Stress and Health

Wadsworth, a division of Thomson Learning

The Perception of Stress

Stress defined-anything that threatens the well-being of the individual and requires coping

How Stress is perceived• Personal experience-each individual assesses a

stressor differently• Stressful events can be cumulative-the status of

the organism can impact how stressful a stressor is perceived to be

What kinds of things are stressful

Daily hassles-day to day minor irritants Conflicts-when forced with incompatible

choices Life Change-changes in one’s life style that

require major readjustment Physiological Health Changes-sudden illness

requires successful coping for adjustment

Good and Bad Stress?

Eustress-When good things happen, but they still create stress• ex: wedding, buying a new car, etc.

Distress-When bad things happen that we find stressful• ex: car accident, illness, etc.

Both types of stress result in similar changes in physiology, emotions, and behavior

Physiological Responses to Stress-Selye’s GAS Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome

• Alarm-mobilization of resources for coping with the stress

• Resistance-the stage during which the organism is successfully coping with the stressor

• Exhaustion-as stress continues, resources are depleted and the physical functioning of the organism begins to deteriorate

Physiological Responses to Stress-Dual-Track System The Dual-Track System

• Sympathetic Nervous System Activation• Fight-or-Flight Response• Activation of the sympathetic nervous system resulting

in mobilization of energy resources and preparation to fight or flee

• HPA Axis• hypothalamic to pituitary to adrenal gland axis• results in the release of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and

cortisol from the adrenal gland

Health Challenges as a Result of Stress-Cardiovascular

Cardiovascular

• increased stroke due to chronic blood pressure changes

• increased heart failure

• decreased cholesterol clearance

Health Changes as a Result of Stress-Immune Function

Immune System

• cancer-decreases in cell function to identify potential cancer cell precursors

• infection-decreases in cell function to successfully fight off infection

Health Changes as a Result of Stress-Digestion and CNS Function Digestion

• ulcer formation

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome Central Nervous System-selective loss of

hippocampal cells

Factors That Can Modify the Impact of Stress Kobasa’s Hardiness Personality-leads to

stress resistance• Control• Challenge• Commitment

Predictability-the ability to predict a stressful event reduces the impact of the stressor once it occurs

Social Support-potentially acts as a buffer between stress and the organism

Optimism-an optimistic point of view is associated with moderation of stressors

Minimizing Stress Cognitive Reframing-looking at life and

stressors more positively Relaxation Techniques-using autogenic,

progressive, or visual imagery techniques to reduce physiological responses to stress

Exercise-moderate exercise can release physiological stress

Lifestyle Change-quitting a stressful job, putting off graduation one semester, etc.