Stress, Health, and Adjustment Chapter 10 Stress, Health, and Adjustment

Stress Stress is the demand made on an organism to adapt, cope, or adjust. Some stress is healthful (eustress). Intense of prolonged stress can harm the body.

Daily Hassles Daily hassles are regularly occurring conditions and experiences that can threaten or harm our well-being. Examples: Household Health Time-pressure Environmental Financial Work Linked to nervousness, worrying, inability to get started, feelings of sadness, and feelings of loneliness.

Life Changes Life changes require adjustment. Even positive ones can lead to headaches, high blood pressure, and other health problems. Life changes differ from daily hassles in two key ways: Many life changes are positive and desirable. Hassles are negative. Hassles occur regularly. Life changes occur at irregular intervals. Example of life change: death of a spouse is considered the most stressful life change.

CONTROVERSY IN PSYCHOLOGY: Just How Are Daily Hassles and Life Changes Connected With Health Problems? It may appear obvious that hassles and life changes should cause health problems. But some researchers are not convinced that the causal connections are there. Correlational evidence. Positive versus negative life changes. Personality differences. Cognitive appraisal. Optimism also helps people cope with the effects of stress.

Conflict Conflict is the feeling of being pulled in two or more directions by opposing motives. Conflict is frustrating and stressful. There are four types of conflicts: Approach-approach Avoidance-avoidance Approach-avoidance Multiple approach-avoidance.

Types of Conflict Approach-approach conflict. The least stressful type. Each of two goals is desirable and both are within reach. Avoidance-avoidance conflict. More stressful. A person is motivated to avoid each of two negative goals. Avoiding one of them requires approaching the other.

Types of Conflict Approach-avoidance conflict. The same goal produces both approach and avoidance motives. Pluses and minuses, good points and bad points. Multiple approach-avoidance conflict. Each of several alternative courses of action has pluses and minuses. Decision making can also be stressful especially when there is no clear correct choice.

Irrational Beliefs Ellis notes that our beliefs about events as well as the events themselves can be stressors. Ellis’s A-B-C approach. A is the activating event. B is the belief. C is the consequence. Ellis proposes that many of us carry with us irrational beliefs; doorways to distress.

The Type A Behavior Pattern Type A people are: Highly driven Competitive Impatient Aggressive Feel rushed and under pressure Find it difficult to give up control or power Type B people in contrast are: Relaxed More focused on the quality of life Less ambitious and less impatient.

Psychological Moderators of Stress Self-efficacy Expectations affect our ability to withstand stress. People who are self-confident are less prone to be disturbed by adverse events.

Psychological Moderators of Stress Psychological Hardiness Psychological hardiness also helps people resist stress and live longer, happier lives. Characteristics include: High in commitment. High in challenge. High in perceived control. Hardy people are high in internal locus of control.

Psychological Moderators of Stress Sense of Humor Feelings of happiness may have beneficial effects on the immune system. Humor can moderate the effects of stress. Laughter stimulates the output of endorphins.

Psychological Moderators of Stress Predictability and Control. The ability to predict a stressor apparently moderates its impact. Control and even the illusion of control can moderate impact.

Psychological Moderators of Stress Social Support seems to act as a buffer against the effects of stress. Sources of social support include: Emotional concern. Instrumental aid. Information. Appraisal. Socializing.

Stress and the Body The General Adaptation Syndrome. The general adaptation syndrome was proposed by Selye. The syndrome is a cluster of bodily changes that occur in three stages: Alarm Resistance Exhaustion

Stress and the Body The Alarm Reaction. The alarm reaction is triggered by perception of a stressor. The reaction mobilizes or arouses the body. This mobilization is the basis for the instinctive fight-or-flight reaction. The alarm reaction involves the sympathetic division of the ANS.

Stress and the Body The Resistance Stage. If the stressor isn’t removed we enter the adaptation or resistance stage. The body attempts to restore lost energy and repair bodily damage.

Stress and the Body The Exhaustion Stage. If the stressor isn’t dealt with we may enter the exhaustion stage. The body is depleted of the resources required for combating stress. Symptoms may include allergies, coronary heart disease, death. Stress suppresses the immune system!

Psychology and Health: Headaches, Cardiovascular Disorders, Cancer, and Sexually Transmitted Infections Biological factors such as: pathogens, inoculations, injuries, age, gender, and a family history of disease may be the most obvious cause of disease. Genes only create the predisposition toward the health problem. Many health problems are affected by psychological factors, such as attitudes, emotions, and behavior. Stopping smoking, eating right, exercising and controlling alcohol use would prevent a number of types of deaths.

Figure 10.4 Factors in Health and Illness Various factors figure in to a person’s state of health or illness. Which of the factors in this figure are you capable of controlling? Which are beyond your control?