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PSYCHOLOGY 2012: STRESS - ILLNESSES
Role of Stress:
•
Any change brings stress: revving up of
the sympathetic function. “Fight or Flight”
reaction.
•
Hans Selye coined the term “stress”.
Originally associated with negative
events (threats, fear, etc.) But research
shows same physiological reaction to
positive changes. (e.g. going on
holidays)
Selye identified three stages:
1. Alarm reaction: heart rate, respiratory rate,
muscle changes, etc. prepare body for fight or
flight. But in modern life threats are diffuse and
often not physical, if stressor persists we go to
2. Resistance: though sympathetic is still in
overdrive we habituate and cease to notice,
think we are OK. Eventually, if stressor
continues and we don’t have good coping
mechanism we go to
3. Exhaustion: systems start to break down,
leads to illness
Changes in alarm reaction:
•
dulling of pain
•
pupils dilate
•
lungs take in more oxygen
•
liver converts stored glycogen into glucose
(energy)
•
more 02 and glucose to heart
•
rise in heart rate and BP
•
spleen releases more red blood cells: more 02
to muscles
•
digestion stops (more energy available to
muscles
within minutes later:
•
hippocampus active processing event
•
immune system less effective
•
liver converts fat to energy
•
adrenals secrete glucocorticoids to
regulate metabolism and immunity but –
toxic in the long term, impaired
intellectual function
If stress persists or many other stresses:
•
immune system weakens (infections, cancer,
etc.)
•
intestines become vulnerable to illness due to
reduced blood flow to the lining
•
damage to heart and blood vessels, leading to
heart attacks and strokes, chronic
hypertension
Gender: men respond more intensely to stress but
women respond to many more events.
Great individual differences. Possible role of early
experiences.
Lazarus and Folkman model:
1. Primary appraisal (is this good or bad for
me?)
2. Secondary appraisal: what can I do in
this situation? If “nothing” more stress
3. Reappraisal if necessary
4. Coping mechanisms: concrete solutions
and dealing with feelings
Venting not enough! Need to exercise to rid
body of high levels of cortisol.
Hormonal output: adrenaline/noradrenaline,
catecholamines, cortisol: toxic
Stress-coping mechanisms better with age
Personality: easy-going, flexible
Holmes and Rahe: stress scale
Top Items: death of child, death of spouse,
divorce
Illness within two years
Most common stressors:
Young adulthood
•
career
•
marriage
•
parenthood
•
money
Middle adulthood:
•
sandwiched generation
•
job market fluctuations
•
money
•
illness
•
mortality issues
•
divorce
Most common stressors (cont’d):
Old adulthood
•
illness
•
pain
•
loss of spouse
•
loneliness, isolation
•
loss of control
•
money
Stress affects the immune system and can lead to
several chronic illnesses.
Immune System Changes
Very sophisticated, complex system
Lymphatic system, bone marrow, thymus,
spleen, tonsils, other organs (mammary
gland in lactating women).
Several types of cells, organized “army”
Sensitive to:
•
lifestyle (diet, rest, exercise)
•
environmental factors (e.g. pollution)
•
emotions
Immune system changes as we age
Leukemias (many types)
Autoimmune reactions:
Immune system attacks own tissues
Psychoneuroimmunology:
Mind-nervous system-immune system
interconnections