L6: Stress I Flashcards
(52 cards)
1
Q
what are the 3 physiological systems associated with stress?
A
- nervous system (autonomic nervous system)
- endocrine system
- immune system
2
Q
what are the subparts of autonomic nervous system?
A
- parasymathetic: dominates during rest-and-digest
- sympathetic: dominates during fight-or-flight
3
Q
what happens in the body during parasympathetic ANS activity?
A
- release of acetylcholine
- pupils constrict
- salivery secretion increases
- heart rate decreases
- muscle tension decraeses
- brioncoles constrict
- intestinal secretions increase
- anabolic functioning: various body cells regenerate or grow
4
Q
what happens in the body during sympathetic ANS activity?
A
- release of catecholamines: epinephrine (adrenaline), norepineprhine (noradrenaline)
- pupils dilate
- salivary secretion decrease
- heart rate increases
- blood pressure incraeses
- vasodilation of arteries through working muscles
- brioncoles dilate
- reduction of digestive activity
- catabolic functioning: complex molecules broken down for energy
5
Q
whats the funciton of the parasympathetic ANS?
A
calms the body down (rest and digest)
6
Q
whats the function of the sympathetic ANS?
A
prepares for threat (fight or flight)
aka responsible for immediate physical readiness to stress (so immediate effect (very fast, short duration))
7
Q
how is ANS activity measured?
A
- electrodermal activity: skin conductance level/response
- cardiovascular activity through heart rate (ECG, EKG), blood pressure, blood volume (plethysmography))
8
Q
what does the endocrine system do?
A
- consists of endocrine glands that producte hormones
- main glands responsible for stress response are the pituitary gland, hypothalamus, adrenal glands (so includes HPA axis)
- production of glucocorticoids
9
Q
what are glucocorticoids?
A
steroids that influence the metabolism rates of proteins, fats, and sugars/glucose
main: cortisol
10
Q
what is the HPA axis & its function?
A
axis that goes through hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands.
- pathway through which stress hormones are produced
- hypothalamus produces CRF leads to
- pituitary gland producing ACTH
- ACTH goes to adrenal glands where it produces steroids:
- cortisol (main glucocorticoid) increases, which leads to:
- helps to generate glucose through degradation of amino acids -> increases blood sugar (gluconeogenesis)
- breaks down fats for energy (lipolysis)
- effects on immune system (reduces inflammation short term)
11
Q
what are the effects on immune system of HPA axis?
through the increase in cortisol
A
reduction of immune responses & limitation of inflammatory responses & limitation of inflammatory responses, metabolizes white blood cells
12
Q
what are symptoms of chronic high cortisol levels?
A
- weight gain (especially around abdomen/stomach)
- puffy, flushed face
- mood swings
- increased anxiety
- higher susceptibility to infections
- high blood pressure
- acne or other skin changes
- higher risk for bone fractures & osteoporosis
13
Q
how is the functioning of the endocrine system measured?
A
measure cortisol levels (but keep in mind that it fluctuates during the day)
spit test
14
Q
how does cortisol fluctuate naturally?
A
- cortisol awakening response: difference between cortisol levels at waking & 30 mins after waking, big boost
- then goes down
- and right before sleeping, so when ur really tired, theres usually another spike (pre sleep jiitters)
15
Q
what are the 2 types of immune systems?
A
- innate (natural) system that everyone has: responds w inflammation to everything (general response)
- adaptive (specific system): slower, cellular response to viruses, humoral response to parasites & bacteria
16
Q
what are the effects of stress on the immune system?
A
- acute time limited stressors (innate system goes up, adaptive system goes down)
- brief naturalistic stressors (innate system goes up, adaptive system goes down)
- chronic stressors (innate & adaptive systems go down)
17
Q
what are the 3 stress theories/models?
A
- selyes general adapation syndrome model
- allostatic load
- transactional stress model
18
Q
how does selyes general adaptation syndrome model see stress?
A
- stress: nonspecific response of the body to a demand
- 2 types of stress
- distress: when demands result in unpleasant conditions
- eustress: when demands result in pleasant conditions (something challenging but rewarding)
- 3 stages of stress
19
Q
what are the 3 stages of Selye’s general adaptation syndrome model?
A
- alarm reaction (w general physiological stress response)
- resistance stage (body diminished the effects of the alarm reaction)
- prolonged exposure to stressor -> exhaustion
20
Q
what are the criticisms on Selye’s general adaptation syndrom view on stress?
A
- simple, non specific stress model
- does not explain the variety in physiological responses depending on different stressors, contexts, and individuals
so bit outdated
21
Q
how does the allostatic load theory see stress?
A
- basic conceptualization of stress & physiology
- allostasis: “stability through change”
- homeostasis (=balance) is created through allostasis
- physiological systems that respond to environmental demands (and anticipated demands) & adjustment of these systems balance each other out to achieve homeostais
- symptoms of pathology caused by a chronic allostatic state
- cumulative effects of stress responses due to chronic stress
22
Q
how is allostatic load measured?
A
through composite indexes of biomarkers (neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, immune, metabolic)
23
Q
how does the transactional stress model see stress?
A
- stress is subjective & cognitively determined
- emphasis on the appraisal of (potentially) stressful stimuli (so stress depends on the person!)
