1. Coping and Psychological Wellness Factors
Health Psychology
Coping and Psychological Wellness Factors

2. Agenda Schedule Presentations Attendance Reading Assessments
Health Psych Return
Last Assessment Reminder
Bonus Opportunity
Decreasing and Coping with Stress
Other Psychological Factors in Wellness

3. Bonus Opportunity Seminar Attendance Social Psychological Research
Tuesday, December 20th, 1:00-2:00
B14 R108
0.5 Point

4. True or False?
Compared to others, pessimists are more than twice as likely to develop heart disease.
Writing about personal traumas in a diary reduces stress and the likelihood of health problems in the following months.
Those who do not exercise are twice as likely as exercisers to report being not “very happy.”
Religious faith and health show a strong positive correlation

5. Effects of Stress
Physiological Effects - Links to many illnesses and problems.
0 = Never
1 = Once or twice a year
2 = Every few months
3 = Every few weeks
4 = Once or more each week
5 = Daily
0-35, Low; 36-75, Average; , High

6. Effects of Stress Harmful Behaviors Indirect Health-Related Behaviors
Does stress make you do unhealthy things?
Substances
Over/Under Eating and Poor Nutrition
Poor sleep/Lack of sleep/Oversleep
Indirect Health-Related Behaviors
Feelings of Helplessness and Decreased Motivation
Less likely to follow medical advice
Less likely to seek care

7. Managing Stress How can we decrease the negative effects of stress?
Decrease the amount of stress you experience.
Better cope with the stress you experience.

8. Assessing Coping
Instructions: The following are ways of reacting to health problems, such as illness, sicknesses, or injuries. Think of your last illness, sickness, or injury. Use the following scale to indicate how much you engaged in these types of activities. 1= Not at all 2 = A little 3 = Occasionally 4 = Fairly often 5 = Very much

9. Assessing Coping
1= Not at all = A little
3 = Occasionally
4 = Fairly often = Very much
__ Think about better times __ Stay in bed __ Find out more information __ Wonder “why me” __ Be with others __ Rest when tired __ Seek treatment quickly __ Feel angry __ Daydream __ Sleep __ Focus on getting better __ Become frustrated __ Think about things I can do
__ Plan for the future __ Stay warm __ Comply with advice __ Fantasize about being healthy __ Listen to music __ Make surroundings quiet __ Follow doctor’s advice __ Wish it hadn’t happened __ Invite company __ Stay quiet __ Take medications on time __ Think about being vulnerable __ Worry about my health

10. Coping
Efforts to control, reduce, or learn to tolerate the threats that lead to stress.
Two categories of coping:
Emotion-focused
Manage emotions when stressed
Process stressful situations differently
e.g. Distraction, Changing Focus
Problem-focused
Behavioral, Action-based plan to deal with stress
Avoid Stressors
Avoid situations or prevent events.

11. Coping Strategies What determines which coping strategy is used?
Simultaneously
Perspective of the situation
How much control do you have?
Learned Helplessness
Personality
Coping Styles
Which coping strategies work? Don’t work?
Depends on the stressor and the individual.
Avoidant Coping

12. Psychology and Heart Disease
Higher likelihood of heart attacks
Predictors
Smoking, cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity
Clear link to stress.
Currently and history of stress
Personality link

13. I hate giving up.
I am often in a hurry.
I tend to gesture with my hands and arms.
I drive my car fast.
I get impatient easily.
Type A Personality
I often work slowly.
People consider me rather quiet.
I like work that’s not too challenging.
I prefer walking to jogging.
Type B Personality

14. Type A, Type B Personalities
Cluster of traits characterized by hostility, competitiveness, time urgency, and feeling driven
Type B
Cluster of traits characterized by patience, cooperativeness, noncompetitiveness
Level of hostility seems to be especially important
Big Five Comparison?

15. Optimism and Wellness
Compared to other students, the chances of my experiencing this problem are:
-3 = Much below average
-2 = Below average
-1 = Slightly below average
0 = Average
1 = Slightly above average
2 = Above average
3 = Much above average

16. Medical Optimism Arthritis (pain in bone joints) Suicide
Pneumonia (lung infections)
Being 40 or more pounds overweight
Laryngitis (throat illness)
Alcoholism
Being killed in an auto accident
Lung Cancer
-3 = Much below average -2 = Below average -1 = Slightly below average 0 = Average 1 = Slightly above average 2 = Above average 3 = Much above average

17. The Darker Side of (Unrealistic and Unconditional) Optimism