Post on 02-Jan-2016
Health PsychologyHealth Psychology
Chapter 4: StressChapter 4: Stress
Sep 7-12, 2007Sep 7-12, 2007
Classes #8-10Classes #8-10
What is Stress?What is Stress?
StressStress– The whole process by which we appraise and The whole process by which we appraise and
respond to events that threaten or challenge usrespond to events that threaten or challenge us– Is any stimulus that upsets the dynamic balance Is any stimulus that upsets the dynamic balance
of your bodyof your body– Can be caused by hunger, thirst, work, Can be caused by hunger, thirst, work,
psychological pressures or a multitude of other psychological pressures or a multitude of other thingsthings
– Is an unending aspect of life…Is an unending aspect of life… In other words, unfortunately it appears that In other words, unfortunately it appears that
the only way to have no stress is to be dead! the only way to have no stress is to be dead!
Can have detrimental Can have detrimental effects…effects…
If severe or prolonged, stress can If severe or prolonged, stress can cause mental or physical harmcause mental or physical harm– Decline in body’s overall level of Decline in body’s overall level of
biological functioning because of biological functioning because of continued secretion of stress-related continued secretion of stress-related hormoneshormones
Can have positive effects…Can have positive effects…
Some individuals thrive and excel Some individuals thrive and excel when aroused by a challengewhen aroused by a challenge– Examples:Examples:
EliteElite athletes athletes TopTop entertainers entertainers GreatGreat leadersleaders
Yerkes-Dodson LawYerkes-Dodson Law
Performance on simple tasks benefit Performance on simple tasks benefit from higher levels of arousal while from higher levels of arousal while stress hinders performance on complex stress hinders performance on complex taskstasks
High arousal appears to get in the way High arousal appears to get in the way of complex or unlearned tasks but can of complex or unlearned tasks but can actually enhance performance on well-actually enhance performance on well-learned taskslearned tasks– Never ask someone to perform a task in Never ask someone to perform a task in
front of an audience unless they have front of an audience unless they have rehearsed it many timesrehearsed it many times
How Does Stress Affect the How Does Stress Affect the Body?Body?
Selye (1976)Selye (1976)– His General Adaptation Syndrome model His General Adaptation Syndrome model
illustrates the effects of stressillustrates the effects of stress– Selye felt that the body’s adaptive Selye felt that the body’s adaptive
response to stress was very general – response to stress was very general – like a burglar alarm that would sound off like a burglar alarm that would sound off no matter what intrudedno matter what intruded
– His model has three overlapping stages His model has three overlapping stages - alarm, resistance, and exhaustion- alarm, resistance, and exhaustion
Phase 1: Alarm ReactionPhase 1: Alarm Reaction
Alarm reaction caused by a sudden activation of Alarm reaction caused by a sudden activation of your sympathetic nervous system (this is the part your sympathetic nervous system (this is the part of the autonomous nervous system that arouses of the autonomous nervous system that arouses the body (increases HR, BP, etc.) the body (increases HR, BP, etc.)
Mobilizes energy in stressful situationsMobilizes energy in stressful situations– So, your body recognizes danger and mobilizes So, your body recognizes danger and mobilizes
for a for a "fight-or-flight""fight-or-flight" situation… situation… System is activated but since you are in System is activated but since you are in
temporary shock – your resistance drops temporary shock – your resistance drops below normal – usually minor and short-termbelow normal – usually minor and short-term
Therefore, the person may show various Therefore, the person may show various symptoms of stress -- headaches, fever, symptoms of stress -- headaches, fever, fatigue, sore muscles, shortness of breath, fatigue, sore muscles, shortness of breath, diarrhea, upset stomach, etc.diarrhea, upset stomach, etc.
