Stress and its Effects on Health

Social Support

Advice, guidance, encouragement, and emotional comfort from others

Type A

Behavior pattern associated with higher risk of heart disease

Perceived Control

Beliefs about one's ability to influence outcomes

Perceived Control

Beliefs about one's capacity to influence outcomes in life

Immune System

Body's defense against foreign substances

General Adaptation Syndrome

Body's physiological response to stress in three stages

Acute Stressors

Brief focal events that continue to be overwhelming even after they end

Emotion-focused Coping

Changing or reducing negative emotions associated with stress

Regulation of Stress

Coping styles and stress reduction techniques

Immunosuppression

Decreased effectiveness of the immune system

The Pursuit of Happiness

Elements of a happy life: pleasant, good, and meaningful

Job Burnout

Emotional exhaustion and cynicism in relation to one's job

Happiness

Enduring state of joy, contentment, and fulfillment

Stressors

Environmental events that are perceived as threatening or demanding

Chronic Stressors

Events that persist over an extended period of time

Life Changes

Events that require personal readjustment and can cause stress

Stress Reduction Techniques

Exercise, relaxation response technique, and biofeedback

Tension Headaches

Headaches caused by muscle tension and stress

Cardiovascular Disorders

Heart and blood circulation-related disorders

Hypertension

High blood pressure

Alarm Reaction

Immediate physiological reaction to a threatening situation

Flow

Intense engagement in an activity

Physiological Basis of Stress

Involves sympathetic nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis

Secondary Appraisal

Judgment of available coping options and their effectiveness

Primary Appraisal

Judgment of potential harm or threat to well-being from a stressor

Depression and the Heart

Link between depression and heart disease

Problem-focused Coping

Managing or altering the problem causing stress

Coping

Mental or behavioral efforts to manage stress

Stress Reduction Techniques

Methods to reduce stress, such as exercise and relaxation

Hassles

Minor irritations that can build up and cause stress

Daily Hassles

Minor irritations that can cause stress

Distress

Negative form of stress leading to exhaustion and performance decline

Bad Stress

Negative impact on well-being and performance (distress)

Selye and the general adaptation syndrome

Nonspecific physiological response to stress in three stages: alarm reaction, stage of resistance, and stage of exhaustion

Psychophysiological Disorders

Physical disorders worsened by stress and emotional factors

Cannon and the fight-or-flight response

Physiological reaction to stress involving sympathetic nervous system and endocrine system

Fight-or-Flight Response

Physiological reactions to perceived threat

Prevalence of Stress

Physiological, cognitive, and behavioral effects of stress

Eustress

Positive form of stress leading to motivation and optimal performance

Good Stress

Positive motivation to improve well-being and performance (eustress)

Optimism

Positive outlook and positive expectations

Stress

Process of perceiving and responding to overwhelming or threatening events

Stress and Immune System

Psychological factors influencing immune system and functioning

Asthma

Psychophysiological disorder causing difficulty in breathing

Type B

Relaxed behavior pattern associated with lower risk of heart disease

Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS)

Scale measuring stress based on life events requiring readjustment

Positive Affect

State of pleasurable engagement with the environment

Cyber Hassles

Stress caused by negative experiences on social media

Cortisol

Stress hormone released by adrenal glands

Relaxation Response Technique

Stress reduction method involving relaxation and meditation

Biofeedback

Stress reduction technique using electronic equipment to measure and control involuntary activity

Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis

Structures regulating physiological reactions to stress

Psychoneuroimmunology

Study of how psychological factors influence the immune system

Health Psychology

Study of psychological influences on health and illness

Positive Psychology

Study of qualities that lead to happy and fulfilled lives

Social Support

Support from others linked to better health outcomes

Negative Affectivity

Tendency to experience negative emotions

Optimism

Tendency toward a positive outlook

Heart Disease

Various adverse conditions involving the heart

Lymphocytes

White blood cells important for immune response

Job Strain

Work-related stress associated with various health risks

Job Strain

Work-related stress with excessive demands and little control