxed, easygoing approach to life, without time urgency, competitiveness, and hostility urgency, competitiveness, and hostility

– Associated with lower risk of coronary heart diseaseAssociated with lower risk of coronary heart disease Type D behavior patternType D behavior pattern

– Emotional distress combined with tendency to Emotional distress combined with tendency to suppress negative emotionssuppress negative emotions

– Associated with increased risk of coronary heart Associated with increased risk of coronary heart diseasedisease

How do psychological factors How do psychological factors influence cancer patients’ influence cancer patients’ quality of life?quality of life? Research has identified several Research has identified several

psychological factors that can improve psychological factors that can improve quality of life and reduce distress in quality of life and reduce distress in cancer patientscancer patients– Maintaining an optimistic outlookMaintaining an optimistic outlook– Accepting the reality of the situationAccepting the reality of the situation– Keeping a sense of humorKeeping a sense of humor– Social supportSocial support

Coping strategies that increase Coping strategies that increase distress includedistress include– DenialDenial– Social withdrawalSocial withdrawal

What personal and social What personal and social factors are associated with factors are associated with health and resistance to health and resistance to stress?stress? OptimismOptimism

– Optimists are more stress-resistant than Optimists are more stress-resistant than pessimists, and had lower death rates in a pessimists, and had lower death rates in a long-term study in Finlandlong-term study in Finland

HardinessHardiness– Combination of commitment, control, and Combination of commitment, control, and

challengechallenge– Hardy individuals tend to remain healthy Hardy individuals tend to remain healthy

despite high levels of stressdespite high levels of stress

What personal and social What personal and social factors are associated with factors are associated with health and resistance to health and resistance to stress?stress? Religious faithReligious faith

– Religious involvement is associated with Religious involvement is associated with lower rates of cancer, heart disease, and lower rates of cancer, heart disease, and strokestroke

Social SupportSocial Support– Tangible and/or emotional support provided Tangible and/or emotional support provided

by family members, friends, and othersby family members, friends, and others– People with high levels of social support People with high levels of social support

Are less likely to catch coldsAre less likely to catch colds Have lower levels of depression when suffering Have lower levels of depression when suffering

from chronic illnessesfrom chronic illnesses Recover faster from illnessRecover faster from illness Have higher probability of surviving a heart attackHave higher probability of surviving a heart attack

Lifestyle and HealthLifestyle and Health

Researchers have found that people Researchers have found that people are more likely to adopt healthy are more likely to adopt healthy behaviors if they believe behavioral behaviors if they believe behavioral change will make them look better or change will make them look better or appear more youthful than if they appear more youthful than if they simply receive information about the simply receive information about the health benefits of the suggested health benefits of the suggested change. change.

Still, there are some health-Still, there are some health-threatening behaviors that carry such threatening behaviors that carry such grave risks that everyone ought to grave risks that everyone ought to take them seriously.take them seriously.

Why is smoking the most Why is smoking the most dangerous health -threatening dangerous health -threatening behavior?behavior? Smoking is the #1 cause of preventable Smoking is the #1 cause of preventable

diseases and deaths in the USAdiseases and deaths in the USA– Directly related to over 400,000 deaths each Directly related to over 400,000 deaths each

yearyear Smoking is related toSmoking is related to

– Heart disease, lung cancer, chronic bronchitisHeart disease, lung cancer, chronic bronchitis– Low birth weight and retarded fetal Low birth weight and retarded fetal

development in babies born of smoking development in babies born of smoking mothersmothers

Passive smoking is related toPassive smoking is related to– Increased risk of heart attackIncreased risk of heart attack

What are some health risks of What are some health risks of alcohol abuse?alcohol abuse?

Excessive alcohol consumption can Excessive alcohol consumption can damage virtually every organ in the body, damage virtually every organ in the body, including the liver, stomach, heart, and including the liver, stomach, heart, and brainbrain– CT scans show brain shrinkage in alcoholicsCT scans show brain shrinkage in alcoholics

Compared to nonalcoholics, alcoholicsCompared to nonalcoholics, alcoholics– Are three times more likely to die in car Are three times more likely to die in car

accidents accidents – Are twice as likely to die of cancerAre twice as likely to die of cancer

Recent studies suggest that brain-imaging Recent studies suggest that brain-imaging techniques may someday be able to techniques may someday be able to identify individuals who have a genetic identify individuals who have a genetic predisposition for alcoholismpredisposition for alcoholism