Stress, Coping, and Health: Study Notes

Stress, Coping, and Health

Overview

This study guide covers the psychological concepts of stress, coping mechanisms, and their relationship to health. It includes definitions, models of stress, measurement tools, gender differences, trauma, and prevalence of stress-related disorders.

What is Stress?

Definitions of Stress

• Stress is a psychological and physiological response to events that threaten or challenge an individual's ability to cope.

• It can manifest as emotional tension, discomfort, or physical symptoms.

• A stressor is any event or situation that strains our ability to cope, potentially leading to long-term health consequences.

Example: Major life changes such as moving, job loss, or illness can act as stressors.

Models of Stress

Stress as Stimuli, Transaction, and Response

• Stressors as Stimuli: Focuses on identifying types of events that are stressful and understanding which events cause more stress for people.

• Stress as a Transaction: Emphasizes the interaction between the individual and the environment. Key processes include:

  • Primary appraisal: Assessing whether an event is threatening.

  • Secondary appraisal: Evaluating one's resources and options for coping.

  • Coping strategies: Problem-focused (addressing the problem) and emotion-focused (managing emotional response).

• Stress as a Response: Examines the psychological and physical reactions to stress, such as anxiety and physiological arousal.

Example: The Lazarus & Folkman (1984) model highlights the importance of cognitive appraisal in the stress process.

Measuring Stress

Life Events and Hassles

• Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS): Developed by Holmes & Rahe, this scale measures stress by quantifying major life events experienced over the past year. Higher scores are correlated with increased risk of physical health problems.

• Hassles and Uplifts Scale: Measures the frequency and perceived severity of daily hassles and positive events (uplifts). Research shows that daily hassles are better predictors of health and anxiety than major life events.

Example: Daily traffic jams (hassle) may have a greater impact on stress than a single major event.

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

Stages of Stress Response

• Alarm Reaction: The autonomic nervous system is activated, stress hormones are released, and symptoms of anxiety appear.

• Resistance: The body adapts and finds ways to cope with the stressor.

• Exhaustion: Prolonged stress can deplete resources, leading to breakdown in resistance and increased vulnerability to illness.

Example: Chronic work stress can lead to exhaustion and burnout if coping resources are not replenished.

Gender and Stress Responses

"Tend and Befriend" vs. "Fight or Flight"

• Women are more likely to engage in tend and befriend behaviors—nurturing others (tend) or seeking social support (befriend)—in response to stress.

• This response may occur alongside or instead of the traditional fight or flight response.

Example: In a crisis, women may gather friends or family for mutual support.

Trauma and Resilience

Experiencing Traumatic Events

• Most people experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime.

• Men are more likely to experience trauma, but women are more likely to develop stress-related disorders.

• Types of trauma include sexual assault, child abuse, accidents, disasters, and war.

• Despite exposure, most individuals demonstrate resilience—the ability to recover from adversity.

Example: Survivors of natural disasters often show remarkable psychological resilience over time.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Acute Stress Disorder

Symptoms and Prevalence

• PTSD is characterized by vivid memories, feelings, and images of traumatic experiences, avoidance of trauma reminders, emotional detachment, and heightened startle responses.

• Prevalence rates: 5% in men, 10% in women.

• Acute Stress Disorder shares similar symptoms but occurs in the immediate aftermath of trauma and is typically shorter in duration.

Prevalence Table: Percentage of People Who Develop PTSD or Acute Stress Disorder After Specific Events

Event	PTSD (%)	Acute Stress Disorder (%)
Natural disaster	4–5	7
Serious accident	34	6
Trapped in hotel	29	33
Shooting	28	19
Assault	—	14
Severe burns	—	13

Additional info: Table entries for some events are inferred based on typical trauma literature.

Promoting Good Health and Less Stress

Health Promotion and Alternative Medicine

• Strategies for reducing stress and promoting health include regular exercise, healthy diet, adequate sleep, and social support.

• Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) refers to a range of practices (e.g., meditation, acupuncture) used alongside or instead of conventional medicine to manage stress and improve well-being.

Example: Mindfulness meditation is a CAM technique shown to reduce stress and improve mental health.