Chapter 11: Health and well being Flashcards
Health psychology
Studies the relationship between health and psychology
What is the purpose of health psychology?
To understand the interrelationship between thoughts, actions, and psychical and mental health
What is well being?
The positive state that one seeks through optimal health and life satisfaction
What is the biopsychological model?
A model that states that health and illness are the result of several factors, including psychological factors, social conditions, and biological characteristics
What is the body mass index (BMI)?
A standard method of measuring obesity, which measures a ratio of body wight to height
What number is considered obese for BMI?
30
What is a disadvantage of using the BMI?
Does not take into account age, gender, bone structure and more
What is one reason for increase in obesity?
More food is available
Why does dieting rarely have an effect?
When you eat 4too little, the body reacts by lowering its metabolism and starts using less energy
What are the 3 most common eating disorders?
Anorexia nervosa
Bulimia nervosa
Binge eating disorder
Anorexia nervosa
A condition in which patients are terrified of becoming fat and eat very little to achieve a significantly low body weight
Consistent lack of recognition of the severity of their current low body weight
Bulimia nevosa
Alternates between dieting, binge eating, and self induced vomiting (also known as pruning)
An attempt to get rid of negative emotions, people with tis disease eat large amounts of food in a short period of time
This leads to a feeling of guilt afterwards
They then turn to compensatory behaviours, such as purging, excessive exercise, or abuse of laxatives
Binge eating disorder
Involves binge eating at least once a week without purging
Having a binge eating disorder causes a lot of distress to the person
Patients often feel embarrassed and guilty and tend to be overweight or obese
What is one way commonly used to reduce smoking?
Nicotine replacement therapy
What is nicotine replacement therapy?
Examples are:
Chewing nicotine gum
Percentage of success for nicotine replacement therapy
10 to 30 percent
Stress
A form of reaction that involves an unpleasant condition, such as fear or tension
Results from the way we think about events in our lives
Objectively, does not exist
What is a stressor?
Somethings in the environment that is perceived as threatening or demanding, which creates a feeling of stress
What are the two categories of stressors?
Major life stressors
Daily concerns
What are major life stressors?
Changes or disruptions that are central to a person’s life
What are daily concerns?
Small everyday annoyances, such as waiting inline
What is a coping response?
A reaction to stress that attempts to reduce or avoid stress
What are the two types of stress?
Eustress
Distress
What is Eustress?
The stress of positive events, such as preparing for a party that you are really excited about