AOS 1 - Stress

Question 1

Stress

Answer 1

A state of physiological and psychological arousal produced by internal or external stressors that are perceived by the individuals as challenging or exceeding their ability or resources to cope

Question 2

Stressor

Answer 2

A stimulus that causes or produces stress & challenges our ability to cope

• Internal - within individual
• External - outside individual

Question 3

Eustress

Answer 3

A positive psychological response to a stressor is indicated by the presence of positive psychological states such as feeling enthusiastic and motivated alert and active

• short term, not harmful, provide energy

Question 4

Distress

Answer 4

A negative psychological response to a stressor as indicated by the presence of negative psychological states such as anger, anxiety, nervousness, irritability to tension

• can be short term, or persist serious consequences

Question 5

Acute stress

Answer 5

when stress is produced at very high arousal for a relatively short term (homework deadline)

Question 6

Episodic stress

Answer 6

Is when acute stress occurs over and over again this may be referred to as episodic acute stress ( death of the dog, followed by the deadline, followed by divorce, followed by health problem)

Question 7

Chronic stress

Answer 7

Involves ongoing demands pressures and worries that are long-lasting. Can seem to go on forever with little hopes of letting up. This type of stress produces an increased arousal level that persists over a relatively long time and is likely to be harmful in some way (poverty)

Question 8

Daily pressures

Answer 8

Daily pressure is a type of stressor involving a little problem of everyday living that is irritant

• varying effects, not necessarily significant can pile up, upset or angry

Question 9

Life events

Answer 9

Life events in relation to stress, a type of stressor in everyday life involving change that forces an individual to adapt to circumstances

• positive or negative, immediate consequences, long term adjustments, including choices

Question 10

Acculturative stress

Answer 10

The stress people experience in trying to adopt to a new culture when living in it for a considerate period of time

• reducing acculturative stress - acceptance, familiarity, attitudes

Question 11

Major stressors

Answer 11

A type of stressor involving an event that is extraordinarily stressful or disturbing for almost everyone who experiences it

• psychologically traumatic, life-threatening, strong emotional reaction, natural disaster, violence

Question 12

Catastrophe

Answer 12

An event that causes widespread damage or suffering sometimes a stressor can disrupt and affect an entire community all at once.

• usually sudden, highly related to risks of continuing problems, epidemic, war, natural disasters

Question 13

Flight fight freeze response

Answer 13

An involuntary physical response to a sudden and immediate threat (or stressor) in readiness to

FIGHT - confronting and fighting off the threat
FLIGHT - escaping by running away to safety
FREEZE - keeping absolutely silent, avoiding detection

Question 14

Physiological responses to FFF

Answer 14

Activated by sympathetic NS

• increased heart rate & blood pressure
• redistribution of blood supply to muscles
• increased breathing rate
• dilation of pupils

Question 15

How is FFF activated

Answer 15

1. brain-body pathway that activates this is called the sympathetic adieno medullary when threat perceived
2. signal sent to the hypothalamus
3. hypothalamus activates sympathetic NS
4. sympathetic NS stimulates the adrenal medulla which secretes hormones into the bloodstream
5. stress hormones activate organs to respond to the threat
6. when the stressor is removed parasympathetic NS returns the body to homeostasis

Question 16

Freeze reaction

Answer 16

SNS always precedes freeze state but when initiated the PNS dominates over SNS = high arousal of both nervous systems leaving the individual in energy conservation mode and a motivated state ready for action

Question 17

Cortisol

Answer 17

Steroid hormone released by the adrenal glands is often called the stress hormone

• essential for the maintenance of homeostasis
• the body’s not able to maintain the intensity of FF for prolonged periods of time

Question 18

Effects of cortisol on the body

Answer 18

physical - impaired immune system functioning, high blood pressure
mental - learning problems, impaired memory, depression

Question 19

How is cortisol released

Answer 19

Cortisol is released through the HPA Axis
H - hypothalamus stimulates
P - pituitary glands secrete hormones (ACTH) into the bloodstream
A - ACTH stimulates the adrenal cortex to secrete hormones ( mainly cortisol)

• takes longer than FFF but lasts longer
• long term stressors - HPA axis remains active and cortisol remains in bloostream

