HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY Stress and Health Agenda Office Hours

HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY Stress and Health

Agenda Office Hours Course Evaluation Reminder Presentation Scheduling Stress and Health

Psychology and Health Could one’s psychological processes play a role in these conditions? Headaches Colds Dementia Chronic Pain Sexual Problems Indigestion In short: Yes Could cause, contribute, or exacerbate problems

Health Psychology Field investigating the psychological factors related to wellness and illness. Prevention Diagnosis Treatment Psychoneuroimmunology Subfield of health psychology, focused on the link between psychological factors and the immune system.

Mind-Body Debate What does health psychology suggest about dualism? Can the mind and body be separate, yet affect one another?

Stress (Module 34) A person’s response to challenging events Broad Definition Includes an array of emotions What does stress feel like, physically? Autonomic division of the peripheral nervous systerm Sympathetic Parasympathetic

Types of Stress Which events produce stress? Have to be negative? Subjective Process Personality and Past Experience Universal Stressors? Cataclysmic Events Strong stressors that occur rapidly, affecting many Personal Stressors Natural and Man-Made Disasters Major life events Background Stressors Everyday encounters that evoke negative arousal

The Pros and Cons of Stress Can stress positive? Example: A big test is coming up. A company introduces performance-based incentives. U-Shaped Relationship When is stress harmful? Depends e. g. on the nature of the event. A Test; A Death of a parent. When stress is overwhelming When stress is persisting

How Much Stress is Normal? 0 = Never 1 = Almost Never 2 = Sometimes 3 = Fairly Often 4 = Very Often ---------------------------------------------------Over the past month….

Scoring and Comparisons Step One: Reverse Code #4, 5, 6, 8 Step Two: Add up all 10 items.

Effects of Stress Physiological Effects - Links to many illnesses and problems.

Effects of Stress Harmful Behaviors Does stress make you do unhealthy things? Substances Over/Under Eating and Poor Nutrition Poor sleep/Lack of sleep/Oversleep Indirect Health-Related Behaviors Feelings of Helplessness and Decreased Motivation Less likely to follow medical advice Less likely to seek care