Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
Published byDaniel Palmer Modified over 8 years ago
1
Health Psychology Stress
2
What is Stress? What are Stressors? Objective: Describe Stressors
3
Stress Models
4
Definition No single definition –Individually and culturally defined Pressures, tension, unpleasant external forces or an emotional response Contemporary –External stress stressor –Response to the stressor is stress distress –Concept of stress biochemical, physiological, behavioral and psychological changes
5
What is Stress? Stress –Process by which environmental events (stressors) challenge or threaten us How they are interpreted How they make us feel –Physiological –Psychological Stressor –Environmental events that pose threats or challenges
6
How do models vary? Definition of stress Differing emphasis on physiological and psychological factors Description of the relationship between individuals and their environment Examples –Cannon –Selye’s –Life Events Theory (Holmes & Rahe)
7
Cannon, 1932 Fight or Flight –Earliest Model –Definition: response to external stressors PHYSIOLOGICAL AUTOMATIC
8
Selye, 1956 General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) –Three Stages 1.‘alarm’ stage 2.‘resistance’ stage 3.‘exhaustion’ stage –PHYSIOLOGICAL –AUTOMATIC
9
Take the LCU Survey Listen to this list of events. Write down the number relating to each event in that has occurred in your life over the last 12 months. Add up the score
10
Life Events Theory Holmes and Rahe, 1967 –Schedule of Recent Experiences (SRE) Moved away from Cannon and Selye Emphasize stress and stress-related changes –Numerical representation of stress Measuring events –Research Some link between health and SRE score Several new ways of measuring
11
Criticisms of Life Events Theory 1.Individuals own rating of the event is important 2.Problems of retrospective assessment 3.Life experiences may interact with each other 4.What is the outcome of a series of life experiences? 5.Stressors may be short-term or ongoing
12
1. Individual Own Rating Each event means something different –Divorce? –Death? So you must consider how the individual view the LCU 1.Event positive or negative 2.Control: who determines the outcome 3.How much adjustment is needed after the event
13
2. Problem with Retrospective Assessment Bad situation recall bad events Good situation recall good events
14
3. Life experiences may interact with each other Our events in our life are not separate –One event may counteract another and lessen the affects
15
4. What is the outcome of a series of life experiences? It is not a straight forward diagnosis of illness. Are life changing events a stressor or a consequence of stress
16
5. Stressors may be short-term or ongoing Created LISRES –Life Stressors and Social Resources Inventory Why? Not all stressors are short-term Examples –Friend stressors –Child stressors –Financial stressors
17
Psychological Factors and Stress Psychological Model
18
Lazarus 1975 Transactional Model –Stress: transaction between external world and individual Human psychology is appraising external factors during stress –Not just responding –2 types of appraisal Primary (appraisal of outside world) 1.Irrelevant 2.Benign and positive 3.Harmful and negative Secondary (appraisal of the individual) –Individual evaluating the pros and cons of different coping strategies
19
Appraisal Impact on stress response –Different types of responses 1.Direct action 2.Seeking information 3.Doing nothing 4.Developing a means of coping with the stress in terms of relaxation of defense mechanisms Research –Speisman, 1964 and Mason, 1975
20
Speisman, 1964 Examined appraisal and psychological state Groups (Shown initiation ceremony involving genital surgery) 1.Trauma condition (emphasized pain and mutilation) 2.Denial Condition (participants are willing and happy) 3.Intellectualized condition (anthropological interpretation) –Result: trauma condition was most stressful for viewer. –Conclusion: not the event, the interpretation causes stress
21
Mason, 1975 Studied physiological stress in dying patients –Awake: more signs of stress Therefore, a person needs to be aware and able to appraise
22
Stress Psychological Changes and Stress
23
Physiological Changes Sympathetic arousal Endocrine system –Release of stress hormones Catecholamines (noradrenalin) Corticosteroids (cortisol) Increase in physical factors –Heart rate –Blood pressure –Muscle potential May be adaptive or non-adaptive
24
Psychological Changes Increase –Fear –Anxiety –Anger Decrease –Cognitive ability –Sensitivity to others May be adaptive or non-adaptive
25
Impact of self-control 1.Self-Efficacy –definition: individual’s feeling of confidence that they can perform a desired action What does it do? –Mediates –Situation occurs self-efficacy (believe you can deal with it) minimizes physiological response to stress decreases stress response –“I think I can, I think I can”
26
2.Hardiness –Three aspects 1.Personal feelings of control 2.Desire to accept challenges 3.Commitment –Degree of hardiness influences the appraisal Therefore, possible stress 3.Mastery –Individuals control over their stress response
27
In conclusion… Stress is caused by an individual’s capacity for self-control –Successful coping limits stress –Failed regulation of self results in stress and stress-related illness
Similar presentations
© 2025 SlidePlayer.com. Inc.
All rights reserved.