Stress, Coping and Health. What causes stress? Can be a variety of things that cause stress. There...
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Transcript of Stress, Coping and Health. What causes stress? Can be a variety of things that cause stress. There...
Stress, Coping and Health
What causes stress?
Can be a variety of things that cause stress.
There are different models that explain stress too.
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.
DefinitionAny circumstances that threaten or are perceived to threaten one’s well-being and tax one’s coping abilities.
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
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. High levels are associated with anxiety, depression and physical symptoms. There are three types: approach-approach, avoidance-avoidance, and approach-avoidance.
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.
Avoidance-Avoidance Conflict Forced to choose between two
negative alternatives. The “lesser of two evils”. Pain vs. surgery
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 vacillation or indecision
More Stressors Change: life changes are any noticeable
alterations in one’s 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.
Responding To Stress Three processes:
1. Emotional response- Cognitive reactions to stress
Annoyance, anger, rage
Apprehension, anxiety and fear
Dejection, sadness and grief
More Responses2. Physiological response-
flight or flight (Hans Selye’s General Adaptation syndrome
2. Behavioral response- Coping mechanisms; learned helplessness, self blame, self indulgence, aggression.
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 Illness related to stress- cancer, back pain,
cold, epilepsy
Stress Moderating Factors Social Support-
Aid provided by your social network.
Optimism- a general tendency to expect good outcomes
Health Impairing Behavior Smoking
Poor Nutrition Lack of Exercise Alcohol and Drug
Use
PTSD Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder- Major traumatic event
Victims of war, rape, severe automobile accident, natural disaster or witnessing someone’s death
Nightmares, flashbacks, alienation, problems in social relationships, anxiety, anger and guilt