Chapter 17 - Stress and Well-being

The fight-or-flight response is...

a term that describes 'autonomic' arousal. This is our response to a perceived threat, which activates certain physiological structures.

Challenge...

an assessment that there is an opportunity for personal growth or something might have a positive outcome, such as a change of employment.

Selye's GAS and Lazarus and Folkman's Transactional Model Difference 1...

Selye's GAS emphasis the physiological response to stress, whilst Lazarus and Folkman's model focuses on the importance of a persons psychological appraisal of any potentially stressful situation or event. The stress response is inevitable in Selye's theory by may be mediated by the individual's positive appraisal in the transactional model.

Selye's GAS and Lazarus and Folkman's Transactional Model Difference 3...

Selye's results were based on animal experiments and so generalizability to humans may be limited, but the transactional model was developed from the different psychological responses demonstrates by people.

Selye's GAS and Lazarus and Folkman's Transactional Model Difference 4...

Selye's results were readily tested in a laboratory situation and strong evidence was obtained for the link between long-term exposure to stress and disease, but the major limitation of the transactional model is that it is difficult to test through experimental research.

Meditation & Relaxation is...

- an active mental process that requires an individual to focus. Meditation redirects a persons usual flow of conscious through to a more focused pathway that leads to a deep state of calm and relaxation. - Relaxation is described as the process of releasing ones muscles and thoughts, affecting the body similar to meditation. - Both release stress and tension built up in the individual

Physical exercise refers...

- to an exercise that requires exertion with the purpose of improving fitness or health. - Regular physical exercise is effective in returning the body to a state of homeostasis more quickly and in reducing the impact of stress. - Endorphins are released when we exercise which improves a persons mood and helps reduce stress-related tension. - 'Moving Meditation' - Intense focus on one stimulus can lead to feeling of calmness and tranquility

Selye's GAS and Lazarus and Folkman's Transactional Model Difference 2...

The GAS is a 'one size fits all' theory; it is assumed that everyone has the same general, predictable and automatic physiological responses to any kind of stressor. Alternatively, the transaction model allows for individual differences in appraisal of potentially stressful situations and in coping strategies that people adopt.

Harm/loss...

an assessment that some type of damage has been done such as an illness or poor test result.

Emotional signs of stress...

- Apprehension/anxiety - Agitation/irritability - Fear

Strategies for coping with stress...

- Biofeedback - Meditation and Relaxation - Physical exercise - Social support

Allostasis is...

'where the body maintains the stability of homeostasis through change' (Sterlinger & Eyer 1988). The concept views our bodies response to a stressor in a holistic way, where genetics; personal experiences; behavioural patterns; personality; environmental and socio-cultural influences are taken into account.

Behavioral signs of stress...

- Change in physical activity levels - Sleep disturbances - Change in eating habits

Cultural factors and the stress repsonse...

- Acculturation is a type of cultural stress affecting individuals that have migrated from their origin country. They may feel isolation and loneliness as they may have different customs and beliefs from the majority of those they encounter. - Maintenance of cultural connections acts as a protective factor, while cultural isolation can exacerbate or intensify the perception and response to the stressor.

Environmental factors...

- Environmental factors refer to the circumstances in or environment that can influence our perception and response to stress. - Negative environmental conditions can exacerbate our perception of a stressor, while positive factors can be protective as they foster our resilience and ability to cope more effectively during difficult times.

Social factors and the stress response...

- Humans need to feel as though they belong to a society and are safe. - Factors such as fear, loneliness, poverty, lack of support and poor education have been found to increase stress related disorder. Therefore, difficulty in life for individuals means they experience stressors in a more negative manner - Individuals with a number of 'protective factors' such as a stable life a good family, a strong friendship network and a good job are more likely to face a stressor with greater resilience.

Strenths of Lazarus and Folkman transactional model of stress and coping...

- It used human subjects in developing the model - It used a cognitive approach to stress with a focus on how people cope with psychological stressors - it took both mental processes and emotions into account when examining how an individual interprets a situation as stressful or not.

Characteristics of some stressors...

- Physical (sleep deprivation, hunger) - Psychological (anxiety, grief) - Short-term (sitting for an exam, job interview) - Long-term (chronic illness, balancing work and school) - Low intensity (attending a school formal, competing in a debate) - High Intensity (Loss of a child or parent, terminal illness)

Cognitive signs of stress...

- Poor concentration - Loss of self-confidence - Memory impairment

Physical signs of stress...

- Rapid heart rate - Increase blood pressure - Headaches

Limitations of Lazarus and Folkman transactional model of stress and coping...

