Psyc 101 Fall 2024 Slides Chapter 12 Stress, Coping

PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychology: Social, Developmental, Clinical Chapter 12: Stress, Coping, Health Department of Psychology, University of Regina Instructor: Louise I. R. Castillo, M.Sc., Ph.D. Candidate (she/her) Outline What is stress?...

PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychology: Social, Developmental, Clinical Chapter 12: Stress, Coping, Health Department of Psychology, University of Regina Instructor: Louise I. R. Castillo, M.Sc., Ph.D. Candidate (she/her) Outline What is stress? How we adapt to stress: Change & Challenge Coping with stress How stress impacts our health Promoting Good Health and Less Stress What is Stress? Learning objectives 1. Explain how stress is defined and approached in different ways 2. Identify different approaches to measuring stress What is Stress? The tension, discomfort, or physical symptoms that arise when a stressor strains our ability to cope effectively A traumatic event is a stressor so severe that it can produce long-term psychological or health consequences 3 Approaches to Stress 1. Stressors as stimuli 2. Stress as a transaction 3. Stress as a response STRESS AS STIMULI Identifies different types of stressful events Categories of events that most people find dangerous and unpredictable Identifies people who are most susceptible to different events  STRESS AS A TRANSACTION Focus on interpretation and coping Primary appraisal: initial decision regarding whether an event is harmful Secondary appraisal: perceptions regarding our ability to cope with an event Problem-focused coping: devise a strategy to control the situation vs. Emotion-focused coping: manage emotions, common in uncontrollable situations STRESS AS A RESPONSE Assesses psychological and physical reactions to stress Can be lab-induced or real-world stressors Measure large number of outcome variables, including: - Corticosteroids: stress hormones that activate the body and prepare us to respond to stressful circumstances Measuring Stress MAJOR LIFE EVENTS The Social Readjustment Rating Scale is a questionnaire based on 43 life events ranked in terms of stressfulness Adopting the stressors are stimuli view SRRS is not a perfect predictor of well-being Neglects coping resources or chronic issues Some events may be consequences, rather than causes, of stress Measuring Stress HASSLES Minor annoyances that strain our ability to cope - More hassles are related to physical health, depression, and anxiety The Hassles Scale predicts well-being even when major life events are controlled for  Measuring Stress Caregivers of people living with dementia The global prevalence of dementia is projected to increase to 152.8 million by 2050 The rise in people affected by dementia will result in a proportional increase in the number of caregivers caring for people living with dementia Over 7.8 million Canadians provide informal care for a family member with a chronic health condition Nichols et al., 2022; Government of Canada, 2022  Models of Stress Lazarus and Folkman’s (1984) Transactional Theory of Stress and Coping Haley et al. (1987) Stress and Coping Model Appraisal Coping Strategies Stressors Social support Outcomes Self-efficacy  Caregiver stress and mental health Family caregivers for people with dementia experience high levels of burden deriving from the stress associated with providing care Caregivers caring for a person with dementia had higher risk for the development of depression than community dwelling adults, non-caregivers, and other types of caregivers of individuals with chronic health condition Pinquart & Sörensen, 2003; Walter & Pinquart, 2020; Kishita et al., 2020; Cuijpers, 2005 How We Adapt to Stress: Change & Challenge Learning objectives 1. Describe Selye’s general adaptation syndrome 2. Describe the diversity of stress responses Mechanics of Stress General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS): stress response pattern proposed by Hans Selye that consists of three stages 1) Alarm: excitation of the autonomic nervous system, release of adrenaline, symptoms of anxiety 2) Resistance: you adapt and find ways to cope with the stressor 3) Exhaustion: in prolonged stressors, our resistance can break down Mechanics of Stress 1. ALARM Excitation of the autonomic nervous system triggers release of stress hormone (adrenalin), and physical symptoms of anxiety Seat of anxiety is within the limbic system that contains the amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus - AKA “Emotional Brain” Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis - Fight or flight response: physical and psychological reaction that mobilizes people and animals to either defend themselves (fight) or escape (flee) a threatening situation  2. RESISTANCE Individual adapts to the stressor and finds ways to cope The cerebral cortex helps us appraise the situation, consider alternate solutions, and directs our efforts towards coping - AKA “Thinking Brain” Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Suprachiasmatic_Nucleus.jpg 3. EXHAUSTION If the stressor is prolonged and/or uncontrollable exhaustion sets in If our resources are limited or we lack good coping skills, resistance breaks down Can lead to organ damage, depression or anxiety, or immune system suppression Diversity of Stress Responses Responses to stress can vary Tend and befriend pattern: reaction that mobilizes people to nurture (tend) or seek social support (befriend) under stress - Instead of fight-or-flight - Common pattern among women - Oxytocin may be involved POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): development of characteristic symptoms following exposure to one or more traumatic events Flashbacks: vivid memories, feelings, and images of traumatic experiences Avoid reminders of the trauma Feeling detached or estranged from others Difficulty sleeping and startling easily Coping with Stress Learning objectives 1. Describe the role of social support and different types of control in coping with stress 2. Explain how our attitudes, beliefs, and personality may influence our responses to stress Social Support Relationships with people and groups that can provide us with emotional comfort and personal and financial resources Higher levels of social support associated with lower mortality rates Gaining Control 5 Types of control: Behavioural: the ability to step up and do something to reduce the impact of a stressful situation Cognitive: the ability to cognitively restructure negative emotions that arise in response to stress-provoking events Decisional: the ability to choose among alternative courses of actions Informational: the ability to acquire information about a stressful event Using proactive coping, one can anticipate problems and stressful situations, and thus cope with them better Emotional: the ability to suppress and express emotions Individual Differences HARDINESS Set of attitudes marked by a sense of control over events, commitment to life and work, and courage and motivation to confront stressful