Stress and Health
How Do Psychologists Define Stress?
Definition of Stress
Stress occurs when events are identified as threatening or challenging.
Stress that has a negative impact is called distress.
What Are Stressors?
Eustress is the optimal amount of stress that people need to function well.
What Kinds Of External Events Can Cause Stress?
Environmental Stressors: Life’s Ups And Downs
Catastrophes are events such as floods or crashes that can result in high levels
of stress, including acute stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Major life changes create stress by requiring adjustments. Major life changes
have an impact on chronic health problems and risk of accidents.
The Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) measures the amount of stress in
a person’s life by adding up the total “life change units” associated with major
events.
The SRRS has been adapted for college students in the College Undergraduate
Stress Scale (CUSS).
The daily frustrations and irritations experienced by people are called hassles,
and have an impact on day-to-day health.
, What Are Some Psychological Factors In Stress?
Psychological Stressors: Stress and the Mind
Pressure—the psychological experience produced by urgent demand or
expectations.
Uncontrollability— being unable to handle a situation as you believe it should be
handled.
Frustration— the psychological experience produced by the blocking of a desired
goal or fulfilment of a perceived need.
o Frustrations can be internal or external. Frustration may result in
persistence, aggression, displaced aggression, or withdrawal.
Conflict— psychological experience of being pulled toward or drawn to two or
more desires or goals, only one of which may be attained.
Types of conflicts:
o Approach-approach— conflict occurring when a person must choose
between two desirable goals.
o Avoidance-avoidance— conflict occurring when a person must choose
between two undesirable goals.
o Approach-avoidance— conflict occurring when a person must choose or
not choose a goal that has both positive and negative aspects.
o Multiple approach-avoidance— conflict in which a person must decide
between more than two goals, with each goal, with each goal possessing
both positive and negative aspects.
How Does Stress Affect The Physical Functioning Of The Body And Its Immune
System?
The autonomic nervous system consists of the sympathetic system, which responds to
stressful events, and the parasympathetic system, which restores the body to normal
functioning after the stress has ceased.
How Do Psychologists Define Stress?
Definition of Stress
Stress occurs when events are identified as threatening or challenging.
Stress that has a negative impact is called distress.
What Are Stressors?
Eustress is the optimal amount of stress that people need to function well.
What Kinds Of External Events Can Cause Stress?
Environmental Stressors: Life’s Ups And Downs
Catastrophes are events such as floods or crashes that can result in high levels
of stress, including acute stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Major life changes create stress by requiring adjustments. Major life changes
have an impact on chronic health problems and risk of accidents.
The Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) measures the amount of stress in
a person’s life by adding up the total “life change units” associated with major
events.
The SRRS has been adapted for college students in the College Undergraduate
Stress Scale (CUSS).
The daily frustrations and irritations experienced by people are called hassles,
and have an impact on day-to-day health.
, What Are Some Psychological Factors In Stress?
Psychological Stressors: Stress and the Mind
Pressure—the psychological experience produced by urgent demand or
expectations.
Uncontrollability— being unable to handle a situation as you believe it should be
handled.
Frustration— the psychological experience produced by the blocking of a desired
goal or fulfilment of a perceived need.
o Frustrations can be internal or external. Frustration may result in
persistence, aggression, displaced aggression, or withdrawal.
Conflict— psychological experience of being pulled toward or drawn to two or
more desires or goals, only one of which may be attained.
Types of conflicts:
o Approach-approach— conflict occurring when a person must choose
between two desirable goals.
o Avoidance-avoidance— conflict occurring when a person must choose
between two undesirable goals.
o Approach-avoidance— conflict occurring when a person must choose or
not choose a goal that has both positive and negative aspects.
o Multiple approach-avoidance— conflict in which a person must decide
between more than two goals, with each goal, with each goal possessing
both positive and negative aspects.
How Does Stress Affect The Physical Functioning Of The Body And Its Immune
System?
The autonomic nervous system consists of the sympathetic system, which responds to
stressful events, and the parasympathetic system, which restores the body to normal
functioning after the stress has ceased.
