1. Stress
Chronic Stress by Age

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

3. Stressors Catastrophic Events Life Changes Chronic Stressors
Daily Hassles
Conflicts

4. Stress General Adaptation Syndrome
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
General Adaptation Syndrome
Selye’s concept of the body’s adaptive response to stress in three stages

5. Stress and Disease Psychophysiological Illness mind-body” illness
any stress-related physical illness
some forms of hypertension
some headaches
Cardiovascular Disease
Reduced immune defense
Negative Emotions

6. poor nutrition and sleep)
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)

7. Stress and the Heart Hopelessness scores Heart attack Death 3.5 3 2.5
1.5 1
0.5
Heart attack
Death
Low risk
Moderate risk
High risk
Men who feel extreme hopelessness
are at greater risk for heart attacks
and early death

8. Dealing with Stress: Perceived Control
External Locus of Control
outside forces, fate, or chance
Internal Locus of Control
we control most things

9. Serenity Prayer God, grant me the serenity:
To accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.

10. Dealing with Stress Problem-focused Coping:
directly changing or managing stressors
Emotion-focused Coping:
changing the way we view a stressor

11. Emotion-focused Coping & 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

12. Dealing with Stress Relaxation Optimism Hobbies Outside Support
Depression
score 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3
Before treatment
evaluation
After treatment
No-treatment
group
Aerobic
exercise
Relaxation
treatment
Relaxation
Optimism
Hobbies
Outside Support
Spirituality
Exercise

13. Promoting Health The religion factor is multi-dimensional Religious
involvement
Healthy
behaviors
(less smoking,
drinking)
Social support
(faith
communities,
marriage)
Positive
emotions
(less stress,
anxiety)
Better health
(less immune system
suppression, stress
hormones, and suicide)

14. Level of social support
Life events
Tendency toward
Health
Illness
Personal appraisal
Challenge
Threat
Personality type
Easy going
Nondepressed
Optimistic
Hostile
Depressed
Pessimistic
Personal habits
Nonsmoking
Regular exercise
Good nutrition
Smoking
Sedentary
Poor nutrition
Level of social support
Close, enduring
Lacking