HC 5

Question 1

Is stress good/bad?

Answer 1

depends on the amount of stress and the treat value + resources of an individual to cope with a stressful situation

Question 2

Yekes-dodson law

Answer 2

the optimum level of arousal vs performance: there is an optimum level of arousal that results in the maximum performance

Question 3

When is tress unhealthy?

Answer 3

when we chronically activate stress systems which are developed for the acute fight-flight situations

Question 4

Allostasis

Answer 4

Achieving homeostasis (stability) through psychological & behavioral adaptation, in response to a challenge

Question 5

Allostatic (over) load

Answer 5

demands > energy supply: system works too hard to try to achieve a balance –> slowly breaks down

Overload of psy. system due to wear & tear of the body e.g. during repeated or prolonged stress

Question 6

prolonged or repeated release of physical responses to stress can have negative effects, consequences:

Answer 6

reinstatement tot normal body functions (homeostasis) may fail & system will wear out (excessive energy consumption during high stress)

Question 7

two stress systems:

Answer 7

1. SNS –> sympathetic nervous system

2. HPA –> hypothalamic agents

Question 8

SNS

Answer 8

singaling agents: neurotransmitters –> (nor)adrenaline

Question 9

HPA

Answer 9

signaling agents: hormones –> glucocorticoids (cortisol)

= hormones, endocrine system (blood)

Question 10

Physiological stress response (SNS, HPA)

Answer 10

SNS–> short lived response-immediate action

HPA –> longer-term arousal

Question 11

Difference sympathetic vs parasympathetic arousal

Answer 11

sympathetic = activation
parasympathetic = relaxation

Question 12

Feedback loops

Answer 12

when the stress has abated, feedback loops initiate an automatic turn off

Question 13

prolonged stress response

Answer 13

if acute psycho stress system responses are repeatedly activated, tissue damage and diseases can occur

Question 14

Stress and the brain

Answer 14

chronisch stress causes remodeling of dendrites and synaptic connections in may brain regions

Question 15

psychological stressresponse in illness: direct & indirect effects

Answer 15

direct effect: slowing down cell repair in cancer patients

indirect effect: influence on behavior –> increased risk behaviors or illness perception (appraisal)

Question 16

GAS - general adaptation syndrome (Selye)

Answer 16

stress is an innate drive to maintain homeostasis
3 stages:
1. alarm - initial response/increased arousal
2. resistance - adaptation & mobilisation
3. exhaustion - depletion of bodily resources

Question 17

Types of stressors

Answer 17

• transient (specific events –> stress)

* repeated or chronic (intermittent stress)

Question 18

transient stress

Answer 18

• acute time limiting stressors
• traumatic events
• (major) life events –> life events theory

Question 19

repeated or chronic stress

Answer 19

• daily hassles

- work-related stress

Question 20

trait anxiety & stress exposure

Answer 20

• partially mediates the stress exposure and PTSD
• fully mediates this relation with depression

predisposition for psychopathology (ptsd, depression) mainly depends on trait anxiety + life events, but genetic variation of the HPA-axis and gender are also important

Question 21

transactional model of stress (stress as a subjective experience)- (Lazarus)

Answer 21

• cognitive appraisal is central

- interaction between an event (stressor) and individual characteristics

Question 22

primary appraisal

Answer 22

• perceived demands –> challenge or threat?

personal meaning of an event, consideration of quality & nature of event

Closely related emotions & dependent on motivational relevance/congruence and ego involvement

3 type of stressors:

• harm-loss
• threat (future harm/loss)
• challenge (demands seen as opportunities for personal growth)

Question 23

secondary appraisal

Answer 23

personal belief of capacity to reduce the stressor, consideration of resources (internal + external) and coping potential

Question 24

stress (cognitive transactional model of stress, Lazarus)

Answer 24

= mismatch between perceived demands and resources`

Question 25

Criticism lazarus framework

Answer 25

Perceived demands (primary appraisal) vs coping resources (secondary appraisal) - how do they interact? (circulatory) - are they separate concepts? - are they both necessary for explanation? - Do resources need to outweigh demands?