- primary appraisal: interpretation of the stressor
- if dangerous appraisal then secondary appraisal: analysis of the available resources
- if insufficient resources then stress
- then coping & reappraisal
24
Q
what is the criticism on the transactional stress model?
A
- ## emphasis on the cognitive processing: affective processes may occur without cognition (so humans are not always consciously deciding when a stimulus is stressful)
25
what was Nixon's meta-analysis about?
examined the link between job stressors (like workload & interpersonal conflict) and physical symptoms (like headaches & fatigue)
26
what model explains the link between stress & physical health symptoms in Nixons meta analysis?
stimulus response model, where job stressors -> psychological/emotional responses -> physical symptoms via the HPA and SAM systems
27
according to Nixon, what kind of work factors can make you sick/stressed?
**- interpersonal conflict**
- lack of control
**- org constraints**
- role ambiguity
- role conflict
- workign hours
**- workload**
28
what were the results of Nixons meta-analysis on org stressors relationship w physical health outcomes
- org constraints, interpersonal conflict and workload
associated largest effects on all physical health outcomes (in that order from most to least)
- interpersonal conflicts: sig larger association w sleep disturbances than w other symptoms
- org constraints sig larger association w gastrointestinal problems than other symptoms
- workload sig larger associations w eye strain & fatigue
* None of the symptoms correlated with all stressors
* Gastrointestinal problems and sleep disturbances were related to more stressors
than the other symptoms
- sleep disturbance strongest correlation w interpersonal conflict
- gastrointestinal problems strongest correlation w org constraints
29
what are some physical health symptoms that can result from work stress?
- headaches
- fatigue
- dizziness
- sleep problems
- gastrointestinal problems
- appetite
- eye pain
- back pain
30
what is homeostasis?
- the bodys tendency to maintain internal stability; stress disrupts this balance, triggering a fight-or-flight response
31
in the transactional model of stress, what are the 2 types of cognitvie appraisal?
- primary: is this a threat or challenge?
- secondary: can i cope w it?
32
what are the 2 coping strategies?
- emotion focused
- problem focused
33
what is allostasis?
- "stability through change"
- the body adapts to anticipated demands
34
what is allostatic load?
- results from chronic stress
- wear & tear on the body, body cant adapt to anticipated demands anymore
35
what causes stress in conservation of resources theory?
actual or threatened loss of valued resources (eg time, money, status)
36
what are the 4 types of resources in conservation of resources theory?
- objects (eg car)
- conditions (eg job security)
- personal characteristics (eg self esteem)
- energies (eg time, money)
37
what is a loss spiral?
| conservatoin of resources theory
initial resource loss makes ppl more vulnerable to future loss, creating a downward spiral of stress
38
what does Effort-Reward Imbalance Theory focus on?
Reciprocity at work—stress happens when high effort is not matched by rewards (money, respect, promotion)
39
who is most vulnerable to stress in Effort Reward Imbalance theory?
- Overcommitted individuals
- Those with few labor market alternatives
- Those under incomplete or broken psychological contracts
40
what is the Demand-Control (-Support) Model about?
- demands: workload, time pressure
- control: decision-making freedom & skill use
- later models added support as a buffer against strain
- jobs w high demands + low control = high strain jobs
41
what are the major theories of occupational stress?
- homeostasis & allostasis
- seyles general adaptatoin syndrome
- transactional model
- conservation of resources theory
- effort reward imbalance theory
- demand control support model
- job demands resources model
- challenge vs hindrance stressors
- person environment model
42
what does the JDR (job demands resources) model emphasize?
every job has demands (stressors) and resources (supports), including personal traits like optimism
43
what is job crafting?
when workers proactive change their jobs to increase resources or reduce demands
44
what are gain & loss spirals?
- gain: high resources -> better engagement
- loss: high demands & low resources -> burnout
45
what are challenge vs hindrance stressors?
- challenge stressors: workload, responsibility (can be motivating)
- hindrances stressors: red tape, role ambiguity
46
what is "red tape"?
- type of hindrance stressor
- represents unnecessary or overly complicated rules, forms, approvals, or steps that get in the way of getting actual work done
47
what causes stress in the person-environmental fit (PE fit) model?
a mismatch between a person's needs/abilities and the job's demands/outcomes
48
what are criticisms of the person-environmental fit model?
- Overreliance on self-reports
- Poor definition of what “fit” means
- Weak statistical methods (e.g., difference scores)
49
define stress
a physiological & psychologial response to a perceived threat or challenge (the stressor)
50
what are the 2 key stress systems?
- sympathetic adrenal medullary system: fast system that activates the fight or flight resposne
- HPA axis: slower, longer lasting stress response
51
what is acute vs chronic stress
Acute stress: Short-term, adaptive, improves performance and response.
Chronic stress: Long-term activation of stress systems → health risks (e.g., cardiovascular issues, weakened immune system, depression).
52
what are the brain areas involved in stress
- Hypothalamus: Stress command center.
- Amygdala: Detects threats and initiates stress response.
- Prefrontal Cortex: Regulates emotional responses; can dampen or exacerbate stress.
- Hippocampus: Involved in memory; sensitive to cortisol → high stress can impair memory and learning.
