Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-1 Health, Stress, and Coping Chapter 15
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-2 Chapter Outline 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 How Much Control Do We Have Over Our Health?How Much Control Do We Have Over Our Health?
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-3 Health & Stress Health psychologyHealth psychology –Studying the biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors that influence health and illness What is stress?What is stress? –Subjective experience that can include sudden traumatic experiences, continuing pressures that seem uncontrollable, & small irritations that wear you down
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-4 Measuring Stress Daily stressors or hassles can add up to significant stress over timeDaily stressors or hassles can add up to significant stress over time –People tend to seek help for major life events and not hassles, which helps to explain detrimental effect Stressfulness of life events may be rated by using Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS)Stressfulness of life events may be rated by using Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS)
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-5 Stress-Illness Mystery Stressors: stressful experiences or situationsStressors: stressful experiences or situations Common stressors:Common stressors: –Work-related problems –Noise –Bereavement and loss –Poverty, powerlessness, and low status –Recent immigration
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-6 Stress-Illness Mystery Chronic stress lasting a month or more boosts the risk of catching a coldChronic stress lasting a month or more boosts the risk of catching a cold
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-7 Stress-Illness Mystery No direct relationship between chronic stressors and illnessNo direct relationship between chronic stressors and illness –Doesn’t affect everyone the same way Three factors that influence responses to stressors:Three factors that influence responses to stressors: 1.Individual physiological differences 2.Psychological factors 3.People’s behaviour under stress
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-8 Physiology of Stress General adaptation syndrome (Hans Selye)General adaptation syndrome (Hans Selye) –A series of physiological responses to stressors that occur in three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion 1.Alarm Phase –Body mobilizes the sympathetic nervous system to deal with immediate threat –Release of adrenal hormones
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-9 Physiology of Stress Alarm phase corresponds to the fight or flight responseAlarm phase corresponds to the fight or flight response
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-10 Physiology of Stress 2.Resistance Phase –Body attempts to resist or cope with stressor that cannot be avoided –Physiological alarm responses occur but increase vulnerability to other stressors 3.Exhaustion Phase –Persistent stress depletes the body of energy –Increased vulnerability to physical problems & illness
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-11 Stress & the Body HPA (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal cortex) axisHPA (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal cortex) axis –A system activated to energize the body to respond to stressors (crucial for short-term stress responses) –Hypothalamus sends chemical messengers to the pituitary –Pituitary then prompts the adrenal cortex to produce cortisol and other hormones
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-12
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-13 Mind-Body Link Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI)Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) –The study of the relationships among psychology, the nervous and endocrine systems, & the immune system –Study antigens, which are white blood cells designed to recognize foreign or harmful substances & destroy them –Chronic stress can weaken or suppress the immune system (feelings of stress can be as important as actual stress)
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-14 Psychology of Stress What is the role of psychological factors in stress and health?What is the role of psychological factors in stress and health? –Personality not linked to risk of cancer –Negative emotions can influence course of illness and recovery once a person has some type of disease or virus –Negative emotions do not cause illness, with a few exceptions
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-15 Hostility & Depression Cynical & antagonistic hostility increases risk of heart diseaseCynical & antagonistic hostility increases risk of heart disease Clinical depression also linked increased risk of heart attackClinical depression also linked increased risk of heart attack
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-16 Positive Emotions Positive emotions can have healthful benefitsPositive emotions can have healthful benefits –Longitudinal study of 180 Catholic nuns found that longevity was related to frequency of positive emotions –Positive emotions may counteract high arousal caused by negative emotions/chronic stressors –May be associated with more social support and creative problem solving
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-17 Managing Negative Emotions Suppression of negative emotions can have detrimental health effectsSuppression of negative emotions can have detrimental health effects –E.g., decreased levels of white blood cells Studies on lonelinessStudies on loneliness –Social (longing for friendships) versus emotional (longing for significant others) loneliness –Eating patterns changed when people were lonely –Lonely individuals may discourage relationships by judgmental attitudes (towards self & others) –Men may be lonelier than women (inhibited expression)
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-18 Benefits of Confession & Letting Go Confession (divulging private thoughts that make you ashamed or depressed) linked to better healthConfession (divulging private thoughts that make you ashamed or depressed) linked to better health Forgiveness as a strategy to let go of grudges linked to better physical outcomesForgiveness as a strategy to let go of grudges linked to better physical outcomes
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-19 Optimism & Pessimism Optimism – general expectation that things will go well despite setbacks – associated with better health relative to pessimists:Optimism – general expectation that things will go well despite setbacks – associated with better health relative to pessimists: Optimists tend to:Optimists tend to: –Live longer (lower HPA activation in response to stress) –Be active problem-solvers –Don’t give up or escape –Keep a sense of humour
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-20 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 © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-21 Benefits of Control Lower frequency of developing colds (when exposed to viruses) when feel in control of lifeLower frequency of developing colds (when exposed to viruses) when feel in control of life Low or high-incomes associated with similar levels of well- being among those who feel in controlLow or high-incomes associated with similar levels of well- being among those who feel in control Managers and executives have fewer illnessesManagers and executives have fewer illnesses Professionals who belong to visible minorities & feel more in control of their situations are at a lower risk of hypertensionProfessionals who belong to visible minorities & feel more in control of their situations are at a lower risk of 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 © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-22 Limits of Control Differing cultural views on controlDiffering cultural views on control –Primary control: an effort to modify reality by changing other people, the situation, or events “fighting back” philosophy; Western view“fighting back” philosophy; Western view –Secondary control: an effort to accept reality by changing your own attitudes, goals or emotions “learn to live with it” philosophy; Eastern view“learn to live with it” philosophy; Eastern view
