Effects of StressEffects of Stress

Module 13Module 13

StressStress

how how we perceive & respond to events that we perceive & respond to events that we appraise as we appraise as threateningthreatening or or challengingchallenging

Why Study Stress?Why Study Stress?

Stress affects our behavior & mental Stress affects our behavior & mental processes processes

health psychology health psychology - subfield of - subfield of psychology that focuses on how stress psychology that focuses on how stress affects our well being and our healthaffects our well being and our health

Responses to Responses to StressStress

Walter CannonWalter Cannon stressful situations trigger the release stressful situations trigger the release

of stress hormones of stress hormones (cortisol & adrenaline) (cortisol & adrenaline) into the nervous systeminto the nervous system

first described first described fight or flightfight or flight response response

stress response of nervous system: stress response of nervous system: increased heart rateincreased heart rate dulls the sensation of paindulls the sensation of pain sends more blood to larger musclessends more blood to larger muscles

Stress Response of the Stress Response of the

Nervous SystemNervous System Calming of the Nervous Calming of the Nervous

System System

Hans SelyeHans Selye

researched recurring responses to stressresearched recurring responses to stress

discovered various chemicals caused discovered various chemicals caused stress reactions in animalsstress reactions in animals

developed the concept of the general developed the concept of the general adaptation syndrome (GAS)adaptation syndrome (GAS)

General Adaptation SyndromeGeneral Adaptation SyndromeThree Phases:Three Phases: 1)1) Alarm Reaction – nervous system activated Alarm Reaction – nervous system activated

in response to stressor (fight-or-flight)in response to stressor (fight-or-flight)

2)2) Resistance – stress hormones (cortisol & Resistance – stress hormones (cortisol & adrenaline) allow the body to keep adrenaline) allow the body to keep responding with physiological reactions to responding with physiological reactions to cope with the stressorcope with the stressor

3)3) Exhaustion – body’s resistance to stress is Exhaustion – body’s resistance to stress is depleted (physical deterioration) depleted (physical deterioration)

Key Principle from GAS:Key Principle from GAS:

Although our bodies are built to Although our bodies are built to handle temporary stress, prolonged handle temporary stress, prolonged stress will produce physical stress will produce physical deterioration deterioration

General Adaptation SyndromeGeneral Adaptation Syndrome

Psychological Responses to Psychological Responses to StressStress

mental slowness, confusion mental slowness, confusion general negative attitudes or thoughts general negative attitudes or thoughts constant worry constant worry your mind races at times your mind races at times difficulty concentrating difficulty concentrating forgetfulness forgetfulness difficulty thinking in a logical sequence difficulty thinking in a logical sequence irritation irritation no sense of humor no sense of humor frustration frustration jumpiness, overexcitability jumpiness, overexcitability feeling overworked, overwhelmed feeling overworked, overwhelmed sense of helplessness sense of helplessness apathy apathy

Behavioral Responses to Behavioral Responses to StressStress

agitated behavior, like twiddling your agitated behavior, like twiddling your fingers fingers

playing with your hair playing with your hair stumbling over words stumbling over words nervousnessnervousness lack of energy/fatigue lack of energy/fatigue decreased contact with family and friends decreased contact with family and friends poor work/school relations poor work/school relations sense of loneliness sense of loneliness avoiding others and others avoid you avoiding others and others avoid you

because you’re cranky because you’re cranky failing to set aside times for relaxation failing to set aside times for relaxation

through activities such as hobbies, music, through activities such as hobbies, music, art or reading art or reading

Stress Awareness BrochureStress Awareness Brochure Read “Stressful Events” & “Effects of Perceived Read “Stressful Events” & “Effects of Perceived

Control” pages 248 – 251Control” pages 248 – 251

Create a brochure informing others who have Create a brochure informing others who have never studied psychology about key issues related never studied psychology about key issues related to stress management including:to stress management including: the 3 main types of stress (include which is most the 3 main types of stress (include which is most

common) common) how the 3 types of stress affect healthhow the 3 types of stress affect health how our outlook and feelings of control can how our outlook and feelings of control can

influence our healthinfluence our health suggestions for decreasing stress (can be based suggestions for decreasing stress (can be based

on class discussion or your own personal on class discussion or your own personal experiences)experiences)

brochure must also include at least 5 drawings brochure must also include at least 5 drawings & color& color

