S TRESS AND HEALTH. S TRESSORS AND STRESS Stressors cause stress, could be a person, event, item...
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Transcript of S TRESS AND HEALTH. S TRESSORS AND STRESS Stressors cause stress, could be a person, event, item...
STRESS AND HEALTH
STRESSORS AND STRESS
Stressors cause stress, could be a person, event, item etc.
Stress involves physiological and psychological arousal
Stress involves a perception that they cannot cope or that the challenge exceeds ability
PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE – FIGHT OR FLIGHT – SYMPATHETIC AROUSAL
PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE – FIGHT OR FLIGHT – SYMPATHETIC AROUSAL
The Autonomic Nervous System - connected to internal organs, not consciously controlled. Keeps us alive – automatically.
Sympathetic branch controls arousal, fight or flight response / fires us up. Release of adrenaline, heart up, breathing up etc.
Parasympathetic calms back down, keeps at stable level. Digestion resting etc.
FIGHT OR FLIGHT – HYPOTHALAMUS PITUITARY AXIS - HPA
When a stressor is identified the hypothalamus is activated
The hypothalamus then activates the pituitary gland which releases ACTH (adrenocprticotropic)
ACTH then travels through the blood steam to the adrenal glands above the kidneys, this triggers the release of adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol
Cortisol and noradrenaline in high concentrations for prolonged time can effect immune function
GENERAL ADAPTATION SYNDROME
How do most organisms deal with stress?
Research used rats subjected to electric shocks and pailful tail pulling, prolonged heat or cold, physical restraint or bacterial infection
Proposed that all organisms follow a similar pattern when dealing with stress
GENERAL ADAPTATION SYNDROME
STAGE 1: Alarm Reaction First become aware of the stressor Organism goes into a temporary state of shock, and its
ability to deal with the stressor falls to below its normal level
Physiologically, the body reacts as if it were injured; for example, blood pressure and body temperature drop, and a temporary loss of muscle tone is experienced
Then the body rebounds from this level with a reaction that Selye referred to as ‘countershock’. During countershock, the sympathetic nervous system is activated and the body’s resistance to the stressor increases.
GENERAL ADAPTATION SYNDROME
STAGE 2: Resistance If the source of the stress is not dealt with
immediately, and the state of stress continues, the organism goes into a stage of resistance.
During the stage of resistance, the body’s resistance to the particular stressor rises above normal.
GENERAL ADAPTATION SYNDROME
STAGE 3: Exhaustion If the stressor is not dealt with successfully
during the resistance stage, and stress continues, the organism enters a stage of exhaustion.
Signs of the alarm reaction may reappear, but the effects of the stressor can no longer be dealt with
Resistance to disease is very weak, and it becomes vulnerable to physical and psychological illnesses.
GENERAL ADAPTATION SYNDROME – I HAVE GAS!
STAGE 1: Alarm Reaction… Oh no I have to break wind!
STAGE 2: Resistance… Holding it in!
STAGE 3: Exhaustion… Can’t hold it in anymore!
EUSTRESS AND DISTRESS
Eustress – positive psychological response to a stressor
Distress – negative psychological response to a stressor
Some stress can be good for us Drive us to excel Raise our alertness, arousal, fire us up etc.
PSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSE
Behavioural changes – shaky voice, hand tremors, muscle stiffness
Emotional changes – anxious, tense, depressed angry etc
Cognitive changes – perception distorted, difficulty concentrating, making decisions, forgetful etc.
LAZARUS AND FOLKMAN’S TRANSACTIONAL MODEL OF STRESS AND COPING
Stress involves a transaction between the individual and the external environment
Coping will depend on the appraisal of the situation by the individual and their ability to cope
Stress is in the eye of the beholder
LAZARUS AND FOLKMAN’S TRANSACTIONAL MODEL OF STRESS AND COPING
Primary appraisal Judge the significance of the situation Is it irrelevant, benign-positive, stressful? Harm/loss – imminent Threat – might happen Challenge – potential for growth
Secondary appraisal Evaluate our coping options and resources Internal and external resources
LAZARUS AND FOLKMAN’S TRANSACTIONAL MODEL OF STRESS AND COPINGReappraisal Going back over an earlier stressor to determine if it
warrants further attention
Coping Changing cognitive and behavioural efforts to meet
stressors An attempt to manage
Problem focused coping Fix the source of the stress
Emotion focused coping Strategies to deal with emotional responses to stress
SOCIAL FACTORS
Can influence the stress response Relationships, lack of social skills, lack of
support, bullied, discrimination, etc.
Social Readjustment – the amount of change in lifestyle after a specific event
Large changes can cause stress Not all events are universally stressful It does depend on the persons perception
and circumstances EG. Leaving an abusive marriage would be
less stressful than remaining married
CULTURAL FACTORS
Immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers
Acculturation – adapting the values customs and language of a new culture
Entering a new culture at a lower socioeconomic level, trouble preserving old values
Refugees – post traumatic stress Racism - clear link to mental
health problems in targets
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
Crowding linked to the stress response Crowding is a subjective experience
Personal space is important - loved ones < 50cm- Good friends 50 – 150 cm- Strangers > 150 cm
HOW INTIMATE
CALHOUN’S RESEARCH (1962)
Mice in a large enclosure Plenty of space, water, food etc. Mice display normal social behaviour, mating
etc.
Population doubled every 55 days Mice in overcrowded enclosure showed
maladaptive behaviours- Aggression and even canibalism- Hyperactivity or lethargy- Mothers attacked their young, stopped
breeding
CROWDING AND HUMAN STRESS No clear link Difficult to control
extraneous variables ethically
Self report though does clearly show a correlation between overcrowding and stress
Does depend on the situation and the individual involved
Being mentally prepared for crowding seems to help some people
ALLOSTASIS
The bodies ability to maintain physiological stability changing to meet internal and external demands
NOT homeostasis where balance is maintained by keeping internal functioning constant
Emphasis that healthy functioning requires constant physiological fluctuation
Achieved through the brain regulating the HPA, ANS and cardiovascular system
HPA and sympathetic arousal most common response
Turned on when needed turned off when the threat has passed
ALLOSTATIC LOAD
Prolonged arousal can lead to wear and tear on the body
Increased secretion of adrenal hormones can damage cardiovascular and immune systems
Frequent stressors or perhaps one stressor that is not alleviated
See example Pg. 614 – biopsychosocial model and allostatatic load
COPING WITH STRESS
Biofeedback – feedback on a bodily response, eg. Beep when heart beats
Subjects can learn to control response using biofeedback and relaxation techniques
Often doesn’t work outside of a lab setting
Meditation Internal attempt to bring about deeply
relaxed state
Relaxation Any activity either physical of psychological
that reduces tension
COPING WITH STRESS
Exercise Social interaction Uses up stress hormones secreted by HPA Release tension in muscles Release of endorphins – pleasure related
neurotransmitters
SOCIAL SUPPORT
Help or assistance from others…. Duh
Appraisal support – improves understanding of the situation
Tangible assistance – material support, financial, food, goods etc
Information support – ideas on how to cope
Emotional support – targets emotional reactions by the individual, cared for and valued