Myers PSYCHOLOGY Seventh Edition in Modules Module 39 Stress and Illness James A. McCubbin, Ph.D. Clemson University Worth Publishers

Stress and Illness  Stress  the process by which we perceive and respond to certain events, called stressors, that we appraise as threatening or challenging

Stress Appraisal Stressful event (tough math test) Threat (“Yikes! This is beyond me!”) Challenge (“I’ve got to apply all I know”) Panic, freeze up Aroused, focused Appraisal Response

Pituitary hormone in the bloodstream stimulates the outer part of the adrenal gland to release the stress hormone cortisol Sympathetic nervous system releases the stress hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine from nerve endings in the inner part of the adrenal glands Thalamus Hypothalamus Pituitary gland Adrenal glands Cerebral cortex (perceives stressor )

Stress and Illness  General Adaptation Syndrome  Selye’s concept of the body’s adaptive response to stress in three stages Stress resistance Phase 1 Alarm reaction (mobilize resources) Phase 2 Resistance (cope with stressor) Phase 3 Exhaustion (reserves depleted) The body’s resistance to stress can last only so long before exhaustion sets in Stressor occurs

Stress and Health  Behavioral Medicine  interdisciplinary field that integrates behavioral and medical knowledge and applies that knowledge to health and disease  Health Psychology  subfield of psychology that provides psychology’s contribution to behavioral medicine

Stressful Life Events  Chronic Stress by Age

Stressful Life Events  Catastrophic Events  earthquakes, combat stress, floods  Life Changes  death of a loved one, divorce, loss of job, promotion  Daily Hassles  rush hour traffic, long lines, job stress, burnout

Perceived Control  Health consequences of a loss of control No connection to shock source To shock controlTo shock source “Executive” rat“Subordinate” ratControl rat

Perceived Control  Equality and Longevity

Stress and the Heart Hopelessness scores Heart attack Death Low riskModerate riskHigh risk Men who feel extreme hopelessness are at greater risk for heart attacks and early death

Stress and Illness  Leading causes of death in the US in 1900 and 2000

Stress and the Heart  Coronary Heart Disease  clogging of the vessels that nourish the heart muscle  leading cause of death in many developed countries

Stress and the Heart  Type A  Friedman and Rosenman’s term for competitive, hard-driving, impatient, verbally aggressive, and anger-prone people  Type B  Friedman and Rosenman’s term for easygoing, relaxed people

Stress and the Heart

Stress and Disease  Psychophysiological Illness  “mind-body” illness  any stress-related physical illness  some forms of hypertension  some headaches  distinct from hypochondriasis-- misinterpreting normal physical sensations as symptoms of a disease

Stress and Disease  Lymphocytes  two types of white blood cells that are part of the body’s immune system  B lymphocytes form in the bone marrow and release antibodies that fight bacterial infections  T lymphocytes form in the thymus and, among other duties, attack cancer cells, viruses, and foreign substances

Stress and Disease  Conditioning of immune suppression UCS (drug) UCR (immune suppression) UCS (drug) UCR (immune suppression) CS (sweetened water) CS (sweetened water) CR (immune suppression)

Stress and Disease  Negative emotions and health-related consequences Unhealthy behaviors (smoking, drinking, poor nutrition and sleep) Persistent stressors and negative emotions Release of stress hormones Heart disease Immune suppression Autonomic nervous system effects (headaches, hypertension)