The document discusses health psychology and the relationship between stress, coping, and illness. It describes stress as a biological reaction to external events that causes physiological responses. Prolonged or chronic stress can weaken the immune system and increase the risk of disease through a process known as the general adaptation syndrome. Stressful life events and daily hassles are associated with increased illness, though the perception of an event also influences its impact. Effective coping strategies like physical activity, social support, and developing a hardy outlook can help moderate the effects of stress on health.

1. Health Psychology Chapter 14

2. Health Psychology Health psychology is concerned with the social and psychological factors that influence health and illness.

3. Stress and Coping Define stress A biological reaction to external events; hormones are released that cause a rise in heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration. Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI)

4. Stress and Illness Stressors are demands that give rise to the general adaptation syndrome (GAS), which consists of three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. http://media.pearsoncmg.com/ph/hss/livepsych/media/interface/index.htm?atitle=14.1%20Stress%20and%20Selye%27s%20General%20Adaptation%20Syndrome&id1=32_1&id2=32_2&id3=32_3&id4=32_4&sid=32_1

5. Stress and Illness Among the circumstances that could lead to stress are catastrophes, major life changes such as divorce, traumatic events and hassles. Associated with physiological responses such as increased levels of stress hormones High levels of life change associated with Illness. Interpretation often determines whether event is stressful. Schedule of Recent Experience: http://www.mindtools.com/stress/ps/ScheduleofRecentExperience.htm Social Readjustment Rating Scale: http://chipts.ucla.edu/assessment/Assessment_Instruments/Assessment_files_new/assess_srrs.htm

6. Stress and Illness Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in aftermath of disturbing experience. A reliving of the traumatic event in dreams, flashbacks, or intrusive thoughts.

7. Stress and Illness Everyday minor annoyances can accumulate and become associated with subsequent health problems. Psychosomatic illnesses Conflicts

8. Stress/Perfomance Connection

9. Stress and Illness A wide variety of stressful events can affect immune system functioning. These sometimes result in psychophysiological illnesses http://media.pearsoncmg.com/ph/hss/livepsych/media/interface/index.htm?atitle=14.2%20Stress%20and%20the%20Immune%20System&id1=33_1&id2=33_2&id3=33_3

10. Differences in health among blacks and whites disappear when holding SES constant. Gender also makes a difference in health. E.g., Arthritis more common in men < 45; in women > 45 Ethnic and Gender Variations in Health

11. Lifestyle Influences on Disease Risk The number one cause of death in the United States is heart disease. There is a strong association between men and heart disease.

12. Heart Disease in Middle Adulthood A) Modifiable Factors Stress High Cholesterol High Triglycerides Low HDL Cholesterol Lack of Exercise Diabetes High Blood Pressure Overweight or obesity Smoking / Chewing Tobacco Type A personality/ Behavior B) Non Modifiable Factors Increasing age Male Family History

13. Lifestyle Influences on Disease Risk Type A individuals tend to be aggressive, competitive, impatient, and have difficulty relaxing. The Western Collaborative Group Study indicated that a Type A individual was twice as likely to develop heart disease as the more relaxed and easygoing Type B person. Subsequent studies do not replicate this finding Type H

15. Lifestyle Influences on Disease Risk Efforts to change type A behavior reduced the rate of recurrent heart attacks as compared with the rate among victims who received typical heart patient counseling

16. Lifestyle Influences on Disease Risk AIDS is now the 19 th leading cause of death in the United States (5th among 35-44 yr-olds). Stress speeds onset of symptoms AIDS cases among men is substantially higher than the number of cases among women.

17. Lifestyle Influences on Disease Risk Men and women differ in their likelihood of being exposed to infection with HIV.

18. Coping With Stress Physical activity is associated with increased longevity and positive benefits on physical and psychological health.

19. Coping With Stress Hardiness Outlook Distractions Social Support Sense of humor