Psychology in Action (8e) by Karen Huffman Chapter 3: Stress and Health Psychology Karen Huffman, Palomar College Presented by: Mani Rafiee

Lecture Overview Understanding Stress Stress and Illness Health Psychology in Action Health and Stress Management

Understanding Stress What is Stress? A nonspecific response of the body to any stressor; the arousal, both physical and mental, to situations or events that we perceive as threatening or challenging.

Understanding Stress: Sources of Stress

Understanding Stress: Sources of Stress (Continued) Cataclysmic Events: stressors that occur suddenly and generally affect many people simultaneously

Understanding Stress: Sources of Stress (Continued) Chronic Stressors: ongoing, long lasting, unpleasant events

Understanding Stress: Sources of Stress (Continued) Life Changes: life events that require some adjustment in behavior or lifestyle

Understanding Stress: Sources of Stress (Continued)

Understanding Stress: Sources of Stress (Continued) Hassles:: small, everyday problems that accumulate to become source of stress

Understanding Stress: Sources of Stress (Continued) Occupation Burnout: state of psychological and physical exhaustion resulting from chronic exposure to high levels of stress and little personal control

Understanding Stress: Sources of Stress (Continued) Frustration unpleasant tension resulting from a blocked goal Conflict forced choice between two or more incompatible goals or impulses

Understanding Stress: Sources of Stress (Continued) Three Types of Conflict Approach-Approach: forced choice between two or more desirable alternatives Avoidance-Avoidance: forced choice between two or more undesirable alternatives Approach-Avoidance: forced choice between two or more alternatives both having desirable and undesirable results

Understanding Stress: Effects of Stress Sympathetic Nervous System HPA Axis

Understanding Stress: Effects of Stress (Continued) Stress and the HPA Axis: Prolonged elevation of cortisol is related to: increased depression, memory problems, etc. impaired immune system, which leaves the body vulnerable to disease.

Understanding Stress: Effects of Stress (Continued) Stress and the Immune System Psychoneuroimmunology: interdisciplinary field that studies the effect of psychological factors on the immune system

Understanding Stress: Effects of Stress (Continued) Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome Alarm Resistance Exhaustion

Stress and Illness Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): anxiety disorder following exposure to extraordinary stress Gastric Ulcers: caused by bacteria or stress? Cancer: related to hereditary disposition and environmental factors Cardiovascular Disorders: contributing factors include stress hormones, certain personality types, and certain behaviors

Stress and Illness (Continued)

Health Psychology in Action Health Psychology: studies how biological, psychological, and social factors affect health and illness Major Health Risks: Tobacco Alcohol and Binge Drinking Chronic Pain (lasting over 6 months)

Health Psychology in Action (Continued) Does this graph surprise you? Smokers often overestimate their risk of dying from homicide and traffic accidents, and greatly underestimate the risk from smoking.

Health and Stress Management Two major approaches to coping with stress: emotion-focused (changing one's perception of stressful situations) problem-focused (using problem-solving strategies to decrease or eliminate the source of stress)

Health and Stress Management (Continued) Our emotional reaction to stress largely depends on how we interpret it.

Health and Stress Management (Continued) Resources for Healthy Living Health and Exercise Positive Beliefs Social Skills Social Support Material Resources Control (Internal locus of control) Relaxation

Stress and Health Psychology Psychology in Action (8e) by Karen Huffman Chapter 3: Stress and Health Psychology Presented by: Mani rafiee