Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada 1 Health, Stress, and Coping Chapter 15
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada 2 Chapter Outline What is stress?What is stress? The stress-illness mysteryThe stress-illness mystery The physiology of stressThe physiology of stress The psychology of stressThe psychology of stress Coping with stressCoping with stress
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada 3 What is Stress? Stress is subjective; can include:Stress is subjective; can include: –sudden traumatic experiences –continuing pressures that seem uncontrollable –small irritations that wear you down Holmes and Rahe developed the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS)Holmes and Rahe developed the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) –a stress scale that rates the degree to which life events are stressful
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada 4 Daily Hassles SRRS considers both positive and negative events as stressfulSRRS considers both positive and negative events as stressful Most stress, however, comes from a series of little stressors, or daily hassles, that include irritations and demands that occur in daily lifeMost stress, however, comes from a series of little stressors, or daily hassles, that include irritations and demands that occur in daily life Stress reactions to hassles may predict one’s stress toward major life eventsStress reactions to hassles may predict one’s stress toward major life events
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada 5 Common Stressors Work-Related ProblemsWork-Related Problems NoiseNoise Bereavement and LossBereavement and Loss Poverty, Powerlessness, and RacismPoverty, Powerlessness, and Racism Recent ImmigrationRecent Immigration
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada 6 The Stress-Illness Mystery Stressors can increase illness when they:Stressors can increase illness when they: –severely disrupt a person’s life –are uncontrollable –are chronic (i.e., lasting at least 6 months)
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada 7 Stress and the Common Cold
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada 8 The Physiology of Stress General adaptation syndromeGeneral adaptation syndrome There are three phases in responding to stressors:There are three phases in responding to stressors: –Alarm –Resistance –Exhaustion Goal is to minimize wear and tear on the systemGoal is to minimize wear and tear on the system
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada 9 The Physiology of Stress General adaptation syndromeGeneral adaptation syndrome There are three phases in responding to stressors:There are three phases in responding to stressors: –Alarm –Resistance –Exhaustion Goal is to minimize wear and tear on the systemGoal is to minimize wear and tear on the system
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada 10 The Brain and the Body Under Stress
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada 11 Current Approaches HPA (Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal cortex axis)HPA (Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal cortex axis) –A system activated to energize the body to respond to stressors –The hypothalamus sends chemical messengers to the pituitary gland –The pituitary gland prompts the adrenal cortex to produce cortisol and other hormones
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada 12 Psychology, Neurology and the Immune System Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI)Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) –The study of the relationships among psychology, the nervous and endocrine systems and the immune system Psychological factors explain why not all people are stressed the same amount by the same thingsPsychological factors explain why not all people are stressed the same amount by the same things
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada 13 The Psychology of Stress Emotions and illnessEmotions and illness Managing negative emotionsManaging negative emotions Explanatory stylesExplanatory styles The sense of controlThe sense of control –The benefits of control –The limits of control
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada 14 Emotions and Illness Hostility and heart diseaseHostility and heart disease –Type A Personality: Determined to achieve, sense of time urgency, irritable, respond to threat or challenge very quickly, and impatient with obstacles –Type B Personality: Calmer and less intense. Personality type is less predictive of health problems than is hostilityPersonality type is less predictive of health problems than is hostility –Proneness to anger is a major risk factor
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada 15 Hostility and Heart Disease Men with highest hostility scores as young medical students had higher rates of heart disease 25 years laterMen with highest hostility scores as young medical students had higher rates of heart disease 25 years later Hostility is more hazardous than a heavy workloadHostility is more hazardous than a heavy workload
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada 16 Positive Emotions Longitudinal study of 180 Catholic nuns found that longevity was related to frequency of positive emotions:Longitudinal study of 180 Catholic nuns found that longevity was related to frequency of positive emotions: –Examples include happiness, interest, love, hope, gratitude, and contentment Nuns whose life stories contained the most words describing positive emotions lived on the average of 9 years longerNuns whose life stories contained the most words describing positive emotions lived on the average of 9 years longer
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada 17 Managing Negative Emotions Two studies followed 1000 people for many yearsTwo studies followed 1000 people for many years Those who had been clinically depressed at the outset were 2-4 times more likely to have a heart attack than non-depressed people wereThose who had been clinically depressed at the outset were 2-4 times more likely to have a heart attack than non-depressed people were Other research failed to find the linkOther research failed to find the link
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada 18 Emotional Inhibition Emotional Inhibition: A personality trait involving a tendency to deny feelings of anger, anxiety, or fear; in stressful situations, physiological responses such as heart rate and blood pressure rise sharplyEmotional Inhibition: A personality trait involving a tendency to deny feelings of anger, anxiety, or fear; in stressful situations, physiological responses such as heart rate and blood pressure rise sharply People who display this trait are at greater risk of becoming ill than people who can acknowledge feelingsPeople who display this trait are at greater risk of becoming ill than people who can acknowledge feelings
