Stress

Question 1

what are the stages of General Adaption Syndrome?

Answer 1

1. alarm
   - mobilisation to fend off threat/stressor
2. resistance
   - continued fight against stressor
3. exhaustion
   - depletion of resources
   - ability to resist may collapse

Question 2

what is the 2 step physiological response in stress?

Answer 2

• sympathetic activation

- hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) activation

Question 3

what is involved in sympathetic activation response step?

Answer 3

• under stress: sympathetic nervous system stimulated
• catecholamines produced (adrenalin and noradrenalin)
• quick response system (within seconds)

Question 4

what is involved in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) activation response step?

Answer 4

• increased levels of corticosteroid (glucocorticoids e.g. cortisol)
• raised levels of brain opioids beta endorphin and enkephalin
• slower response system (minutes to hours)

Question 5

where in the brain is long-term stress processed?

Answer 5

cortex

Question 6

what happens during long-term stress response?

Answer 6

• retention of sodium and water by kidneys
• inc. blood vol, BP
• P, F converted to glucose/broken down for energy
• inc. blood sugar
• dec. immune system

Question 7

where in the brain is short-term stress response processed?

Answer 7

medulla

Question 8

how is immune function impaired by the physiological response to stress?

Answer 8

• inc. catecholamine and corticosteroid release
• dec. immune cell activity (T and B cells) against antigens
• linked to development of infectious disease/cancer

Question 9

how is immune function impaired by emotion?

Answer 9

• depression

- optimism

Question 10

what is the definition of stress?

Answer 10

• the perceived discrepancy between demands pf the situation and the resources of the person that they appraise in a stressful situation
• feeling of lack of control
• unpredictability

Question 11

what are the 4 routes in secondary appraisal (coping)?

Answer 11

• seeking information
• taking direct action
• doing nothing
• worrying

Question 12

what do stressors affect in the physiological system?

Answer 12

• sympathetic nervous system
• endocrine system
• heart rate
• breathing
• muscles
• fight or flight response
• General Adaption Syndrome

Question 13

what do stressors affect in the psychological aspect?

Answer 13

cognitive functioning (positive/negative):

• attention
• memory

emotion:

• fear
• excitement
• depression
• anger

Question 14

what do stressors affect in the social aspect?

Answer 14

• social behaviour

- socio-cultural differences

Question 15

fight or flight response

Answer 15

physiological reaction to emergencies - ‘adaptive response’:

• homeostasis threatened
• response to acute, short lived stress
• external threats elicit fight or flight response
• inc. physiological arousal
• enable fight or flight response
• BUT prolonged state of high arousal harmful to health

Question 16

what happens during short-term stress response?

Answer 16

• inc. heart rate
• inc. BP
• inc. metabolic rate
• changes in blood flow
• dilation of bronchioles

Question 17

where in the brain is long-term stress response processed?

Answer 17

cortex

Question 18

why do responses to stress vary?

Answer 18

stress moderators:

• coping strategy
• social support
• beliefs and attitudes
• personality
• individual differences
• sense of control
• stress reactivity
• genetic predisposition
• gender
• certainty/uncertainty
• lifestyle

Question 19

what are the health effects of long-term stress?

Answer 19

health behaviour
- risk behaviours, health compromising behaviours, cognitive, emotional

physiology
- inc. SNS, catecholamine, corticosteroid release

Question 20

what health issues can be aggravated by long-term stress?

Answer 20

• CHD
• MI
• hypertension
• immune function
• depression
• asthma
• peptic ulcer
• headache
• eczema

Question 21

what is the relationship between stress and cardiovascular reactivity?

Answer 21

• stress induced increase in catecholamine and corticosteroid release can damage the arteries and heart
• promote atherosclerosis
• inc. HR
• lead to development of hypertension, CHD

Question 22

what are indirect effects of stress on everyday health-related behaviours?

Answer 22

• inc. substance abuse
• inc. smoking
• poor diet
• lack of sleep
• lack of exercise
• poor adherence to treatment
• less likely to take preventative measures
• inc. engagement in reckless behaviour = injury