Thinking About Psychology: The Science of Mind and Behavior 2e Charles T. Blair-Broeker Randal M. Ernst

Biopsychological Domain

Stress and Health Chapter

How does stress affect our mental health? Student Outcomes: Upon completion of this module the student will be able to: Understand how stress can affect us psychologically as well as physically. ­­Define stress. Identify emotional and physiological responses to stress. Apply Selye’s theory of General adaptation Syndrome (GAS) to various situations. Identify three main types of stressors and how they affect our health. Examine how our outlook and feelings of control influence our health. Evaluate their stress levels and ability to cope with stress.

Effects of Stress Module 12

Module 12: Effects of Stress

Why do psychologists study stress? When someone is under chronic stress, it begins to negatively affect his or her physical and mental health. The body’s stress response was not made to be continuously engaged. Chronic stress increases the risk of developing health problems including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and a weakened immune system. Chronic stress also affects a person’s mental health.

According to the American Psychological Association’s latest stress survey, 66% of people regularly experience physical symptoms of stress and 63% experience psychological problems. Many studies show a correlation between stress and the development of disorders such as anxiety and depression.

Stress The process by which we perceive and respond to certain events, called stressors, that we appraise as threatening or challenging Is a process of perceiving and responding The response is called a stress reaction.

Recent Research Findings: 1. Chronic stress causes more myelin-producing cells and fewer neurons. This disrupts the balance in the brain, causing communication in the brain cells to lose normal timing, which could lead to problems especially in learning and memory skills.

2. People with stress disorders such as PTSD have alterations in their brain connectivity. This might lead to a stronger connection between the hippocampus and the amygdale (processes fight or flight response) and therefore the response to fear is more rapid. It might also cause a weaker connectivity between the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (area that moderates the responses) and thus impairing the ability to calm down and shut off the response. Therefore in a stressful situation, a person with this imbalance will have a stronger response with a limited ability to shut down that response.  

Stress Psychologists define stress as the process by which we perceive and respond to events, called stressors, that we appraise as threatening or challenging.  Stress is a process of perceiving and responding. How we appraise an event can make a huge difference in what we experience and how we effectively respond.

This is why we all experience different levels of stress for different situations. For example, you are going on a first date and notice a big pimple on your nose. Most psychologists would say neither the date nor the pimple is stress. Rather the date is a stressor and the pimple is a stress reaction (although it may become a stressor as well).Remember, stress is a process of perceiving and responding.

Stress test activity Handout: Understanding and dealing with stress

Stress: Responding to Stress Module 12: Effects of Stress

Stress in inevitable, unhealthy responses to it are not! Our emotional responses to stressors vary, but our physical responses share some important similarities! Read pg 623

Walter Cannon was a physiologist who found that a number of situations trigger the release of stress hormones into the nervous system As part of its stress response, the NS does the following: increased heartrate, dulls pain sensation, sends more blood to your larger muscles to prepare for fight or flight

Responding to Stress

Responding to Stress

Responding to Stress

Hans Selye (1907-1982) Psychologist who researched recurring responses to stress the he called the general adaptation syndrome (GAS)

General Adaptation Syndrome Selye’s concept of the body’s adaptive response to stress in three stages Alarm Resistance Exhaustion

General Adaptation Syndrome Alarm Reaction – nervous system activated in response to stressor Resistance – body responds with physiological reactions to cope with the stressor Exhaustion – body’s resistance to stress is depleted (physical deterioration)

General Adaptation Syndrome

General Adaptation Syndrome

General Adaptation Syndrome

Selye’s Bottom Line Our bodies are built to handle temporary stress but prolonged stress will produce physical deterioration. Constant flood of stress hormones can correspond with the shrinking of the hippocampus (memory)

Group Activity Apply Selye’s theory by giving an example of how a person would act, in each of the stress stages, to the following life events: A five year old going to school for the first time A person in a abusive relationship A nurse working in the emergency room of a large city hospital A person dealing with the death of a family member

Stress: Stressful Events Module 12: Effects of Stress

A)Daily stress: the persistent daily hassles that are part of daily work life can produce burnout Burnout: Physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion brought on by persistent job-related stress Burnout can result in: Depression Decreased performance Cynicism P. 625

B)Significant Life Changes Stress can be the result of personal life changes Death of a loved one Leaving home for college Can result in health problems

C)Catastrophes Large scale stress events (i.e. earthquakes, floods, war, etc.) Prolonged exposure can lead to physical and psychological problems.

Major Effects of Stress Whether you are experiencing immediate or short term stress, or have been experiencing it for a long time, your body and mind may be showing the effects. In your group, brainstorm: Cognitive effects of stress, emotional effects of stress, behavioral effects of stress, physical effects of stress

Cognitive Effects of Stress Increase in forgetting, memory issues, difficulty in concentrating, poor judgement and DM, pessimistic outlook, increase in anxious thoughts, constant worrying

Emotional Effects Increased mood swings, irritation, short temper, inability to relax and enjoy normal things, feeling overwhelmed, new sense of loneliness/isolation, general unhappiness, depression

Behavioral Effects Change in eating, sleeping, isolation from other human interaction, procrastination, neglecting responsibilities, need or dependency of alcohol or drugs to relax, development of nervous habits

Physical Effects Development of aches and pains, irregular bowel movements, increased nausea, increase in BP, dec. in sex drive, colds that won’t go away, skin inflammation

Effects of Perceived Control Module 12: Effects of Stress

Perceived Control The sense of control or influence one has over stressful events in one’s life(internal vs external locus of control) Most studies suggest the lower the perceived control the larger the potential for health-related problems Lower perceived control leads to a lowered immunity to disease.

Control and Stress Play “Coping with Stress: Control and Predictability” (2:49) Module #22 from The Brain: Teaching Modules (2nd edition).

Optimism A generally positive outlook on the future; belief that bad events are temporary, are not your fault; glass is half full Optimists have stronger immune systems and recover faster from health problems. Opposite of pessimism

An optimistic approach to life seems to offer some protection against the effects of stress: Optimists have stronger immune systems and are less likely to become ill or fatigued during the last month of the semester! Optimists tend to recover faster from health problems such as heart surgery. Optimists when stressed register lower blood pressure levels.

Why are optimism and a perceived sense of control connected to good health? Pessimism and perceived lack of control both produce more stress hormones. The body must work to rid the body of the stress hormones, therefore you are using up your reserves of disease-fighting white blood cells. This hinders your immune system and your ability to fight off disease Surgical wounds heal more slowly under stressful conditions

Interesting Point One’s level of optimism is closely linked to the mother’s level of optimism. Is your mother optimistic or pessimistic?

Stress and Disease: Cancer and Stress Module 12: Effects of Stress

Stress-Cancer Connection Evidence for a connection is not conclusive. Two conclusions: Stress does not create cancer cells. Stress affects the body’s malignancy- fighting ability.

Health or Illness The effect of life events depends on several factors, including how you appraise the situation and your personal outlook. Draw diagram in notes.

Type A Term for competitive, hard-driving, impatient, verbally aggressive, and anger-prone. More prone to heart attacks and other stress related illnesses.

Type B Individuals who are easygoing, relaxed people

The End

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