Phase 2: ResistancePhase 2: Resistance Time to fight the challengeTime to fight the challenge
Your body responds to the challenge with an outpouring Your body responds to the challenge with an outpouring of stress hormones causing your temperature, blood of stress hormones causing your temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration all remain highpressure, heart rate, and respiration all remain high
Everything is in full force to help you cope with the Everything is in full force to help you cope with the stressorsstressors
As body defenses stabilize, the symptoms of alarm seem As body defenses stabilize, the symptoms of alarm seem to disappearto disappear
The adjustment to stress and the outward appearance of The adjustment to stress and the outward appearance of normality are maintained at high cost…normality are maintained at high cost…– During this During this resistance stageresistance stage, the body is more able , the body is more able
to cope with the original stressto cope with the original stress– However, its resistance to any other stress is loweredHowever, its resistance to any other stress is lowered
Phase 3: ExhaustionPhase 3: Exhaustion
During this phase, the individual During this phase, the individual reservoir of resources is becoming reservoir of resources is becoming depleteddepleted– The person is especially vulnerable to The person is especially vulnerable to
diseases and in extreme cases collapse diseases and in extreme cases collapse and death (immune system is being and death (immune system is being challenged by the long-term stress)challenged by the long-term stress) Example: Heart attack Example: Heart attack
Transactional Model of StressTransactional Model of Stress
Environmental stress and people’s Environmental stress and people’s behaviors must be looked at togetherbehaviors must be looked at together– Primary appraisalPrimary appraisal– Secondary appraisalSecondary appraisal– Cognitive reappraisalCognitive reappraisal
Diathesis-Stress ModelDiathesis-Stress Model
Diathesis - A predisposition toward a given Diathesis - A predisposition toward a given disorderdisorder– Can derive from biological, psychosocial, and Can derive from biological, psychosocial, and
sociocultural causal factorssociocultural causal factors– Diathesis may be perceived as the distal Diathesis may be perceived as the distal
necessary or contributory causenecessary or contributory cause Stress – a response to an adjustment demandStress – a response to an adjustment demand
– Stress is a more proximal undesirable event or Stress is a more proximal undesirable event or situationsituation
– Stress produces the disorder in someone with Stress produces the disorder in someone with the distal necessary or contributory causethe distal necessary or contributory cause
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)(PTSD)
Up to 70% of adults in U.S. have Up to 70% of adults in U.S. have experienced at least one major trauma experienced at least one major trauma (extreme stressor) in their lives… (extreme stressor) in their lives… – Examples:Examples:
serious accident/natural disasterserious accident/natural disaster rape or criminal assaultrape or criminal assault combat exposure combat exposure child sexual or physical abuse and/or child sexual or physical abuse and/or
severe neglect severe neglect hostage/imprisonment/ torturehostage/imprisonment/ torture sudden unexpected death of a loved sudden unexpected death of a loved
oneone
PTSD PTSD
Five factors are necessary for Five factors are necessary for diagnosis:diagnosis:– The person must have experienced or The person must have experienced or
witnessed an extreme stressorwitnessed an extreme stressor– Re-experiencing of the traumatic eventRe-experiencing of the traumatic event– Avoidance and emotional numbingAvoidance and emotional numbing– Increased arousalIncreased arousal– Set of symptoms that have lasted at Set of symptoms that have lasted at
least one monthleast one month
Female Stress Response: Female Stress Response: Tend-and-Befriend”Tend-and-Befriend”
A team of researchers headed by Shelley Taylor, a A team of researchers headed by Shelley Taylor, a psychologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, psychologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, reviewed over 1,000 human and animal stress response reviewed over 1,000 human and animal stress response studiesstudies – Men and women also react with a “tend-and-befriend” approach Men and women also react with a “tend-and-befriend” approach
in the face of work and life stress in the face of work and life stress – Females respond to stressful situations by protecting themselves Females respond to stressful situations by protecting themselves
and their young through nurturing behaviors--the "tend" part of and their young through nurturing behaviors--the "tend" part of the model--and forming alliances with a larger social group, the model--and forming alliances with a larger social group, particularly among women--the "befriend" part of the modelparticularly among women--the "befriend" part of the model
– Males, in contrast, show less of a tendency toward tending and Males, in contrast, show less of a tendency toward tending and befriending, sticking more to the fight-or-flight responsebefriending, sticking more to the fight-or-flight response
Taylor, Shelley (2002). Taylor, Shelley (2002). The Tending Instinct: Women, Men and the Biology of NurturingThe Tending Instinct: Women, Men and the Biology of Nurturing. New . New York: Times BooksYork: Times Books
What is stressful?What is stressful?
ImportanceImportance Uncertainty Uncertainty
– Not predictableNot predictable Low controlLow control
– What do we have control over?What do we have control over?
Do you remember a time when you Do you remember a time when you were very stressed out or excited?were very stressed out or excited?
What were the signs?What were the signs?