- The greater focus on psychological factors meant that less emphasis was placed on the physiological elements of the stress response - It did not include cultural, social or environmental factors in looking at how individuals perceive a stressful event.

Biofeedback is...

- a scientifically based treatment that use sensitive instruments to monitor and provide feedback/information about the persons heart rate; respiration rate; brainwave activity; skin temperature; moisture on the skin; and muscle tone in real time. - Through operant condition a person is taught to change the levels of these processes through altering thoughts, emotions and behaviours.

Social support refers...

- to the network of family, friends, neighbors and community members that are available during difficult times to proved emotional, physical and financial assistance. - Strong social support with the opportunity for emotional disclosure has been found to decrease a persons vulnerability to stress and increase there ability to cope.

Lazarus and Folkman transactional model of stress and coping...

- viewed a potentially stressful event as a transaction between the person and their environment with the level of stress dependent on cognitive appraisal. - 2 stages in cognitive appraisal: Primary appraisal, secondary appraisal and emotional forecasting

Selye's GAS and Lazarus and Folkman's Transactional Model Similarity 1...

Both are theoretical frameworks for understanding the effect of stress on an individual. Selyes GAS emphasises the effects of stress on physiologogy and the link between stress and disease. L & F model illustrates the effect that an individuals psychological appraisal has on stress.

Selye's GAS and Lazarus and Folkman's Transactional Model Similarity 3...

Both illustrate that an individuals response to stress is a process which involves various stages. Selye's alarm reaction, resistance and exhaustion stages explain the changes in hormone level and it's impact of the immune system, whereas Lazarus and Folkman's model shows the importance of cognitive primary and secondary appraisal and reappraisal of the person's coping resources as compared with the stress of the situation faced as well as the different coping styles people adopt.

Selye's GAS and Lazarus and Folkman's Transactional Model Similarity 2...

Both show that the longer an individual is exposed to a stressor the more potentially damaging the consequences. Seyle's GAS demonstrates the casual link between long-term stress and illness like heart disease and high blood pressure, whereas Lazarus and Folkman's model shows that, if during appraisal and reappraisal, the person feels their coping resources are inadequate then greater levels of stress are experienced.

Interaction - Homeostasis & Allostasis...

Homeostasis is a state of balance in the body's metabolism. If our bodies are subject to a stressor, then the process of allostasis will occur to maintain homeostasis through the positive or negative change.

Yerkes-Dodson curve description...

If their is too little arousal, we tend to do very little. As the level of stress increases to a moderate level, we experience optimal physiological and psychological arousal and perform at our peak. However, if we experience higher level of stress we often become more anxious and disorganized.

Physiological changes due to the FoF response...

These structures interact and produce a chained reaction: The Hypothalamus releases CHR, which activates the pituitary gland to release ACTH, activating the adrenal gland to release stress hormones such as adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol. Often cause an increase in heart/breathing rate.

Distress is...

a negative psychological response to a perceived stressor.

Eustress is...

a positive psychological response to a perceived stressor.

Stress is...

a psychological & physiological response to internal and external sources of tension (stressors) that challenge a persons ability to cope. These stressors can be positive or negative, environmental, psychological or social/cultural in nature.

Threat...

an assessment that there may be future harm or loss, such as terminated employment

Neutral/irrelevant...

an assessment that this event is of little or no importance or relevance to the person and therefore does not go past primary appraisal.

Emotional forecasting...

involved in both stages. In the primary appraisal phase the person experiences an emotional response to the given situation. In the Secondary appraisal phase the person predicts the possible emotional impact of each potential response.

Emotion-focused coping...

involves trying to reduce the negative emotional feeling associated with the stressor such as embarrassment, fear, anxiety and excitement. e.g. meditation, relaxation, talking to riends and family about the problem, denial and distractions.

Allostatic load refers to...

the cumulative effects of our body trying to re-establish allostasis, in response to frequent and intense stressors. Negative stressors may negatively affect the behaviour and mood of an individual.

Primary appraisal is...

the initial evaluation process where the individual determines whether the event in a harm/loss; threat; challenge or in neutral/irrelevant.

Secondary appraisal is...

the stage where the individual considers what options are available to them and how they will respond. This is made at a more consious level.

Problem-focused coping...

uses a practical perspective to deal with the problematic situations or stressors with the objective of reducing that stress. e.g. taking control, information seeking, evaluating the pros and cons.

Allostatic overload occurs...

when the demands of the stressor exceed the body's ability to repeatedly adapt, and thus the person is no longer available to meet the demands.