Chapter 13
Health, Stress, and Coping
Health Psychology

Studies the relationship between
psychological variables and health,

Mind & Body Beliefs, attitudes, behaviors, lifestyle contribute to illness Health Psychologists try to change peoples life styles

Complex task - some people function better
Social Support for Stress

Emotional—expressions of concern,
empathy, positive regard Tangible—direct assistance such as lending money, providing meals Informational—such as making good
Gender Differences
– No difference in amount of stress coping strategies – Difference is cause of stress Men - work-related stress
Women - parenting, relationships
Managing Stress

Physiological Coping - relaxation Behavioral Coping - time managing
(balance work & play)

Social coping - social support
Why Exercise Works

Reactions to Stress

Optimists
– seek support
– focus on problem – make plans

Pessimists
– Give up on goal
– deny stress exists – do not focus on problem

Exhaustion - resistance depleted
GAS

Limitations


Not all people react the same
Not all stressors have same effect The same stressor can have different
effects at different times
Interpretation of Stressors

Primary Appraisal - the extent that the situation is a threat to important goals Secondary Appraisals - the extent that the person feels he/she can cope Stressful life events vs. daily hassles Which are more stressful?

Problem-focused coping
– managing or changing the stressor – use if problem seems alterable – confrontive coping – planful problem solving

Emotion-focused coping
on past experience
When to Seek Advice

Health Belief model – Depends on…
– perceive symptoms as threat to health
– believe treatment will reduce that threat
– evoke approach & avoidance
Response to Stress

Indirect effects—promote behaviors that
jeopardize physical well being. Use of drugs, lack of sleep, poor concentration Direct effects—promote changes in body functions, leading to illness such as headaches and other physical symptoms
Stress Hormones
Produced by adrenal glands
– Adrenal medulla—catecholamines

Epinephrine and norepinephrine

Increases respiration, BP, heart rate
– Adrenal cortex—corticosteroids
Cultural Influence
– Individualist

less likely to seek social support favor problem-focused coping
– Collectivist

more oriented to social support favor emotion-focused coping

Sense of accomplishment Improved physique
Am I Ill?

Irregular bodily symptoms – situational factors influence
attention to symptoms
– tend to interpret symptoms based
Stress

Response to events that disrupt or threaten our physical or psych functioning Stressors - events that cause stress

– + or - events
– produce overload


Immune system works improperly
Stress and Task Performance
– Low or moderate levels can reduce performance
– Arousal increases performance at first,then drops
Emotion-Focused Coping

Wishful thinking—imagine stressor is gone Seeking social support—turn to friends, support Positive reappraisal—minimize negative, emphasize positive Downward comparison—compare self to those less fortunate

Release stored energy Reduces inflammation and immune system
GAS – Hans Selye

Alarm - Body prepares for danger
Resistance - Arousal is lower,
body draws on resources to cope
Promoting Wellness

Wellness is related to Genes Diet Exercise Sexual activity Family stability Personality characteristics
– choice between 2 unappealing outcomes – more stressful than approach-approach

Approach-avoidance conflict
– one goal with appealing & unappealing aspects – most stressful type of conflict – often see vacillation


suggestions, advice, good referrals
Effects of Support

Improves ability to cope, benefits health
– modify appraisal of stressor’s significance – decreases intensity of physical reactions to stress


Interpretation of Stressors


Holmes and Rahe (1967) Hassles of Daily Life
– Hassle - minor everyday life events
grocery shopping paying the bills child care