LECT 6 Flashcards
(13 cards)
What are the physiological mechanisms of stress?
- Nervous system – Autonomic Nervous System (ANS):
- Endocrine system:
- Immune system:
- Nervous system – Autonomic Nervous System (ANS):
Sympathetic nervous system (SNS): activates fight or flight response, fast-acting, releases adrenaline and noradrenaline, causes increased heart rate and blood pressure, catabolic (breaks down energy).
Parasympathetic nervous system (PNS): rest and digest, slower, releases acetylcholine, reduces heart rate, increases digestion, anabolic (regenerates energy).
Endocrine system:
Hormonal system that regulates stress response via hypothalamus, pituitary, and adrenal glands.
Produces cortisol (main stress hormone) and aldosterone.
Cortisol increases glucose, suppresses immune function, and peaks ~30 min after waking.
Immune system:
Innate immunity: fast, non-specific (inflammation, NK cells, macrophages).
Adaptive immunity: slow, specific (B cells, T cells); handles viruses and bacteria.
Stress alters immune response (short-term stress can boost innate immunity; chronic stress suppresses both systems).
What are the effects of stress on the human body?
Short-term stress: activates ANS and HPA axis → increased heart rate, blood pressure, energy release, and immune alertness.
Chronic stress: elevated cortisol → weakened immune system, poor sleep, anxiety, digestive issues, fatigue, and long-term health risks (e.g., cardiovascular problems, weight gain).
Can also lead to allostatic load, the cumulative strain on the body from repeated stress activation.
What are general theories of stress?
- Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS):
- Allostatic Load (McEwen):
- Transactional Stress Model (Lazarus & Folkman):
. Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS):
Stress = non-specific response to any demand
3 stages: Alarm → Resistance → Exhaustion
Two types of stress: Eustress (positive) & Distress (negative)
❗ Critique: too general; ignores individual differences and stressor types
Allostatic Load (McEwen):
Stress is the wear and tear on the body due to repeated or chronic activation
Body adapts through allostasis (stability through change), but prolonged strain leads to allostatic overload and illness
. Transactional Stress Model (Lazarus & Folkman):
Stress is subjective, based on cognitive appraisal
Primary appraisal: Is it a threat, challenge, or irrelevant?
Secondary appraisal: Do I have resources to cope?
Leads to coping (problem-focused or emotion-focused), which influences reappraisal
❗ Critique: overemphasizes cognition; emotions can occur without conscious thought
What are the effects of organizational stressors on physical stress?
Work stressors (e.g., workload, role conflict, lack of control, interpersonal conflict) are linked to physical health problems.
Common symptoms: headaches, back pain, eye strain, sleep disturbances, fatigue, gastrointestinal issues.
Meta-analyses (e.g., Nixon et al., 2011) show organizational constraints, interpersonal conflict, and high workload have the strongest associations with these outcomes.
Chronic work stress contributes to burnout and long-term illness.
Which of the following is NOT an adequate measure for assessing the activity of the autonomic nervous system (ANS)?
a) Blood glucose level
b) Heart rate
c) Skin conductance levels
a
Which of the following definitions of stress fits the concept of stress in Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) Model best?
a) Stress is the nonspecific response of the body to a demand
b) Stress is the result of the cognitive appraisal of a stimulus
c) Stress is the result of an inbalance between demands and resources
a
Celia has been working at a German university for four years. She has a high workload with a lot of teaching responsibilities. When she is not teaching or supervising student projects, she is working on applying for grants and writes papers. Because she only get temporary contracts, she feels very insecure about her job and her future.
In the lecture, we discussed the effects of different types of stress on the innate and adaptive immune system. Which effects on Celia’s immune system can be expected?
a) A downregulation of the innate immune system and a downregulation of the adaptive immune system
b) An upregulation of the innate immune system and a downregulation of the adaptive immune system
c) A downregulation of the innate immune system and no effect on the adaptive immune system
a