Question 20

Seyle’s General Adaption Syndrome (GAS)

Answer 20

A three-stage process physiological response to stress that occurs regardless of the stressor that is encountered

Question 21

Stage 1 - alarm reaction

Answer 21

Occurs when the person first becomes aware of the stressor

Shock - the body’s ability to deal with the stressor falls below the normal level. The body reacts as if it were injured, temp drops people at most vulnerable

Countershock - SNS is activated (FF response) body’s resistance to stressors increases. Adrenaline is released into the bloodstream heart and respiratory rate increases = more energy for muscles

Question 22

Stage 2 - resistance

Answer 22

body’s resistance to stressor rises above normal

• intense arousal of alarm reaction diminishes, physiological arousal remains above normal, all unnecessary physiological processes are shut down
• cortisol released into bloodstream, more energy, weakens immune system
• the ability to deal with the initial stressor in this stage increases however resistance to other stressors may decline

Question 23

Stage 3 - exhaustion

Answer 23

some alarm reaction changes can reappear however body is unable to maintain its resistance and effects can no longer be dealt with

• due to prolonged stress, body’s resources have been depleted and it becomes vulnerable to diseases and mental disorders
• extreme fatigue, high level of anxiety
• ‘wear and tear’ due to immune suppression & prolonged levels of cortisol in the bloodstream as cortisol interferes with body’s ability to fight disease

Question 24

Strengths - GAS model

Answer 24

• developed understanding and awareness of links between stress and disease
• identifies biological processes associated with stress response

Question 25

Limitations - GAS model

Answer 25

- GAS is a 'one size fits all' model assuming that everyone has same physiological responses to any stressor - overlooks our psychological response

Question 26

Lazarus & Folkman's transactional model of stress and coping - stress

Answer 26

Stress involves an encounter (transaction) between an individual and their external environment and the stress response depends upon the individual's interpretation (appraisal) of the stressor and their ability to cope

Question 27

Primary appraisal

Answer 27

In the primary appraisal, individuals evaluate/judge the significance of the situation/event - make a decision about the event, bengin or stressful - if stressful appraisals take place - harm/loss, threat, challenge

Question 28

Secondary appraisal

Answer 28

In secondary appraisal individuals evaluate their coping options/ resources and options for dealing with the stressful situation - coping resources can be internal or external

Question 29

Strengths L & F

Answer 29

- used human subjects to develop the model | - acknowledges that appraisal & response to stressors can be very individual based on circumstance

Question 30

Weaknesses L & F

Answer 30

- primary and secondary appraisal can occur simultaneously | - people perceive and respond subjectively to stress thus difficult to measure

Question 31

Coping with stress

Answer 31

A process involving cognitive and behavioral efforts to manage specific internal and/or external stressors that are appraised as taxing or exceeding our resources in a stressful situation

Question 32

Coping flexibility

Answer 32

The ability to effectively adjust one's coping strategies according to the demands of different stressful situations

Question 33

High coping flexibility

Answer 33

- adjust coping strategies if one they are using is ineffective & use different types of strategies across a variety of situations

Question 34

Low coping flexibility

Answer 34

- use the same types of coping strategies across situations & approach coping in the same way

Question 35

Approach coping strategies

Answer 35

Approach coping strategies are an effort to confront a stressor and deal directly with it and its effects. Focused on the stressor it causes and a solution that will address the underlying problem and minimise its impact

Question 36

Examples approach strategies

Answer 36

- an approach strategy for a stressor involving loss of a job through retrenchment is to search for a new job

Question 37

Avoidance coping strategy

Answer 37

Avoidance coping strategies are efforts that evade a stressor and deal indirectly with it, focused away from the stressor and there is no attempt to confront it and its causes, more vulnerable to health problems

Question 38

Examples avoidance coping strategies

Answer 38

- an avoidant strategy for a job loss stressor may be not to tell anyone and not to think about it

Question 39

Exercise as a coping strategy

Answer 39

- physical activity that is usually planned and performed to improve physical condition - physical activity = good mental health/wellbeing - exercise increases energy demands = uses up cortisol in the bloodstream, endorphins produced - regular exercise reduces reactivity of SNS