Health, Stress, and CopingCHAPTER 13

Lifestyle and leading causes of death in the United States

Heart Disease CancerStroke Lung DiseaseAccidents Pneumonia/FluDiabetes HIV/AIDSSuicide Liver Disease All can be prevented by changing behavior.

Health Psychology

Epidemiological Studies: Large-scale research to identify risk factors that lead to developing a disease.

Epidemiological Studies

These studies have revealed that aspects of our personality and certain life experiences play a role in health and longevity.

Children whose parents divorced before they reached age 21 were more likely to die prematurely than those whose parents did not divorce or did so after age 21.

STRESSOur response to events that disrupt or

threaten to disrupt our physical or psychological functioning.

Stressors- Events or situations in our environment that cause stress.

STRESSORS1. Events that are so intense that we overload and cannot adapt

2. They evoke contradictions in us- approach and avoid

3. They are beyond our control

Cognitive Appraisal- The situation threatens their primary goals (primary appraisal)

- They will be unable to cope with these dangers/demands

(secondary appraisal)

STRESSGeneral Adaptation Syndrome- response to stress

1. Alarm- mobilization of central nervous system activity

2. Resistance- organism tries to cope

3. Exhaustion- organism fails to overcome the stress and depletes its coping resources

STRESS – MAJOR CAUSES

- Stressful Life Events - Chronic stressors increase risk of disease -Hassles of daily life- annoying minor events -Work-related stress: =Role conflicts- differing demands from differing

bosses =Performance appraisals

REDUCING WORK STRESS

Consider the ‘fit’ between the person and the work environment

Sources of social support Employers can implement stress-reducing

measures

EFFECTS OF STRESS

Source of 50% to 70% of physical illness Interferes with our immune system Interferes with task performance

Optimists are more resistant to stress than pessimists

The HEALTH BELIEF MODEL Whether a person practices a certain health behavior or not depends on their concern over a threat to their health and the belief that the behavior will reduce the threat.

Ex: Unprotected sex and HIV/AIDS

Greater patient-doctor communication, rapport, and satisfaction leads to better health outcomes

EFFECTS OF THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS ON HEALTH

Aspects of our behavior, perceptions and personality can affect the onset and course of cancer

Risk factors: aspects of our behavior or environment that influence our chances of getting a disease Ex- me and cancer

Smoking- anything? Nicotine. Air pollution?

DIET and NUTRITION What you eat may save your life. Cholesterol in our blood- Can be reduced by eating a diet

low in fats, cholesterol and calories and high in fiber, fruits and vegetables.

Self-Determination Theory- Motivation for change is best when it comes from the person (autonomous motivation) and not as good if it comes from others- family, doctor (controlled motivation)

ALCOHOL and HEALTHSome evidence exists that some alcohol

consumption contributes to health.

Overall, risks outweigh benefits of alcohol- liver disease, depression, anger issues, poor work and family life.

EMOTIONS and HEALTH

Type D personality- Coping with stress by keeping negative emotions inside. Could lead to suppressed immune system.

Hypertension- The pressure of the blood in the vessels is high.

HEALTH and AIDS It can take ten years for signs of AIDS to show. An individual can be infected only if the virus is introduced

directly into the bloodstream. The most effective means to combat AIDS is prevention programs

focused on changing behavior:

- using used needles to inject drugs - unprotected sex with someone who has HIV or AIDS - having sex with multiple partners IMB- Information, Motivation, Behavior Skills

PROMOTING WELLNESS Diet- Less meat and animal fat; more grains, vegetables,

milk (?) and fruits Regular physical activity: 15 minutes of running or 30

minutes of walking- shorter, more intense workouts appear to be better

Information about health risks Early screening for disease: get regular check-ups Self-examination- especially for breast and testicular

cancers

COPING: MANAGING STRESS Progressive relaxation- alternately flexing and relaxing one muscle group in the body at a time

Time management- plan your schedule so time works for you, not against you

Cognitive restructuring- Pay attention to what you say to yourself when you are stressed. Seek other ways to understand your situation- see if there is something funny or pleasant in the situation.