Stress, Coping and Health

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Stress, Coping and Health
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What causes stress?

• Can be a variety of things that cause stress.
• There are different models that explain stress.

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Models

• Biopsychosocial model Physical illness is due to
  biological, psychological and sociocultural
  factors.
• Health psychology- deals with issues of health
  and causation, prevention and treatment of
  illness.

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Definition

• Any circumstances that threaten or are perceived
  to threaten ones well-being and tax ones coping
  abilities.

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Appraisal

• Stress is up to the individual and there are many
  factors that contribute to the feelings of
  stress.
• Some people are more prone than others
• Neurotic
• Anxious
• Unhappy people

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Major Types of Stress

• Frustration Whenever the pursuit of some goal is
  thwarted
• Conflict When two or more incompatible
  motivations or behavioral impulses compete for
  expression.
• There are three types approach-approach,
  avoidance-avoidance, and approach-avoidance.

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Approach- Approach

• The least stressful type.
• Being torn between two equally appealing choices
  that causes conflict.
• For example Choosing between two colleges that
  both offer you a scholarship.

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Avoidance-Avoidance Conflict

• Forced to choose between two negative
  alternatives.
• The lesser of two evils.
• Pain vs. surgery

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Approach-Avoidance Conflict

• A choice must be made about whether to pursue a
  single goal that has both attractive and
  unattractive aspects.
• If you get a great new job but the commute is
  very long or you have to move.
• Often produces indecision

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More Stressors

• Change life changes are any noticeable
  alterations in ones living circumstances that
  require readjustment.
• Holmes and Rahe Social Readjustment Rating Scale
• Pressure Expectations or demands that one behave
  in a certain way. Workers on commission,
  comedians to be funny etc.

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Responding To Stress

• Three processes
• Emotional response- Cognitive reactions to stress
• Annoyance, anger, rage
• Apprehension, anxiety and fear
• Dejection, sadness and grief

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More Responses

• Physiological response- fight or flight (Hans
  Selyes General Adaptation syndrome
• Alarm
• Resistance
• Exhaustion
• Behavioral response- Coping mechanisms learned
  helplessness, self blame, self indulgence,
  aggression.

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Stress and Health

• Psychosomatic Disease
• Type A personality Strongly competitive,
  impatience, anger, and hostility, ambitious, hard
  working, perfectionists, time conscious. Brief
  delays easy to irritate and anger.
• Type B personality Relatively relaxed, patient,
  easygoing, less hurried, less competitive
• Depression/heart disease (more common for Type A)
• Illness related to stress- cancer, back pain,
  cold, epilepsy

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Stress Moderating Factors

• Social Support- Aid provided by your social
  network.
• Optimism- a general tendency to expect good
  outcomes

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Health Impairing Behavior

• Smoking
• Poor Nutrition
• Lack of Exercise
• Alcohol and Drug Use

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PTSD

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder- Major traumatic
  event
• Victims of war, rape, severe automobile accident,
  natural disaster or witnessing someones death
• Nightmares, flashbacks, alienation, problems in
  social relationships, anxiety, anger and guilt

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