Let me bring a little sport Let me bring a little sport psych stuff into this psych stuff into this
discussion…discussion… Motivational SpeechesMotivational Speeches
Psychosocial Sources of Psychosocial Sources of StressStress
Significant Life ChangesSignificant Life Changes CatastrophesCatastrophes Daily HasslesDaily Hassles Environmental StressEnvironmental Stress
Significant Life ChangesSignificant Life Changes
Change itself may cause stress by Change itself may cause stress by forcing us to adapt to new forcing us to adapt to new circumstancescircumstances– Is change, positive or negative, Is change, positive or negative,
necessarily harmful?necessarily harmful? No support that positive “stressors” are as No support that positive “stressors” are as
harmful as negative stressorsharmful as negative stressors Impact of change depends on person and Impact of change depends on person and
how change is interpretedhow change is interpreted
CatastrophesCatastrophes
Unpredictable, Unpredictable, large scale eventslarge scale events– Natural disasters Natural disasters
Cataclysmic Cataclysmic eventsevents– Sudden, without Sudden, without
warningwarning Ex: WTC Ex: WTC
tragedytragedy
Scarring Effects of Natural Scarring Effects of Natural DisastersDisasters
Krug et al. (1998)Krug et al. (1998)– These researchers analyzed These researchers analyzed
counties that had experienced counties that had experienced disasters disasters Before/after research revealed some Before/after research revealed some
alarming numbersalarming numbers See next slide See next slide
Krug et al. (1998)Krug et al. (1998)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Increase in
Suicide Rate
Floods Hurricances Earthquakes
Type of Natural Disaster
The Hassles of Everyday The Hassles of Everyday LifeLife
Most common source of stress arises Most common source of stress arises from the daily hassles that irritate usfrom the daily hassles that irritate us– Ex: Environmental factorsEx: Environmental factors
““Microstressors” place a constant Microstressors” place a constant strain strain on uson us– The accumulation of daily hassles The accumulation of daily hassles
contributes more to illness than do contributes more to illness than do major life eventsmajor life events
Dormitory LifeDormitory Life
Baum & Valins (1977)– These researchers compared two layouts These researchers compared two layouts
of dormitory in university residences…of dormitory in university residences… One was based on a long corridor design, with One was based on a long corridor design, with
17 rooms opening off a single corridor, whereas 17 rooms opening off a single corridor, whereas the other was a suite of three rooms opening the other was a suite of three rooms opening off a communal areaoff a communal area
The total space per student was about the The total space per student was about the same in the two designs and the facilities were same in the two designs and the facilities were similar, but student s in the long corridor style similar, but student s in the long corridor style residence complained more about being residence complained more about being crowded and about having to avoid unwanted crowded and about having to avoid unwanted social contactsocial contact
They withdrew from social contact even when They withdrew from social contact even when they were away from the residencethey were away from the residence
Dormitory LifeDormitory Life
Baum & Valins (1977)– Traditional Traditional
dorms dorms appear to be appear to be more more stressful stressful than newer than newer suite stylesuite style
They demolished this They demolished this dorm…dorm…
In one case, a 26 floor, 1,300 student In one case, a 26 floor, 1,300 student residence, Sander Hall, was residence, Sander Hall, was demolished at the University of demolished at the University of Cincinnati in 1991 because of Cincinnati in 1991 because of persistent problems of violence and persistent problems of violence and vandalismvandalism
Karlin et al. (1979)Karlin et al. (1979)
Students who are accommodated 3 Students who are accommodated 3 to a room intended for 2 suffer less to a room intended for 2 suffer less contentment and lower gradescontentment and lower grades
Watch your Blood Watch your Blood Pressure…Pressure…
Evans (1979)Evans (1979) – Compared ten person groups of peopleCompared ten person groups of people– Some were in rooms 20 x 30 feet, while Some were in rooms 20 x 30 feet, while
others were in rooms 8 by 12 feetothers were in rooms 8 by 12 feet Results:Results:
– The people packed into small The people packed into small rooms had higher pulse rates and rooms had higher pulse rates and blood pressure blood pressure
Environmental StressEnvironmental Stress
Is noise stressful???Is noise stressful??? Research indicates that living in a busy Research indicates that living in a busy
city, near a highway, airport, etc. can have city, near a highway, airport, etc. can have detrimental effectsdetrimental effects
Crowds/TrafficCrowds/Traffic– Had my share of this in NYCHad my share of this in NYC
WorkWork– Consequences of job-related stressConsequences of job-related stress– OverloadOverload– Burn-outBurn-out
One Life to LiveOne Life to Live
3,155,414,4003,155,414,400
52,590,24052,590,240
876,504876,504
36,52136,521
5,2185,218
1,2001,200
400400
100100
11
SecondsSeconds
MinutesMinutes
HoursHours
DaysDays
WeeksWeeks
MonthsMonths
SeasonsSeasons
YearsYears
LifeLife
How long will you live?How long will you live?
MalesMales
If you are a If you are a white malewhite male, , subtract 3 yearssubtract 3 years
If you are a If you are a black maleblack male, , subtract 11 yearssubtract 11 years
All All other U.S. malesother U.S. males, , subtract 8 yearssubtract 8 years
FemalesFemales
If you are a If you are a white white female, female, add 4 yearsadd 4 years
If you are a If you are a black black femalefemale, , subtract 2 subtract 2 yearsyears
All All other U.S. Femalesother U.S. Females, , subtract 0 yearssubtract 0 years
Begin with the no. 76.Begin with the no. 76.