Stressful Stressful Events: Events:

3 Main Types of 3 Main Types of

StressorsStressors

Daily StressDaily Stress

most significant source most significant source of stressof stress

Stress can be caused Stress can be caused by:by: typical demands of typical demands of

the daythe day living situationsliving situations economic difficultieseconomic difficulties

Impact of Daily Stress on Impact of Daily Stress on HealthHealth

persistent daily stress can produce burnout: physical, persistent daily stress can produce burnout: physical, emotional, and mental exhaustionemotional, and mental exhaustion

Burnout can result in:Burnout can result in: depressiondepression decreased performancedecreased performance CynicismCynicism

daily stress: also tied to high blood pressure, daily stress: also tied to high blood pressure, shorter life expectancy, increase in suicide, shorter life expectancy, increase in suicide, divorce, & murder rates divorce, & murder rates

Significant Life ChangesSignificant Life Changes result of personal life result of personal life

changes:changes: death of a loved onedeath of a loved one leaving home for leaving home for

collegecollege changing jobschanging jobs

can result in health can result in health problems – greater problems – greater vulnerability to diseasevulnerability to disease

CatastrophesCatastrophes

large scale stress large scale stress events (earthquakes, events (earthquakes, floods, war)floods, war)

prolonged exposure prolonged exposure can lead to physical can lead to physical and psychological and psychological problems – heart-problems – heart-attack, depressionattack, depression

Effects of Effects of Perceived Perceived ControlControl

Responding to Stress: Two OptionsResponding to Stress: Two Options

Perceived ControlPerceived Control

sense of control or influence one has sense of control or influence one has over stressful events in one’s lifeover stressful events in one’s life

studies suggest the lower the perceived studies suggest the lower the perceived control the larger the potential for control the larger the potential for health-related problemshealth-related problems

Stress HormonesStress Hormones

hormones released in response to stresshormones released in response to stress

the body must work to rid itself of the the body must work to rid itself of the stress hormonesstress hormones

pessimism and perceived lack of control pessimism and perceived lack of control both produce more stress hormones.both produce more stress hormones.

OptimismOptimism

a generally positive a generally positive outlook on the futureoutlook on the future

optimists have optimists have stronger immune stronger immune systems & recover systems & recover faster from health faster from health problemsproblems

Stress and Disease:Stress and Disease:Cancer and StressCancer and Stress

Read “Cancer and Stress” page 251

Answer the following questions in your notes:

1)Is there a stress-cancer connection?

2)Does stress create cancer cells?

3)How does stress affect the body’s malignancy-fighting ability?

Stress-Cancer ConnectionStress-Cancer Connection

evidence for a connection is not evidence for a connection is not conclusiveconclusive

two conclusions:two conclusions: stress does stress does notnot create cancer cells create cancer cells stress-weakened immune systems are stress-weakened immune systems are

more likely to allow tumor growth more likely to allow tumor growth they would otherwise combatthey would otherwise combat

Stress and Disease:Stress and Disease:Stress and Heart ProblemsStress and Heart Problems

Read “Stress and Heart Problems” page 252 - 253

Answer the following questions in your notes:

1) What is the difference between Type A & Type B personalities?

2) What did Friedman’s study conclude when studying the instances of heart disease among men?

3) Which type of personality was more likely to have a heart attack?

4) How are anger and depression linked to heart disease?

Type A IndividualsType A Individuals

individuals who are competitive, hard-individuals who are competitive, hard-driving, impatient, verbally aggressive, driving, impatient, verbally aggressive, and anger-proneand anger-prone

more prone to heart attacks & other more prone to heart attacks & other stress related illnessesstress related illnesses

Type B IndividualsType B Individuals

individuals who are easygoing, laid-individuals who are easygoing, laid-back, and relaxedback, and relaxed