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-23 Coping with Stress Coping: Actively trying to manage demands that feel stressfulCoping: Actively trying to manage demands that feel stressful Some people succumb to adversity, whereas others survive, are resilient, or thrive (learn from experiences)Some people succumb to adversity, whereas others survive, are resilient, or thrive (learn from experiences)
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-24 Cooling Off Most immediate way to handle stress is to calm down & reduce arousalMost immediate way to handle stress is to calm down & reduce arousal Progressive relaxationProgressive relaxation –Alternately tensing and relaxing the muscles, from toes to head Other effective cooling off strategies include massage therapy, physical fitness, or engaging in an activity you enjoyOther effective cooling off strategies include massage therapy, physical fitness, or engaging in an activity you enjoy
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-25 Physical Fitness Studies have found that people who are physically fit have fewer health problems than those who are not when experiencing the same pressuresStudies have found that people who are physically fit have fewer health problems than those who are not when experiencing the same pressures Less anxious, depressed, irritable, & fewer physical symptomsLess anxious, depressed, irritable, & fewer physical symptoms
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-26 Solving the Problem Emotion-focused copingEmotion-focused coping –Dealing with a problem by concentrating on the emotions the problem has caused, whether anger, anxiety, or grief Problem-focused copingProblem-focused coping –Dealing with a problem by solving the problem itself Often move from emotion- to problem-focused coping over time & depending on nature of problemOften move from emotion- to problem-focused coping over time & depending on nature of problem
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-27 Rethinking the Problem Three effective cognitive coping methods:Three effective cognitive coping methods: 1.Reappraising the situation –Reappraisal: thinking about problem differently 2.Learning from the experience 3.Making social comparisons –Social comparison: compare self to others who are believed to be less fortunate
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-28 Social Support Social supportSocial support –Assistance from others in your network of family, friends, neighbours, and co-workers Friendships can reduce the risk of health problemsFriendships can reduce the risk of health problems –Associated with fewer colds, less harmful stress reactions, and longer lives Social support may enhance health because it bolsters the immune system (greater sense of control & optimism)Social support may enhance health because it bolsters the immune system (greater sense of control & optimism)
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-29 Hugs & Health Under stress, women who got a supportive touch from their close partner resulted in a reduced stress response in the hypothalamusUnder stress, women who got a supportive touch from their close partner resulted in a reduced stress response in the hypothalamus
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-30 Social Support & Men Social support good for male heart & oxytocin levels (but men are less likely to seek out support)Social support good for male heart & oxytocin levels (but men are less likely to seek out support) When do men seek out help?When do men seek out help? –The problem is perceived as normal & common rather than something he alone suffers from –The problem is not central to the man’s self-concept –The man feels able to reciprocate the help –Other men support the decision to seek help
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-31 Coping & Friends Sometimes friends may be the source of unhappiness, stress & angerSometimes friends may be the source of unhappiness, stress & anger –Responsibilities of women in middle age in caring for others (family & aging parents) –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 © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-32 Healing Through Helping Giving support to others is another way to cope with stressGiving support to others is another way to cope with stress People gain strength by focusing less on their own problems and helping other people overcome theirsPeople gain strength by focusing less on their own problems and helping other people overcome theirs –Associated with increased longevity –Stimulates optimism and restores sense of control (encourages problem-solving)
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-33 Coping with Stress
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-34 Control Over Health Link between stress & illness not straightforwardLink between stress & illness not straightforward –Depends on many risk and protective factors Most of us aware of the benefits of health- promoting behavioursMost of us aware of the benefits of health- promoting behaviours –Interestingly, those who know the most about specific risky behaviours (e.g., unprotected sex & spread of HIV) may be less likely to stop these behaviours
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-35 Risk Factors
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-36 Control Over Health Leading causes of death in Canada (cardiovascular disease & cancer) are largely preventableLeading causes of death in Canada (cardiovascular disease & cancer) are largely preventable Social & cultural contexts may be involved with individuals who engage in unhealthy lifestylesSocial & cultural contexts may be involved with individuals who engage in unhealthy lifestyles –Exposure to role models or peer pressure –Genetic components (e.g., alcoholism) –Social norms & traditional gender roles
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-37 Reducing Risky Behaviours How do we reduce risky behaviours?How do we reduce risky behaviours? –Knowledge isn’t enough –Change beliefs of individual; instill self-related motivation to change rather than trying to please others –Subtle reminders E.g., hand stamps saying “AIDS KILLS” effective at reducing risky sexual behaviours (MacDonald et al., 2000)E.g., hand stamps saying “AIDS KILLS” effective at reducing risky sexual behaviours (MacDonald et al., 2000)
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-38 Are There Limits to Control? Some people say health should be dealt with as “mind over matter”Some people say health should be dealt with as “mind over matter” –Oversimplified message that factors producing good health are entirely psychological or under our control Three strongest predictors of longevity & health that are under our control: not smoking, eating a healthful diet, and exercising regularlyThree strongest predictors of longevity & health that are under our control: not smoking, eating a healthful diet, and exercising regularly Successful coping does not mean eliminating all stress (impossible!)Successful coping does not mean eliminating all stress (impossible!)
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education Canada15-39 End of Chapter 15