Exercise and Stress

Question 1

stress

Answer 1

a state of disharmony or threatened homeostasis; what we experience when we face challenges in our lives

Question 2

stressors

Answer 2

the challenges we face; can be internal or external

Question 3

distress

Answer 3

negative stress; ex. exams, divorce, deadlines

Question 4

eustress

Answer 4

positive stress; ex. marriage, graduation, job promotion

Question 5

General Adaptation Syndrome

Answer 5

Three stages that are a continuum:
- arousal and alarm
- resistance
- exhaustion

Question 6

arousal and alarm

Answer 6

when an acute, or short-term stressor is encountered; may trigger “flight or fight”
-ex. threat of injury, embarrassment, potential loss
- followed by feelings of anxiety, irritability, and vulnerability until resolved

Question 7

resistance

Answer 7

if the stressor remains unresolved and continues; characterized by strain, worry, cynicism, and difficulty sleeping

Question 8

exhaustion

Answer 8

if the stressor becomes prolonged, chronic, or has no resolution; individual becomes overloaded

Question 9

stress response

Answer 9

initiated when some real, perceived, or expected threat/challenge is encountered

Question 10

What part of the brain is thought to be primarily responsible for initiating the stress response?

Answer 10

amygdala

Question 11

What are some physiological responses to stress?

Answer 11

• at an early age, can induce increased volume in amygdala/decreased volume in prefrontal cortex
• increased HR
• increased cardiac output
• increased BP
• release of cortisol

Question 12

What are some psychological responses to stress?

Answer 12

• perceptions of control decrease
• levels of anxiety increase
• passive coping increases (avoidance)
• increases in epinephrine
• distress levels increase

Question 13

primary appraisal

Answer 13

(challenge, threat, harm) results from assessing a situation as important yet potentially demanding

Question 14

secondary appraisal

Answer 14

leads to the revision of the initial appraisal; involve questioning what options are available and how viable they might be

Question 15

homeostasis

Answer 15

ability of an organism to change and stabilize its internal environment in spite of constant changes in the external environment; return to equilibrium

Question 16

allostasis

Answer 16

achieving stability through change; balance maintained by essential coping/adaptation systems

Question 17

allostatic load

Answer 17

the cost of coping/adaptation; if SAM or HPA become overworked

Question 18

cross-stressor adaptation hypothesis

Answer 18

states that exposure to a stressor of sufficient intensity and/or duration will induce adaptation and decreased sensitivity of stress response systems

Question 19

habituation

Answer 19

a decreased magnitude of response to some familiar challenge
- results in greater physiological capacity

Question 20

sensitization

Answer 20

an augmented response to a novel stressor

Question 21

What are the three types of stress management?

Answer 21

• self-report measurement
• cardiovascular measurement
• hormonal measurement

Question 22

self-report

Answer 22

• easiest to obtain
• PSS most common
• rating items ranking from “never” to “very often”

Question 23

cardiovascular measurement

Answer 23

• HR and BP
• cardiac output
• total peripheral resistance
• pre-ejection period

Question 24

hormonal measurement

Answer 24

• assessment of catecholamines & cortisol
• animal studies (blood, urine, salivary samples)