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