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada 19 The Benefits of Confession Research on confession: divulging private thoughts and feelings that make you ashamed or depressedResearch on confession: divulging private thoughts and feelings that make you ashamed or depressed Can also give up thoughts that produce grudges and replace them with different perspectivesCan also give up thoughts that produce grudges and replace them with different perspectives Forgiving thoughtsForgiving thoughts
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada 20 Optimism and Pessimism Studies have shown that those with optimistic explanatory styles, in comparison to pessimistic styles, tend to:Studies have shown that those with optimistic explanatory styles, in comparison to pessimistic styles, tend to: –Live longer –Be active problem-solvers –Don’t give up or escape –Keep a sense of humour
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada 21 The Sense of Control Locus of ControlLocus of Control –A general expectation about whether the results of your actions are under your own control (internal locus) or beyond your control (external locus) Feelings of control can reduce or even eliminate the relationship between stressors and healthFeelings of control can reduce or even eliminate the relationship between stressors and health
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada 22 Benefits of Control When exposed to cold viruses, those who feel they are out of control are more likely to develop coldsWhen exposed to cold viruses, those who feel they are out of control are more likely to develop colds Low-income individuals with high levels of control report similar quality of life to high- income individualsLow-income individuals with high levels of control report similar quality of life to high- income individuals Managers and executives have fewer illnessesManagers and executives have fewer illnesses African-American individuals reporting more control have less problems with hypertensionAfrican-American individuals reporting more control have less problems with hypertension Nursing home residents with greater control over activities are more alert, happier and live longerNursing home residents with greater control over activities are more alert, happier and live longer
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada 23 The Limits of Control Primary Control (Western Cultures)Primary Control (Western Cultures) –An effort to modify reality by changing other people, the situation, or events; a “fighting back” philosophy Secondary Control (Eastern Cultures)Secondary Control (Eastern Cultures) –An effort to accept reality by changing your own attitudes, goals, or emotions; a “learn to live with it” philosophy
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada 24 Coping with Stress Cooling offCooling off Solving the problemSolving the problem Rethinking the problemRethinking the problem Drawing on social supportDrawing on social support Healing through helpingHealing through helping
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada 25 Cooling Off Relaxation TrainingRelaxation Training –Learning to alternately tense and relax muscles, lie or sit quietly, or meditate by clearing the mind; has beneficial effects by lowering stress hormones and enhancing immune function Massage therapyMassage therapy Exercise is also an excellent stress relieverExercise is also an excellent stress reliever
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada 26 Fitness and Health Among those with low stress, fit and less-fit people had similar levels of health problemsAmong those with low stress, fit and less-fit people had similar levels of health problems Among those with high stress, there were fewer health problems among people who were more fitAmong those with high stress, there were fewer health problems among people who were more fit
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada 27 Solving the Problem Emotion-focused and problem-focused copingEmotion-focused and problem-focused coping Effective Cognitive Coping Methods:Effective Cognitive Coping Methods: –Reappraising the situation –Learning from the experience –Making social comparisons –Cultivating a sense of humour
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada 28 Rethinking the Problem Reappraising the situationReappraising the situation Learning from the experienceLearning from the experience Making social comparisonsMaking social comparisons Cultivating a sense of humourCultivating a sense of humour
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada 29 Drawing on Social Support Friends can help with coping:Friends can help with coping: –People with network of close connections live longer than those who do not –After heart attack, those with no close contacts were twice as likely to die Relationships can also cause stressRelationships can also cause stress Giving support to others can be a valuable source of comfortGiving support to others can be a valuable source of comfort
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada 30 When Men Ask for Help The man thinks the problem is “normal”The man thinks the problem is “normal” The problem is not central to the man’s self-conceptThe problem is not central to the man’s self-concept The man can reciprocate the helpThe man can reciprocate the help Other men support his decision to seek helpOther men support his decision to seek help
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada 31 When Friends Aren’t Helpful Many are stressed by their responsibilities of caring for othersMany are stressed by their responsibilities of caring for others In close relationships the person of support may also be the source of stressIn close relationships the person of support may also be the source of stress –Married couples who argue in a hostile way have increased elevations of stress hormones and immune deficiency Friends may be unsupportive or block your progress toward a goalFriends may be unsupportive or block your progress toward a goal
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada 32 Healing Through Helping Coping by giving support to othersCoping by giving support to others Stimulates optimismStimulates optimism Restores feelings of controlRestores feelings of control Encourages problem solvingEncourages problem solving Reduces blaming or ventingReduces blaming or venting Reappraisal: gain perspectiveReappraisal: gain perspective