STRESS AND HEALTH

STRESSORS AND STRESS

Stressors cause stress, could be a person, event, item etc.

Stress involves physiological and psychological arousal

Stress involves a perception that they cannot cope or that the challenge exceeds ability

PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE – FIGHT OR FLIGHT – SYMPATHETIC AROUSAL

PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE – FIGHT OR FLIGHT – SYMPATHETIC AROUSAL

The Autonomic Nervous System - connected to internal organs, not consciously controlled. Keeps us alive – automatically.

Sympathetic branch controls arousal, fight or flight response / fires us up. Release of adrenaline, heart up, breathing up etc.

Parasympathetic calms back down, keeps at stable level. Digestion resting etc.

FIGHT OR FLIGHT – HYPOTHALAMUS PITUITARY AXIS - HPA

When a stressor is identified the hypothalamus is activated

The hypothalamus then activates the pituitary gland which releases ACTH (adrenocprticotropic)

ACTH then travels through the blood steam to the adrenal glands above the kidneys, this triggers the release of adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol

Cortisol and noradrenaline in high concentrations for prolonged time can effect immune function

GENERAL ADAPTATION SYNDROME

How do most organisms deal with stress?

Research used rats subjected to electric shocks and pailful tail pulling, prolonged heat or cold, physical restraint or bacterial infection

Proposed that all organisms follow a similar pattern when dealing with stress

GENERAL ADAPTATION SYNDROME

STAGE 1: Alarm Reaction First become aware of the stressor Organism goes into a temporary state of shock, and its

ability to deal with the stressor falls to below its normal level

Physiologically, the body reacts as if it were injured; for example, blood pressure and body temperature drop, and a temporary loss of muscle tone is experienced

Then the body rebounds from this level with a reaction that Selye referred to as ‘countershock’. During countershock, the sympathetic nervous system is activated and the body’s resistance to the stressor increases.

GENERAL ADAPTATION SYNDROME

STAGE 2: Resistance If the source of the stress is not dealt with

immediately, and the state of stress continues, the organism goes into a stage of resistance.

During the stage of resistance, the body’s resistance to the particular stressor rises above normal.

GENERAL ADAPTATION SYNDROME

STAGE 3: Exhaustion If the stressor is not dealt with successfully

during the resistance stage, and stress continues, the organism enters a stage of exhaustion.

Signs of the alarm reaction may reappear, but the effects of the stressor can no longer be dealt with

Resistance to disease is very weak, and it becomes vulnerable to physical and psychological illnesses.

GENERAL ADAPTATION SYNDROME – I HAVE GAS!

STAGE 1: Alarm Reaction… Oh no I have to break wind!

STAGE 2: Resistance… Holding it in!

STAGE 3: Exhaustion… Can’t hold it in anymore!

EUSTRESS AND DISTRESS

Eustress – positive psychological response to a stressor

Distress – negative psychological response to a stressor

Some stress can be good for us Drive us to excel Raise our alertness, arousal, fire us up etc.

PSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSE

Behavioural changes – shaky voice, hand tremors, muscle stiffness

Emotional changes – anxious, tense, depressed angry etc

Cognitive changes – perception distorted, difficulty concentrating, making decisions, forgetful etc.

LAZARUS AND FOLKMAN’S TRANSACTIONAL MODEL OF STRESS AND COPING

Stress involves a transaction between the individual and the external environment

Coping will depend on the appraisal of the situation by the individual and their ability to cope

Stress is in the eye of the beholder

LAZARUS AND FOLKMAN’S TRANSACTIONAL MODEL OF STRESS AND COPING

Primary appraisal Judge the significance of the situation Is it irrelevant, benign-positive, stressful? Harm/loss – imminent Threat – might happen Challenge – potential for growth

Secondary appraisal Evaluate our coping options and resources Internal and external resources

LAZARUS AND FOLKMAN’S TRANSACTIONAL MODEL OF STRESS AND COPINGReappraisal Going back over an earlier stressor to determine if it

warrants further attention

Coping Changing cognitive and behavioural efforts to meet

stressors An attempt to manage

Problem focused coping Fix the source of the stress

Emotion focused coping Strategies to deal with emotional responses to stress

SOCIAL FACTORS

Can influence the stress response Relationships, lack of social skills, lack of

support, bullied, discrimination, etc.

Social Readjustment – the amount of change in lifestyle after a specific event

Large changes can cause stress Not all events are universally stressful It does depend on the persons perception

and circumstances EG. Leaving an abusive marriage would be

less stressful than remaining married

CULTURAL FACTORS

Immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers

Acculturation – adapting the values customs and language of a new culture

Entering a new culture at a lower socioeconomic level, trouble preserving old values

Refugees – post traumatic stress Racism - clear link to mental

health problems in targets

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

Crowding linked to the stress response Crowding is a subjective experience

Personal space is important - loved ones < 50cm- Good friends 50 – 150 cm- Strangers > 150 cm

HOW INTIMATE

CALHOUN’S RESEARCH (1962)

Mice in a large enclosure Plenty of space, water, food etc. Mice display normal social behaviour, mating

etc.

Population doubled every 55 days Mice in overcrowded enclosure showed

maladaptive behaviours- Aggression and even canibalism- Hyperactivity or lethargy- Mothers attacked their young, stopped

breeding

CROWDING AND HUMAN STRESS No clear link Difficult to control

extraneous variables ethically

Self report though does clearly show a correlation between overcrowding and stress

Does depend on the situation and the individual involved

Being mentally prepared for crowding seems to help some people

ALLOSTASIS

The bodies ability to maintain physiological stability changing to meet internal and external demands

NOT homeostasis where balance is maintained by keeping internal functioning constant

Emphasis that healthy functioning requires constant physiological fluctuation

Achieved through the brain regulating the HPA, ANS and cardiovascular system

HPA and sympathetic arousal most common response

Turned on when needed turned off when the threat has passed

ALLOSTATIC LOAD

Prolonged arousal can lead to wear and tear on the body

Increased secretion of adrenal hormones can damage cardiovascular and immune systems

Frequent stressors or perhaps one stressor that is not alleviated

See example Pg. 614 – biopsychosocial model and allostatatic load

COPING WITH STRESS

Biofeedback – feedback on a bodily response, eg. Beep when heart beats

Subjects can learn to control response using biofeedback and relaxation techniques

Often doesn’t work outside of a lab setting

Meditation Internal attempt to bring about deeply

relaxed state

Relaxation Any activity either physical of psychological

that reduces tension

COPING WITH STRESS

Exercise Social interaction Uses up stress hormones secreted by HPA Release tension in muscles Release of endorphins – pleasure related

neurotransmitters

SOCIAL SUPPORT

Help or assistance from others…. Duh

Appraisal support – improves understanding of the situation

Tangible assistance – material support, financial, food, goods etc

Information support – ideas on how to cope

Emotional support – targets emotional reactions by the individual, cared for and valued