Stress and Health: How psychological factors can affect our immune system

Central Nervous System Brain and Spinal Cord Brain and Spinal Cord Spinal Cord Brain

Peripheral Nervous System 3 kinds of neurons 3 kinds of neurons –sensory –motor –interneurons Spinal Cord Brain Nerves

Peripheral Nervous System Peripheral NS Somatic NS Autonomic NS

Peripheral Nervous System Peripheral NS Somatic NS Autonomic NS Sympathetic NSParasympathetic NS

Sympathetic “ Fight or flight” response “ Fight or flight” response Brain Spinal cord Dilates pupil Inhibits salivation Increases Respiration Accelerates heartbeat Inhibits activity Stimulates glucose Secretion of adrenaline, noradrenaline, cortisol Relaxes bladder Salivary glands Lungs Heart Stomach Pancreas Liver Adrenal gland Kidney

Parasympathetic “ Rest and digest” system “ Rest and digest” system Brain Spinal cord Stimulates salivation Constricts bronchi Slows heartbeat Stimulates activity Contracts bladder Stimulates gallbladder Gallbladder Contracts pupil liver processes fat

Summary of autonomic differences Autonomic nervous system controls physiological arousal Sympathetic division (arousing) Parasympathetic division (calming) Pupils dilate EYES Pupils contract Decreases SALIVATION Increases Perspires SKIN Dries Increases RESPIRATION Decreases Accelerates HEART Slows Inhibits DIGESTION Activates Secrete stress hormones ADRENAL GLANDS Decrease secretion of stress hormones

Psychoneuroimmunology The study of how psychological factors can affect health and illness The study of how psychological factors can affect health and illness There is an interaction between the brain and the immune system: emotional/cognitive/behavioral events result in physiological events. There is an interaction between the brain and the immune system: emotional/cognitive/behavioral events result in physiological events.

Definition Stress: An internal state involving cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioral disturbances Stress: An internal state involving cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioral disturbances –distress –eustress Stressor: An environmental event capable of evoking stress Stressor: An environmental event capable of evoking stress

Three (really four) Kinds of Stressors 1. Catastrophe: an unpredictable, large-scale event that creates a tremendous need to adapt and adjust as well as overwhelming feelings of threat. 2. Major Life Events: life events that cause change 3. Hassles: daily annoyances 4. Chronic Role Strains

Acculturative Stress stress resulting from the need to change and adapt a person’s ways to the majority culture.stress resulting from the need to change and adapt a person’s ways to the majority culture. Four Methods of Acculturation: Four Methods of Acculturation: –Integration –Assimilation –Separation –Marginalization

Need vs. Don’t Need Oxygen Oxygen Nutrients Nutrients Blood Blood Energy Energy –glucose –cholesterol Senses Senses Immune system Immune system Growth/Tissue repair Growth/Tissue repair Long-term nutrient storage Long-term nutrient storage Reproduction Reproduction Digestion Digestion

Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome 1. Alarm 2. Resistance 3. Exhaustion

The Immune System the system of cells, organs, and chemicals of the body that responds to attacks from diseases, infections, and injuries.the system of cells, organs, and chemicals of the body that responds to attacks from diseases, infections, and injuries. –Natural killer cell - immune system cell responsible for suppressing viruses and destroying tumor cells.

Evolution of Research Initial Research: S—>R Initial Research: S—>R –Nothing cognitive intervenes between a stressful event (stressor) and a stress response Modern Research: S—>O—>R Modern Research: S—>O—>R –Cognitions intervene between a stressful event (stressor) and a stress response

What affects how we perceive stress? STRESSOR COGNITION (PERCEPTION) FEELING “STRESSED” “There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so.” (Hamlet, Act II, Scene 2, line 259).

The Importance of Perception Lazarus (1956): Circumcision Study Lazarus (1956): Circumcision Study –All subjects watch a bloody circumcision. –Three IV conditions are created: Painless Painless Focus on Ritual Focus on Ritual Control Condition Control Condition –DV: Skin conductance level

The Stress Process

Appraisal Stress = Perceived – Perceived Demands Resources

Appraisal Factors Explanatory style (Optimism vs. Pessimism) Explanatory style (Optimism vs. Pessimism) Self-efficacy Self-efficacy Sense of humor Sense of humor Sense of control Sense of control

Appraisal Factors: Personality Style Type A Type A –hostility Type B Type B Type C Type C Hardiness Hardiness

Coping: How to deal Problem-Focused Coping Problem-Focused Copingvs. Emotion-Focused Coping Emotion-Focused Coping

Coping: Forgiveness physiological response to ‘letting things go’ physiological response to ‘letting things go’ provides empathy provides empathy NOT the same as forgetting NOT the same as forgetting

Coping: Rethinking the Problem Reappraisal Reappraisal Learning from experience Learning from experience Social comparison Social comparison sense of humor sense of humor

Coping Ideas Exercise Exercise Social support Social support Timing Timing good diet, sleep, relaxation good diet, sleep, relaxation get married ! (maybe) get married ! (maybe)

Pennebaker (1988)- Affect Expression Students in one of two conditions for 4 days: Students in one of two conditions for 4 days: 1.write about traumatic events in their lives they had not previously discussed much with others OR 2.write about trivial topics mood, BP, HR, immunological tests before, after and 6 weeks after experiment mood, BP, HR, immunological tests before, after and 6 weeks after experiment initially, group 1 felt worse initially, group 1 felt worse over time, group 1 had better immune system functioning over time, group 1 had better immune system functioning WHY? WHY?

Meditation: Learn to relax! Studies have shown meditation to increase coping ability and lessen stress Studies have shown meditation to increase coping ability and lessen stress Subsequently, this increases immune system functioning Subsequently, this increases immune system functioning

Burnout characterized by exhaustion, cynicism, and inefficacy characterized by exhaustion, cynicism, and inefficacy Work-related burnout and risk of cardiovascular disease Work-related burnout and risk of cardiovascular disease Students and burnout Students and burnout Burnout contagion Burnout contagion Vacations and burnout Vacations and burnout Jung’s natural efficiency and ‘falsification of type’ Jung’s natural efficiency and ‘falsification of type’