Stress, Health, and Well-Being
Chapter 10
Samuel R. Mathews, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology
The University of West Florida
Stress
• a special case of emotional response
• typically a response to some perceived
threat or situation that leads to discomfort
• our body’s and mind’s attempt to adapt
and survive (pg. 396)
Stressors, and Stress Response
• Stressor—the stimulus that induces
stress
• Stress Response
– our physiological,
– psychological, and
– behavioral response to the stressor
Stress Models
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•
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Stressor Physiological Response
Physiological Response Subjective Feelings
Subjective Feelings Behavior
Similar to emotional response but generally
seen to be negative and to require some coping
strategy
Model for Stress Response (pg. 395)
• Cognitive appraisal can occur for:
– the stressor,
– the physiological response
– subjective feelings, or
– not at all
Primitive stressors and stress
response
• Stressors associated with threats to our
survival (Maslow’s Physiological level).
• Frequently engages the “fast response
cycle” ala emotions
• Physiological reactions to threats less
related to survival are similar to responses
to survival-related stressors.
Traumatic Stressors
• typically threats or perceived threats to survival
(e.g. 9/11; Ivan/Katrina/Dennis) (pg. 399)
• Psychic numbness—shock, confusion, lack of
understanding of events
• Automatic action—responses for which the
individual is largely unaware; least adaptive
outcomes associated with lack of preparation
Traumatic Stressors
• Communal effort—formation of coalitions for action
and resources; pride in accomplishments; can use
resources in less than optimal ways; without
positive out comes loss of hope can occur
• Letdown—as experience of disaster wanes, public
interest drops and sense of isolation and
abandonment can ensue
• Recovery—survivors adapt to changes; survivors
come to terms with changes in natural and human
environments
Traumatic Stressors
o Vicarious Trauma—exposure to traumatic
events second-hand through media can lead
to stressors; can yield PTSD responses
(Roetzer &Walch, 2005)
o Loss as a stressor
• Death of a spouse—among most stressful events;
resolution of loss and integration of the event in
ongoing live tend to be most adaptive;
• Abandonment/humiliation—divorce, other loss of
status can lead to depression due to self-doubts
that emerge
Traumatic Stressors
o Post Traumatic Stress Disorder—reexperiencing the mental and physical events
and response to a traumatic stressor (pg.
403)
o Hypervigilance
o Vivid nightmares
o Exaggerated startle reaction
Chronic Stressors
• Societal stressors (racism, sexism, etc.)
• Burnout (workplace stressors)
• Compassion fatigue (helping professions
overcome with level of involvement and
resource requirements)
Chronic Stressors
• Daily hassles (blocking some daily goal)
– Most frequent type of stressor
– May appear minor but can build
– Require Positive Coping in the form of
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•
•
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optimism,
reinterpretation of stressor,
humor in retrospect, and
realistic appraisal
General Adaptation Syndrome (pg. 415)
• alarm reaction—increase in adrenal hormones
resulting in physiological reactions,
• If stressor is removed, the body returns to
prealarm state;
• if stressor continues over time the next stage is
reached
General Adaptation Syndrome (pg. 415)
• resistance or adaptation. the body responds to
long term stressors by:
– continuing to secrete hormones to increase blood
sugar levels to sustain energy and raise blood
pressure
– reducing the effectiveness of the immune system
making the individual more susceptible to disease
– becoming, fatigued, experiencing concentration
lapses, irritability and lethargy as the negative stress
increases
General Adaptation Syndrome (pg. 415)
o exhaustion—here the body has depleted its
reserve of energy and reduced its immune
system’s effectiveness; physical and
psychological resources are reduced and can
lead to exhaustion, illness, etc.,
Individual differences in Stress
• Type A—focused on perfection, competitive
endeavors, order, speed
– Outcomes tend to be stress-related problems
with illness cardiovascular events
• Type B—focused on a more relaxed
approach; can be as productive
– Outcomes not linked to significant likelihood
for illness and cardiovascular events
Individual differences in Stress
• Learned Helplessness
– tendency to respond to threats with inaction
– neither flight nor fight ensues
– results from repeated failure to accomplish
desired outcome regardless of perceived
effort;
– Resolution based on
• Mastery experience
• Relevant role models
Positive resolution to stressors
• Cognitive Hardiness (interpretation of
stressful situation)
– Perceive stressful situation as Challenge
rather than threat
– Commitment to solving problems and
managing stressors in an adaptive way
– Control perceive themselves as being in
control of their own outcomes (internal locus
of control)
Positive resolution to stressors
• Resilience (response to stressful situation
and personal resources)
– Gain sense of control over situation
– Effective social support and interactions
– Realistic goals
– Focus on learning from outcomes (pos & neg)
– Experiencing positive social and emotional
relations with others
– Feeling of uniqueness and “special” (pg. 424).
Coping Strategies
• Emotion-focused Coping: managing emotional state
associated with the stressor
– Positive strategies: breath control, refocusing on
positive aspects, positive imagery
– Negative strategies: anger responses, retaliatory
responses, substance abuse, withdrawal or isolation
Coping Strategies
• Problem-focused Coping: identifying elements of the
stressful situation and applying problem-solving
steps/strategies
– analysis
– monitoring
– adjusting strategies
– typically positive
Coping Strategies
• Social support network
• Optimistic style of thinking
• Cognitive restructuring
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Conduct analysis of the stressor (why is it stressful?)
Identify those areas over which you have control
Identify strategies for control
Reduce the complexity of a task (use problem solving
strategies)