Health Psychology Overview

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Questions and Answers

What does health psychology primarily investigate?

The influence of diet on psychological well-being

The impact of genetics on health

The connection between behavior, cognition, and physical health (correct)

The evolution of various therapies

Which aspect is NOT included in the biopsychosocial model of health?

Cultural factors (correct)

Social context

Biological factors

Psychological factors

Which of the following is an example of a psychological response to stress during an exam?

Sweating profusely

Increased heart rate

Feeling overwhelmed by exam questions (correct)

Experiencing numbness

What does the term 'appraised' in the context of stress refer to?

The subjective evaluation of a situation's difficulty Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements aligns with the biopsychosocial model's perspective on smoking?

Nicotine dependence is influenced by both biological and psychological rationales. Signup and view all the answers

What can be a consequence of not finding meaning in loss of mobility for individuals who are paralyzed?

Prolonged distress and unhappiness Signup and view all the answers

What negative outcome can occur for individuals who question their faith after traumatic experiences?

Feeling abandoned or punished by God Signup and view all the answers

How does spending time writing about traumatic events benefit individuals psychologically?

It triggers better immunological functioning. Signup and view all the answers

What role does social support play in an individual's health according to the findings?

It contributes to lower blood pressure and fewer health issues. Signup and view all the answers

Why might merely being around others help buffer against stressful experiences?

It allows individuals to feel less alone and realize common challenges. Signup and view all the answers

What primarily influences a person's perceived stress level in a situation?

The individual's appraisal of the demands presented Signup and view all the answers

How does secondary appraisal affect an individual's response to stressors?

It assesses the resources available to cope with the stressor. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by stress appraisal theory?

It states that personal appraisals shape emotional responses to stress. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a component of stress appraisal?

Objective stressor assessment Signup and view all the answers

What role does cognition play in the experience of stress?

It can determine the intensity of stress responses through thought processes. Signup and view all the answers

Why might daily hassles predict health symptoms more closely than major life events?

The cumulative effect of daily hassles is often underestimated. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of primary appraisal in stress evaluation?

Evaluating the potential demands of a situation. Signup and view all the answers

Which personality type is more likely to experience a heart attack related to competitiveness and hostility?

Type A personality Signup and view all the answers

What is a key effect of prolonged exposure to stress during childhood?

Increased likelihood of chronic inflammation Signup and view all the answers

Which factor contributes significantly to differences in health outcomes among socioeconomic groups?

Perceived social status Signup and view all the answers

What does the diathesis-stress model suggest about health outcomes?

Stressful events can activate genetic vulnerabilities Signup and view all the answers

What role does humor play in coping with stress according to the findings?

Can potentially buffer against stress and promote social relationships Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic is most closely associated with resilience in stressful situations?

Positive thinking Signup and view all the answers

In terms of stress response, how does a sense of control affect individuals?

It enhances adaptive physiological responses Signup and view all the answers

What significant impact does a positive affective style have on individuals under stress?

Reduces susceptibility to stress-related health issues Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is a strong predictor of cardiovascular problems according to personality traits?

Hostility Signup and view all the answers

How does childhood trauma affect individuals later in life according to genetic sensitivity?

Increases likelihood of health issues depending on genetic background Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

What is Health Psychology?

Health psychology studies the links between behavior, cognition, and physical health.
Focuses on identifying behaviors that increase or decrease the risk of illness.
Health is defined as complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not just the absence of disease.

Biopsychosocial Model

This model emphasizes the interconnectedness of biology, psychology, and social context in shaping health outcomes.
An example is someone experiencing a panic attack during an exam, involving both physical symptoms (racing heart, sweating), psychological thoughts (exam questions not making sense), and social context (observing classmates seemingly managing the exam).

Benefits of the Biopsychosocial Model

This model enables researchers to address health concerns by examining different contributing factors, leading to effective interventions.
It allows for a multi-level approach to studying disease prevention and health promotion.
For example, understanding why people continue to smoke despite knowing its health risks can involve examining physical addiction, psychological rationalizations, and societal norms.

What is Stress?

Stress is a physiological response to an environmental event perceived as taxing or overwhelming.
Identifying the specific elements that make a situation stressful remains a challenge for researchers.
Studies have shown that everyday hassles are better predictors of health symptoms than major life events.

Stress Appraisals

Stressors refer to events that are most likely to trigger stress.
Individuals respond differently to the same situations based on their appraisals of stressors.
Perceived stress, or subjective evaluation of stress, is influenced by how people appraise an event and their perceived role in it.
This appraisal process shapes emotional experiences.
Primary appraisal is our perception of the demands of a situation. It considers the stakes involved.
Secondary appraisal assesses our ability to cope with the demands of a situation.