events Associated with low vulnerability to anxiety and more calm reactions to stress Individual Differences OPTIMISM Optimistic persons are more productive, focused, and handle frustration better Also show lower levels of mortality and better immune system response Individual Differences SPIRITUALITY & RELIGIOUS INVOLVEMENT Higher levels of spirituality and religion have many of the same benefits Many religions foster self-control and prohibit risky health behaviours (e.g. alcohol, drugs) Religious engagement, such as attendance at services, often boosts social support and increases marital satisfaction A sense of meaning and purpose, control over life, positive emotions, and positive appraisals of stressful situations associated with prayer and religious activities may enhance coping Individual Differences RUMINATION Focusing on how bad we feel and endlessly analyzing the causes and consequences of our problems May be connected to higher depression rates Seen more frequently with women, in part due to early socialization How Stress Impacts our Health Learning objectives 1. Describe how the immune system is affected by stress 2. Identify how physical disorders such as ulcers are related to stress 3. Describe the role of personality, everyday experiences, and socioeconomic factors in coronary heart disease The Immune System Our body’s defense against invading bacteria, viruses, and other illness-producing organisms The skin is our first line of defense against antigens: organisms that invade the body Coughing and sneezing, saliva, sweat, and stomach acid all help us rid the body of pathogens: disease-producing organisms Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS): a life-threatening incurable, yet treatable, condition in which the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks the immune system When the immune system is overactive, it can launch an attack on various organs of the body, causing autoimmune diseases Psychoneuroimmunology Study of the relationship between the immune system and central nervous system Numerous studies show a relationship between stress and the immune system High levels of stress over the past year make you more susceptible to catching the cold virus Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s Disease is associated with lower ability to heal from injury and decreased blood clotting Stress-Related Illnesses Psychophysiological: illnesses in which emotions and stress contribute to maintain or aggravate the physical condition - e.g., asthma, ulcers Biopsychosocial Perspective: the view that an illness or medical condition is the product of the interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors - Most medical conditions are neither all physical nor all psychological Stress-Related Illnesses CORONARY HEART DISEASE (CHD) Damage to the heart from the complete or partial blockage of the arteries that provide oxygen to the heart Associated with many factors, especially stress Stressful life events predict recurrences of heart attacks, high blood pressure, and enlargement of the heart Early research suggested a relationship with Type A personality: personality type that describes people who are competitive, driven, hostile, and ambitious Promoting Good Health and Less Stress Learning objectives 1. Identify four behaviours that contribute to a healthy lifestyle 2. Identify reasons why it is difficult to change our lifestyles 3. Describe different alternative and complementary medical approaches and compare their effectiveness with placebos Good Health and Less Stress Health Psychology (behavioural medicine): field of psychology that integrates the behavioural science with the practice of medicine Combine educational and psychological interventions to promote health as well as prevent and treat illness 4 behaviours to promote health: Stop smoking Curb alcohol consumption Achieve a healthy weight Exercise HEALTHY BEHAVIOUR #1: STOP SMOKING Leading cause of preventable death in Canada Majority of smokers want to quit Of those who try to quit, only 10% succeed 25-35% succeed when using methods developed by health psychologists HEALTHY BEHAVIOUR #2: CURB ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION Heavy episodic drinking (binge drinking) is 5+ drinks on one occasion for men, 4+ for women - Associated with increases in cancer, liver problems, pregnancy complications, and brain shrinkage Evidence that light alcohol consumption improves health is highly controversial and not widely accepted HEALTHY BEHAVIOUR #3: ACHIEVE A HEALTHY WEIGHT 7.3 million Canadians 18+ reported height and weight that classified them as ‘obese’ category (CCHS, 2018; Statistics Canada, 2019) Calculated based on body-mass index (BMI) Can lead to higher risk for heart disease, stroke, arthritis, cancer, and diabetes HEALTHY BEHAVIOUR #4: EXERCISE Aerobic exercise: promotes oxygen use by the body Lower blood pressure and risk for CHD Improve lung function Relieve the symptoms of arthritis Decrease diabetes risk Cut the risk of breast and colon cancer 30 minutes several times a week is best CHANGE IS EASIER SAID THAN DONE Personal inertia: it’s difficult to start something new Misestimating risk: we underestimate some risks Feeling powerless to change: we feel we can’t change long-lasting habits Prevention programs attempt to stop unhealthy habits before they develop Complementary & Alternative Medicine (CAM) Alternative Medicine: health care practices and products used in place of conventional medicine Complementary Medicine: health care practices used with conventional medicine Neither have shown to be safe and effective using scientific standards Complementary & Alternative Medicine MANIPULATIVE METHODS Includes chiropractic manipulation, where spine is manipulated to treat pain and illness The theory on which chiropractic practice is based (subluxation theory) has received no scientific support No more effective than safe treatments like exercise, relaxation, and physical therapy MIND-BODY MEDICINE Biofeedback: feedback by a device that provides almost immediate output of a biological function, such as heart rate or skin temperature - Widespread interest in using biofeedback to measure biological function in different states (e.g. relaxation, meditation) Meditation: set of ritualized practices that train attention and awareness - Variety of positive effects: - Heightened creativity, empathy, self-esteem - Decreased anxiety and depression - Increased blood flow to brain and immune function Complementary & Alternative Medicine PLACEBOS & CAM Most CAM is not more effective than placebo - Sham acupuncture treatments do as well at treating back pain and migraines Pain is very highly responsive to placebo treatments, which may help to explain why CAM is so popular Complementary & Alternative Medicine WHY IS CAM SO POPULAR Produce placebo effects and instill hope People assume natural products improve health because they see no negatives False correlation with symptom relief Attribute success to CAM instead of conventional medicine Misdiagnosis and non-severity of problem