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• Prolonged stress and unhealthy behavior contribute to the four leading causes of death• Stress:• The process by which we perceive and respond to environmental threats or challenges (stressors)• Challenge?• Motivation to conquer• Threat?• OverwhelmedPsychological Reactions:• Primary appraisal= stressful or not?• Secondary appraisal= can I handle it?• Threat- no• Challenge- yes• Both increase heart rate; threats are more dangerous (chronic increases, more disease)Types of Stressors:1. Catastrophes- unpredictable large-scale events• Ex, hurricanes, war• Result in increases in depression, anxiety, sleeping problems, etc.3. Significant Life Changes• Loss of social support or social role (Lehman et al., 1987)• Interviewed people who lost spouse suddenly (4-7 years after) and those who have not (control)• Results: More depression, lower psychological well being, more worrying, less reactive to positive events in loss group• Morality rates 5 years after accident:• Lost spouse: 6% died• Lost child: 7% died• Control (no loss): 0%5. Daily Hassles• Ex• busy schedule• fight with friend• annoying cell-phone talkers • car problems • long lines• College student reports of daily hassles correlated with health problems, r= .45General Adaptation Syndrome• Selye, 1956• a pattern of physiological response• functional in short run• if stress keeps up a long time, it's dysfunctional• we're biologically ready for (acute) stress, but not for prolonged (chronic) stress• Stage 1: Alarm Reaction• Adrenal cortex, which releases corticoid hormones (often called stress hormones) is enlarged• Lymph nodes, which distribute "white blood cells"are enlarged• Wide variety of hormone levels increase- a readiness state ("yellow" alert)• Epinephrine (adrenalin) is released, contributes to feeling aroused, neg. affect• Heightened sensitivity to changes in the levels of stressors• Takes the form of irritability• Heightened susceptibility to illness• Stage 2: REsistance• Adrenal cortex gets "tired" and begins to atrophy (shrink)• Lymph nodes return to normal size• Physiological arousal remains high (sympathetic NS)• Parasympathetic NS begins to step in and slow things down a bit• More pronounced irritability• Stage 3: Exhaustion• Lymph nodes become enlarged again, and begin to dysfunction, messing up the function of the white blood cells• Many hormone levels remain high• Some hormones (ex epinephrine) become depleted, lowering activity levels• Ability to resist other stressors is diminished• Often, the organism experiences depressionStress:• Indirect effects on health behavior:• Less preventive behavior• Delay/avoidance in seeking medical care• Indirect effects on fitness:• Increased smoking, drinking• Eating badly• Less sleep• Less exercise• Direct physiological effects:• Increased fat in body cells• Higher blood pressure• Weakened immune systemVariety of Stress-Related Health Problems:• Ulcers• Migraines and headaches• Astma• Arthritis• Colitis (inflammation of the large intestine)• HypertensionCoping:• Problem-focused • Active attempts to alter stressful situation• Emotion-focused• Attempts to reduce distress produced by the situation1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29


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KU PSYC 104 - Notes

Course: Psyc 104-
Pages: 2
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