Cognition and Stress

Our cognitive processes influence how we perceive and react to stressors.
Thinking about stressful situations can trigger similar physiological stress responses as actually being in those situations.
Stress can impair executive functions in the prefrontal cortex, increasing the impulsivity and attractiveness of rewards.

Personality and Stress

Type A personalities, characterized by competitiveness, focus, and hot temper, are more prone to heart attacks.
Type B personalities, characterized by creativity, reflectiveness, and less competitiveness, have a lower risk of heart attacks.
Hostility, especially when reacting to frustrations, strongly predicts heart disease.

Personality and Resilience

Resilience is the ability to effectively cope with stressful events and return to a baseline state quickly.
People with a positive affective style or optimistic personality exhibit clear health benefits.
Meta-analyses show that individuals with higher self-esteem, a sense of personal control, and a happy disposition have less activation of the HPA axis under stress.

Gene x Environment Interactions

The diathesis-stress model suggests that individuals are born with inherent vulnerabilities (diatheses) to specific health outcomes.
Stressful events act as triggers for these vulnerabilities, resulting in a heightened risk of developing the condition.
The differential sensitivities hypothesis proposes that some individuals have a genetic predisposition to being more strongly affected by their environment.
People with different variants of the gene responsible for serotonin production, a neurotransmitter regulating mood, can exhibit varied responses to stressors, particularly childhood trauma.
Epigenetics suggests that events in people's lives can influence how their genes are expressed, potentially affecting their vulnerability to certain health conditions.

Health Disparities

Socioeconomic status (SES) profoundly affects health. Individuals with lower SES are more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking, substance abuse, and poor diet, due to limited resources and opportunities.
Prolonged childhood stress can lead to epigenetic changes that increase susceptibility to chronic inflammation and other health problems.
Perceived social status plays a crucial role in health too. Individuals feeling lower on the social ladder tend to report negative emotions, leading to prolonged stress responses.
Social stigmatization can also impact health with individuals facing discrimination experiencing persistent cardiovascular reactivity, leading to poorer health outcomes.
Solving health disparities requires systemic policy-level changes.

Illness as a Source of Stress

Illness can contribute to stress, especially terminal illnesses, leading to existential terror and increased risk of depression and compromised immune function.
Individuals with family or friends dealing with dementia or cancer may also experience poorer health and increased risk of depression.

Perceived Control

Feeling a sense of control over outcomes contributes to good mental health.
Those who maintain a sense of control experience better health for longer.
Perceived control over stressors activates the challenge response, which involves a more adaptive physiological reaction.

Does Humor Help Us Cope?

Research on the relationship between humor and stress is mixed.
While individuals with a good sense of humor may be more optimistic and have higher self-esteem, the link to physical health is less clear.
Positive emotions can buffer the negative effects of stress on health by reducing the duration of negative mood states.
Humor facilitates social connections and helps build relationships.

Gaining Insight and Finding Meaning

Finding meaning in stressful events plays a crucial role in coping and maintaining well-being.
Individuals struggling to find meaning in challenging situations, such as a traumatic event, may experience prolonged distress and unhappiness.
Writing about traumatic events over several days can promote better immunological functioning, potentially by facilitating insight and reducing brooding.
Many individuals turn to religion for meaning, which can help maintain well-being. However, questioning God's role in hardship can lead to negative outcomes.

Having a strong and supportive social network has numerous health benefits, including lower blood pressure, reduced stress hormones, and stronger immune systems.
Social support can act as a buffer against stressful experiences and offer a sense of companionship.
The quality of social support is important, with detrimental effects possible with dysfunctional relationships.
Merely knowing you have people to turn to can be more beneficial than actually receiving support, especially in interdependent cultures like East Asia.

Flow

Engaging in enjoyable, challenging, and intrinsically motivating activities promotes positive mood and reduces stress.
These activities lead to a state of flow, a state of intense focus and absorption in the activity, accompanied by increased dopamine levels in the brain.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness-based stress reduction involves training attention on the present moment and cultivating non-judgmental awareness of thoughts, feelings, and sensations.
Mindful meditation can help manage stress, improve mental clarity, and foster emotional regulation.

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Description

Explore the essential concepts of health psychology, including the biopsychosocial model that links behavior and physical health. Understand how this model offers a comprehensive view of health by integrating biological, psychological, and social factors in illness and wellness. This overview is vital for anyone interested in health-related behaviors and interventions.