Chapter 3: Stress and Stress Moderators Dr. M. Davis-Brantley

Stress Stress is an event that exerts physical and psychological force or pressure on a person –An organism is required to adjust, adapt, or cope when a stressor is applied Eustress is healthy and helpful stress Bad stress is too taxing and can lead to poor mood, impair our ability to experience pleasure, and harm our bodies

Physiology of Stress Fight or Flight Response –A survival mechanism in humans and most animals which prepares us to deal with physical danger Importance of Homeostasis

Fight or Flight Response

Fight or Flight Limitations System should only be elicited in the event of actual physical danger Daily stressor begins to elicit an autonomic response –Heart rate increases when boss calls you into their office Past stressors used to have a clear beginning and end this is not the case currently

Sources of Stress: Daily Hassles Daily hassles is the term for routine sources of annoyance or aggravation that have a negative impact on health 1.Household hassles (meals, shopping) 2.Health (illness, medication) 3.Time pressure (having too many things to do) 4.Inner concern (being lonely & fearful of confrontation) 5.Environmental (crime, neighborhood deterioration) 6.Financial responsibility (mortgage, bills) 7.Work (job dissatisfaction, problems with coworkers) 8.Future security (concerns about job security, investments, retirement)

Sources of Stress: Life Changes Getting married, moving to a new town, getting a new job, divorce, death, etc… Unlike hassles, life changes can be positive These require adjustment but too much too soon can lead to health problems Holmes and Rahe (1967) found that those with too many life changes in one year were at greater risk for health problems –8 out of 10 would develop health problems vs. 1 out of 3 without so many life changes

Acculturative Stress Acculturative Stress feelings of tension and anxiety that accompany efforts to adapt to or adopt the orientation and values of the dominant culture This type of stress has been connected with feeling of anxiety and physical health problems (hypertension) Racism is also connected to feeling of being marginal, alienated, role confusion, and poor self-concept

Frustration Frustration is described as the thwarting of a motive to obtain a goal –Being an adolescent and unable to drive, go out, wear make-up –This age barrier requires them to delay gratification Frustration--work Frustration at work—Part 2 Tolerance for frustration is the learned ability to delay gratification, to maintain self-control when a motive is thwarted –Ex: Grocery store lines during the hurricane

Conflict Conflict is characterized by opposing motives, in which gratification of one motive prevents gratification of the other –Ex: Should I eat dessert or stick to my diet –Psychology: It is the feeling of being pulled in 2 or more different directions –Conflict is frustrating and stressful

Types of Conflict Approach-approach conflict involves 2 positive but mutually exclusive goals (least stressful) –Ex: Choosing where to go for vacation Avoidance-Avoidance conflict involves 2 negative goals –Avoidance of one requires approach of the other –Ex: Going to the dentist vs. allowing teeth to decay Approach-Avoidance conflict involves positive and negative features –Ex: eating dessert vs. staying on diet Multiple approach-avoidance conflict involves 2 or more goals, each of which has positive and negative aspects –Ex: Studying for a test vs. going to the movies vs. failing

Irrational Beliefs Concept developed by psychologist Albert Ellis –Believed that events don’t stress us out, but our perception of them contribute to stress –Irrational beliefs create or compound stress –Ex: Doing poorly on a test –ABC Model (A)Activating event, (B) Belief, (C) Consequence (A)=low grade on test (B) ??? (C) ??? –Catashtrophizing is to make into a catastrophe or interpret an event as being catastrophic when it is not

Type A Behavior Pattern Stress-producing behavior characterized by: – aggressiveness – perfectionism – unwillingness to relinquish control – hold a sense of time urgency Stressed when others don’t work as fast they do Reluctant to delegate authority Find it difficult to give up control or share power Type B behavior patterns include more relaxed, focus more on the quality of life –Less ambitious, less impatient

Moderators of Stress Self-efficacy expectations are beliefs to the effect that one can handle a task or manage stress –Research show that high self efficacy expectations contribute to lower adrenaline levels in the blood stream –How does this contribute to fight or flight response? Psychological Hardiness is a set of traits that buffer stress and are characterized by commitment, challenge, and control –Researcher Kobasa (1990) fond that those who are psychologically hardy have these characteristics 1.Commitment to their goals and feel involved in their lives 2.Challenge is viewed as normal and see it as a way to grow 3.Control over their lives where they feel that they can prepare for the challenges

Moderators of Stress Those who are psychologically hardy also see themselves as having an internal locus of control –Control allows us to feel that we are not at the mercy of randomness and that we can influence our lives Internals are those who believe that they can exercise the control necessary to obtain reinforcement Externals are those who believe that other people or the situation exercises control Social support is also vital

Moderators of Stress Social support is also vital in moderating stress and acting as a buffer against the effects of stress Sources of social support include the following: 1.Emotional Concern—listening to the problems of others and expressing feelings of empathy 2.Instrumental Aid—having material support and services available to help (after hurricane, the government provides resources) 3.Information—Guidance and advice that enhances people’s ability to cope 4.Appraisal—feedback from others about how one is doing to make sense of what has happened 5.Socializing—simple conversation or recreation with another

Cognitive Reframing “It’s not the problem that’s the problem, but how we see the problem that is the problem” Aaron Beck—Cognitive Restructuring in response to Cognitive distortions such as catastrophizing