Question 26

Evolution cognitive appraisal theory of stress

Answer 26

Extent from conditions to emotions in a DYNAMIC interlinked manner,

Question 27

Personal and interpersonal influences on appraisals and stress responses

Answer 27

- coping styles - personality - cognitions - emotions - social support

Question 28

Coping

Answer 28

anything a person does to reduce the impact of a perceived or actual stressor

Question 29

coping style

Answer 29

is a personal trait, unspecific to the stressor/context

Question 30

coping strategy

Answer 30

varies according to the event/context (= situation-specific)

Question 31

coping style: monitors

Answer 31

these people tend to approach problems, seek out threat relevant information

Question 32

coping style: blunters

Answer 32

they generally tend to avoid or distract themselves from threat relevant info

Question 33

Stress coping model

Answer 33

big role from: individual's personal and social resources, and life goals --> influences the degree to which a chronic illness is considered a source of psychological stress

Question 34

Two main coping strategies

Answer 34

1. problem-focused reduce demands of stressor/ increase personal resources & emotion-focused-managing the emotional response * confronting the source of stress * venting anger 2. approach-oriented coping and avoidance depends on source of stress * distraction

Question 35

Adaptive coping

Answer 35

To be effective, amenable to change

Question 36

problem-focused & emotion-focused coping may be used together

Answer 36

problem focused/ approach oriented coping tends to be more adaptive when something can be done to alter or control the stressor event Emotion-focused coping tends to be more adaptive, where control of event/resources are low

Question 37

How can personality indirectly influence disease risk & illness progression?

Answer 37

- personality may promote unhealthy behavior. This is a predictive of disease --> indirect link on disease risk - personality may indirectly influence illness progression or outcome by influencing the individual's appraisals

Question 38

relation personality (trait/type) - illness

Answer 38

Neuroticism: attention to internal states and increased somatic complaints, negative affectivity which reflects a view of the self and world in general negative terms --> subjective illness experience Optimism: positive outlook/outcome expectancies, better coping, reduced symptom reporting/negative mood/depression & increased well-being + infleunces appraisals making problem-focused coping more likely Hardiness ("taaiheid"): from rich, varied and rewarding childhood, is seen in feelings of commitment, control and challenge thought to be a buffer in the experience of stress (buffering effect)

Question 39

Personality type A

Answer 39

heart disease (coronary) - active - easily aroused - impatient - -> hostility + anger as predictors of illness

Question 40

Personality type C

Answer 40

Elevated cancer risk - passive - cooperative - repressed negative emotions - -> fighting spirit & hope (problem-focused)

Question 41

Personality type D

Answer 41

``` cardiac events (angina) - distressed: scoring high on negative affectivity and social inhibition ```

Question 42

(un)conscious stress

Answer 42

Humans prolong stress with verbal cognitive processes --> excessive stress anticipation

Question 43

Preservative cognitions

Answer 43

passive, repetitive & self-focused thinking about negative emotional states and implications

Question 44

Consequences of negative emotional states

Answer 44

- worry:anticipation future events | - rumination: dwelling past events

Question 45

perceived control

Answer 45

control reduces stressfulness of an event by altering the appraisal; e.g. by reducing emotional arousal or adopting a coping response

Question 46

perceived locus of control

Answer 46

appraisal of control over the outcome, distinguishes between internal vs external loc

Question 47

Types of control (potentially helpful)

Answer 47

- behavioral - cognitive (distraction) - decisional (choose between options) - informational (find out more about stressor) - retrospective

Question 48

hope

Answer 48

= a positive motivational state that is based on an interactively derived sense of successfulness a. agency - goal directed energy b. pathways - planning to meet goals hope highlights motivation and route to achieving goals

Question 49

stress related illnesses (depression & anxiety) are related to worse health outcomes via:

Answer 49

1. appraisals + coping actions 2. unhealthy behavior 3. direct physiological pathways 4. feeling less able to seek social support

Question 50

emotional disclosure

Answer 50

short writing about feelings - -> possible moderator of coping - -> long-term benefits of reduced stress - -> low cost & easy intervention ! venting negative emotions is sometimes associated with poorer prognosis (increased attention paid to stressor)

Question 51

Types of social support

Answer 51

- instrumental support (practical aid) - emotional support (caring, concern) - informational (advice)

Question 52

Direct & indirect effects of social support

Answer 52

Direct: greater self-esteem, confidence, self-efficacy & positive outlook on life. Reduced blood pressure reactivity & cortisol Indirect: = buffering effect, protect against negative effects of stress by influencing cognitive. appraisal & coping responses --> social support promotes proactive coping, anticipating stressors and acting in advance either to prevent them or to mute their impact

Question 53

Oxytocin

Answer 53

* pro-social neurohormone * affects social bonding processes and stress regulation. = dependent on aspects of context and inter individual factors

Question 54

Interpersonal stress: social rejection & achievement-related tasks

Answer 54

women report higher levels of stress --> interpersonal stress: 'tend-and-befriend' stress Men are more susceptible to stress related to achievement-related tasks (e.g. exams)

Question 55

Negative moderators

Answer 55

- neuroticism - neg. affectivity - social inhibition - hostility & anger - perseveratie cognitions

Question 56

positive moderators

Answer 56

- social support - optimism - hardiness (belief of control, feeling involved and challenged; buffering) - self efficacy - perceived loc - fighting spirit & hope