Stress

Outline Definition and measurement Stress events and reactions –body, behavior, emotion, and cognition Disorders Stress mediators Stress immunity links Health

Stress Definitions Coping process triggered by an event Stressors are environmental events (either objectively “good” or “bad”) Stress reactions are the physical, psychological, and behavioral responses

Stress Process

Psychological Stressors event forces a person to change or adapt Categories: –Catastrophic events –Life changes and strains –Chronic stressors –Daily hassles

Measuring Stress Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) –life change units measured –such as, marriage, divorce, job loss Life Experiences Survey (LES) –perceptions of event critical Interviews and Daily Dairies

Stress Responses

Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome

SAM and HPA Systems

HPA

Other Responses to Stress Behavioral Responses –jumpiness, shaky voice, self-medication with alcohol Emotional –grumpy, fatigued, depressed Cognitive –ruminative thinking –catastrophizing –other processes problem-solving errors impaired decision making

A story of two frogs... O nce upon a time, there was a frog who was dropped into a pot of hot water. Feeling the intense heat, she immediately jumped out and saved her life (“good stress”). B ut, there was another frog who was put into a pot of cold water which was set on a burner over low heat. One degree at a time the temperature increased, but the frog became accustomed to the heat, stayed in the pot and eventually was boiled (“bad stress”).

Some Classic Stress Disorders Burnout/Depression/Anxiety Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a prime example –trauma induced anxiety disorder soldiers childhood sexual abuse

PTSD Determined by: –Perception of the Situation –Inability to Cope Result: –Effects on general state of physical and mental health

PTSD Symptoms Re-experiencing –intrusive flashbacks –nightmares Avoidance and numbing –avoiding reminders –inability to remember important aspects of the trauma –loss of interest in activities and life in general –feeling detached from others and emotionally numb –sense of a limited future (you don’t expect to live) Symptoms of PTSD: anxiety and arousal –difficulty falling or staying asleep –irritability –difficulty concentrating –hypervigilance (constant “red alert”) –feeling jumpy and easily startled

Effects on Hippocampus Cell death in hippocampus Small hippocampus = more vulnerable

Stress Mediators

How Stressors Are Perceived Cognitive appraisal of the stressor Influence of cognitive factors weakens somewhat as stressors become more severe –Lazarus et al. (1965)

Cognitive Appraisal

Cognitive Influences

Prediction and Control predictable versus unpredictable –intense and relatively short period, especially controllable versus uncontrollable –perception of control reduces stress

Coping Resources and Coping Methods Resources –money –time Methods –problem-focused –emotion-focused

Social Support quantity quality situation –right type

Stress, Blood Pressure, and Support

Stress and Personality “Disease-prone” personalities tend to: –stress viewed as long-term, catastrophic threats, brought on by self. –pessimistic about ability to overcome “Stress-hardy” or “disease-resistant” –stress is short term –dispositional optimism (adds four years to life)

Stress and Gender Males tend to get angry and/or avoid stressors –“fight-or-flight” pattern. Females are more likely to help and get help –“tend and befriend” style.

Stress and Immunity

Immune System Nonspecific –high temperature –macrophages (“big eaters”) Specific –Lymphocytes (“memory cells”) T-cells B-cells

Acute or “Good” Stress Increased traffic of lymphocytes and macrophages related adrenal secretion (SAM) enhances responses for which there is an immunologic memory – beneficial for cancer tumour cell, but pathologic for autoimmune or allergic responses

Chronic or “Bad” Stress Reduced traffic of lymphocytes and macrophages Associated with increased HPA activity increased severity of many common illnesses

Stress and Cardiovascular System Repeated activation of “fight or flight” linked to coronary heart disease, hypertension, and stroke. Physical reactions depend partly on one’s personality (hostility)

Healthy Behavior

Goals of Health Psychology Encourage people control risk factors Understand the role played by stress in physical health and illness.

Health-Endangering Behaviors Smoking Alcohol Unsafe Sex

x x x Sleep

Encouraging Healthy Behavior Factors: –feel personal threat –understanding of seriousness of the illness –belief that a particular practice will reduce the threat –cost less than benefit

Stages of Readiness Precontemplation Contemplation Preparation Action Maintenance

Reducing Stress

Coping Strategies Cognitive coping strategies –cognitive restructuring Emotional coping strategies Behavioral coping strategies Physical coping strategies –progressive relaxation training

Rational Emotive Thinking (Albert Ellis) Activating Event Beliefs (self talk) Consequences ABC The ABC’s of Rational Emotive Thinking!!!

Thinking becomes a threat if... A B C (-) recall doubt helpless

Irrational Thinking Perfectionist thinking Overgeneralization Disqualifying the positive Jumping to conclusions Magnifying / Minimizing Emotional Reasoning Shouldaholism / Mustrabation

Thinking creates a solution if... A B C (+) recall affirmation opportunity