Personal FactsPersonal Facts
How long will you live? How long will you live? If you live in an urban If you live in an urban
area with a area with a population population over 2 millionover 2 million, , subtract 2 subtract 2 yearsyears
If you live in a town with If you live in a town with a a population under population under 10,00010,000 or on a farm, or on a farm, add add 1 year.1 year.
If any natural If any natural grandparent lived to 85 grandparent lived to 85 or more, or more, add 2 yearsadd 2 years
If all 4 natural If all 4 natural grandparents lived to 80 grandparents lived to 80 or more, or more, add 5 additional add 5 additional yearsyears
If either natural parent If either natural parent died of a stroke or heart died of a stroke or heart attack before the age of attack before the age of 50, 50, subtract 4 years.subtract 4 years.
If any natural parent, If any natural parent, brother, or sister under brother, or sister under 50 has (or had) cancer 50 has (or had) cancer or a heart condition, or or a heart condition, or has had diabetes since has had diabetes since childhood, childhood, subtract 3 subtract 3 yearsyears
Do you earn over Do you earn over $100,000 a year? $100,000 a year? Subtract 1 yearSubtract 1 year
How long will you live?How long will you live?
If you finished If you finished college, college, add 1 yearadd 1 year. If . If you have a graduate you have a graduate or professional or professional degree, degree, add 2 moreadd 2 more
If you are 65 or over If you are 65 or over working at something working at something you enjoy, you enjoy, add 2 add 2 yearsyears
If you live with a If you live with a spouse, friend, or spouse, friend, or family member, family member, add add 4 years4 years. If not, . If not, subtract 1 year for subtract 1 year for every 10 years alone every 10 years alone since age 25, since age 25, unless unless you have pets.you have pets.
If you have strong If you have strong social ties, social ties, add 1 yearadd 1 year
How long will you live?How long will you live?
If your If your work iswork is sedentarysedentary, such as , such as sitting at a desk, sitting at a desk, subtract 2 yearssubtract 2 years
If your If your work requireswork requires regular physical activityregular physical activity, , such as farm or factory such as farm or factory labor, labor, add 2 yearsadd 2 years
If you exercise regularly If you exercise regularly and moderately and moderately (walking, running, (walking, running, swimming, bicycling, swimming, bicycling, etc.) 3 to 5 times a etc.) 3 to 5 times a week for at least ½ an week for at least ½ an hour (5 min. warm up, hour (5 min. warm up, 20 min. aerobic activity, 20 min. aerobic activity, 5 min. cool down), 5 min. cool down), add 4add 4
Do you sleep more than Do you sleep more than 10 hours each night? 10 hours each night? subtract 3 yearssubtract 3 years
Lifestyle statusLifestyle status
If you are If you are intense, intense, aggressive, and easily aggressive, and easily angeredangered, , subtract 2 subtract 2 yearsyears
If you are If you are easygoing, easygoing, laid back, and peacefullaid back, and peaceful, , add 2 yearsadd 2 years
Do you have a Do you have a compelling purpose in compelling purpose in life, something life, something important yet to be important yet to be done?done? Add 1 year Add 1 year
Are you Are you happyhappy? ? Add 1 Add 1 yearyear
UnhappyUnhappy? Subtract 2 ? Subtract 2 yearsyears
Have you had a speeding Have you had a speeding ticket in the past year? ticket in the past year? Subtract 1 yearSubtract 1 year
If you always wear a seat If you always wear a seat belt, belt, add 1 yearadd 1 year
Do you smoke Do you smoke more than more than 2 packs2 packs of cigarettes a of cigarettes a day? day? Subtract 8 yearsSubtract 8 years
1 to 2 packs1 to 2 packs? ? Subtract 6Subtract 6 ½-1 pack½-1 pack? ? Subtract 3Subtract 3 If you regularly smoke a If you regularly smoke a
pipe or cigarspipe or cigars, , subtract 2subtract 2
How long will you live? How long will you live?
Credits:Credits: http://www.psynt.iupui.edu/users/jkremer/sports/sptsarousahttp://www.psynt.iupui.edu/users/jkremer/sports/sptsarousa
l.pptl.ppt http://www.humankinetics.com/theSportPsychHandbook/PP/http://www.humankinetics.com/theSportPsychHandbook/PP/
chap07.pptchap07.ppt psych.sjsu.edu/.../Dr.%20Glazer/Psycpsych.sjsu.edu/.../Dr.%20Glazer/Psyc
%20190&PHPSESSID=f9fa37c0b84cfd9175e2b06c8cf4db62%20190&PHPSESSID=f9fa37c0b84cfd9175e2b06c8cf4db62 http://www.extra.research.philips.com/http://www.extra.research.philips.com/
probing_experience/presentations/probing_experience/presentations/vingerhoets.ppt#380,2,Outline of the presentationvingerhoets.ppt#380,2,Outline of the presentation