17 Health PDF

17 Health Tuesday, November 19, 2024 10:05 AM HEALTH (W.H.O definition): complete state of well-being, encompassing 1. Physical well-being 2. Mental well-being 3. Social/emotional well-being Ø NOT merely the absence of DIESEASE or INFIRMITY BIG QUESTION: Ø How does personality affect (or...

17 Health Tuesday, November 19, 2024 10:05 AM HEALTH (W.H.O definition): complete state of well-being, encompassing 1. Physical well-being 2. Mental well-being 3. Social/emotional well-being Ø NOT merely the absence of DIESEASE or INFIRMITY BIG QUESTION: Ø How does personality affect (or interact) with health ? - Ex. Are some people more likely to become ill? - Ex. Are some people better equipped to tolerate stress? STRESS = subjected feeling Ø Produced by events perceived as uncontrollable + threatening Ø Feeling of being overwhelmed by events that you cannot control STRESSOR = objective phenomenon that can be MEASURED Ø Change or event in the environment - Daily hassles vs major life events IS COPING A STYLE? = behavioural response of the individual Ø Little support for "coping style" perspective Ø Coping as a DYNAMIC PROCESS Ø Interaction among: - Stressor features - Coping context/setting - Individual differences (personality) Ø Categorizing coping: - Emotion focused > stay calm - Problem focused > study plans/steps to solve a problem - Relationship focused > effort to maintain your relationship during stressful situations/listen/show empathy - Approach-avoidance > pretend the situation doesn't exist - Positive reframing > think about the situation at a different perspective ADAPTIVE vs MALADAPTIVE COPING Ø Exam is hard >> wishful thinking (maladaptive) VS >> making strategic plans/accepts it as challenge instead of avoiding it (adaptive coping) UNDERSTANDING COPING Ø Context/Situation - Contextual + situational factors influence all aspects of coping, from strategies engaged t success Ø Fit of environment to coping response predicts effectiveness EVALUATING COPING STRATEGIES BEST COPING STRATEGIES: 1. Problem solving = make a plan, do something 2. Positive Reappraisal = find the positive/silver lining 3. Support seeking = surround yourself with supportive others POOR COPING STRATEGIES 1. Denial + avoidance = better to work through stuff 2. Rumination (worrying) = dwelling can be bad sa to  3. Support seeking = surround yourself with supportive others POOR COPING STRATEGIES 1. Denial + avoidance = better to work through stuff 2. Rumination (worrying) = dwelling can be bad MODERATION = questions of "when" + "for whom" - Does X predict Y ? Ex. X = stress, Y = illness >> Neuroticism (high vs low) MEDIATION = questions of "how" + "why" Neuroticism (X) >> higher stress reactivity >> Illness (Y) MODELS OF PERSONALITY-ILLNESS CONNECTION 1. Interactional Model 2. Transactional Model 3. Health Behaviour Model EXAMPLE - INTERACTIONAL MODEL A INTERACTIONAL MODEL B SUMMARY: MODELS OF PERSONALITY-ILLNESS CONNECTION Ø Most models of personality + illness include a key variable of stress Ø Personality may or may not DIRECTLY impact STRESS-ILLNESS connection Ø Personality Influences: - Type of events that we encounter  Ø Most models of personality + illness include a key variable of stress Ø Personality may or may not DIRECTLY impact STRESS-ILLNESS connection Ø Personality Influences: - Type of events that we encounter - How we perceive events - How we respond to events (COPING RESPONSES) - Health behaviors (healthy vs unhealthy habits BEHAVIOUR PATTERNS AND HEALTH TYPE A BEHAVIOR PATTERN: Ø Achievement motivation + competitiveness Ø Time urgency Ø HOSTILITY + AGRESSION HOSTILITY: The Lethal Component (high neuroticism > poor health outcomes) Ø Easily irritated by small frustrations + inconveniences Ø Type A structured interview gets at this component Ø Questionnaire measures of Hostility - STRONG PREDICTOR OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE TYPE D (DISTRESSED) PERSONALITY Ø Combination of 2 Traits: 1. NEGATIVE AFFECTIVITY = tendency to frequently experience negative emotions, across ti 2. SOCIAL INHIBITIONS = inhibit the expression of emotions, thoughts, and behaviours in so Ø Predicts poor health outcomes for CARDIAC PATIENTS (increased mortality, faster disease MECHANISMS: 1. Higher levels of cortisol (stress hormone), inflammation 2. Poor health behaviours (less time outdoors/medical checkups) 3. Lack of social support ime + situations ocial interactions e progression) MECHANISMS: 1. Higher levels of cortisol (stress hormone), inflammation 2. Poor health behaviours (less time outdoors/medical checkups) 3. Lack of social support NEGATIVITY AND HEALTH NEUROTICISIM = experience negative affects; anxiety, depression, hostility, self-consciousness Ø Stressful events >> more threatening + demanding Ø MALADAPTIVE COPING STRATEGIES that involve hostility, passiveness, and RUMINATION Ø Interpersonal withdrawl BENEFITS OF POSITIVE EMOTIONS Positive emotions may: Ø Sustain coping efforts Ø Provide a break from stress Ø Give people time + opportunity to restore depleted resources >> restoration of social rela Ø Fredrickson's "BROADEN + BUILD MODEL" of positive emotions OPTIMISM - PESSIMIST = make stable, GLOBAL, and internal explanations for bad events - OPTIMISTS = make unstable, specific, external explanations for bad events Ø DISPOSITIONAL OPTIMISM = expectation that good events will be plentiful + bad events Ø Optimism predicts good health + health-promoting behaviours HARDINESS (strength + courage) Ø HARDY PERSONALITY = existential courage + motivation to cope effectively w/ stressful ci - Better able to "resist" the negative effects of stress + cope more effectively over time - Biological - Negative relationship > HIGH HARDINESS = lower depression + fatigue THREE 3'S OF HARDINESS 1. Control = Feeling in control of your life 2. Commitment = tend to set goals/higher purpose 3. Challenge N ationships s are rare in future ircumstances