UNDERSTANDING RESPONSES TO STRESS Chapter 11 UNDERSTANDING RESPONSES TO STRESS

Stress A broad class of experiences in which a demanding situation taxes a person’s resources, or coping capabilities, causing a negative effect

Early Stress-Response Theories Walter Cannon Fight-or-flight response Body prepares for situation that individual perceives as threat to survival New research indicates that men and women have different neural responses to stress

Early Stress-Response Theories Continued Hans Selye General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) Three stages Alarm or acute stress stage Resistance or adaptation stage Exhaustion stage Psychological reactions (Lazarus) Distress Eustress

Neurotransmitter Stress Responses Serotonin synthesis more active May impair serotonin receptor sights and brain’s ability to use serotonin

Immune Stress Responses Interaction between nervous system and immune system during alarm phase of GAS Negatively affects body’s ability to produce protective factors

Types of Conflict Approach-Avoidance Avoidance-Avoidance Vacillation

Mediators of the Stress Response Stressors Perception Personality Social support

Mediators of the Stress Response Continued Self-help groups Low- and high-quality support Culture Spirituality and religious beliefs

Nursing Management of Stress Responses Measuring stress Social Readjustment Rating Scale (Holmes and Rahe; 1967, 1978, 1997) Measures level of positive and negative stressful life events over a 1-year period Assessing coping styles

Coping Strategies Seeking comfort Relying on self-discipline Intense expression of feeling Avoidance and withdrawal Talking it out Privately thinking it through Working it off

Coping Strategies - continued Engaging in self-healing and mind/body practices Spirituality and prayer Symbolic substitutes Somatizing

Behavior Stress-Management Techniques Benson’s relaxation techniques Meditation Guided imagery Breathing exercises

Behavior Stress-Management Techniques Continued Physical exercise Progressive muscle relaxation Biofeedback

Cognitive Approaches to Stress Management Cognitive reframing Mindfulness Journaling Humor