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PS937: Introduction to Stress & Stress Models - Coggle Diagram
PS937: Introduction to Stress & Stress Models
What is stress?
Response
Fight or Flight
Body's reaction to a threat
Flood of hormones (adrenaline, norepinephrine & cortisol)
Physiology alters so we can fight or run from the stressor
'adaptive' stress response (important for survival)
sees stress as an evolutionary process to protect us from harm
Walter Cannon (1932) - the Wisdom of the Body
Freeze
'altered reality'
time slows down
there is no fear
pain is not felt as intensely if harm or death do occur
why?
in some instances, freezing can increase chances of survival especially if the attacker thinks the person is dead
functions
avoid detection
assess situation
appear non-threatening
protect body and mind (physiological & psychological) shield
reduced pain sensitivity
dissociation
pause to allow for quick transitions - ensuring swift and effective reactions
when brain perceives that there is neither time nor strength for fight or flight, and death could be imminent
examples
deer in headlights
less of a moving target
individuals might freeze during the assault as they decide whether movement or resistance could worsen the situation
Konrad Lorentz (tonic immobility of prey animals who play dead), Peter Levine, Stephen Porges' Polyvagal Theory (1995) & Bessel van der Kolk (trauma)
Types
Eustress
Good Stress
Arises in any situation that a person finds motivating or inspiring
Distress
Bad Stress
Often abbreviated as simply stress
Acute
intense stress that surfaces
disappears quickly
Chronic
may not appear quite so intense
it lingers for prolonged periods of time
Focus of research
Major Life Events
Social Readjustment Rating Scale
Inventory of life events that may be perceived as stressful
used to determine one's level of stress
life change units
unit of measurement that corresponds to items on Social Readjustment Rating Scale
linked to stress-induced health breakdown
Holmes-Rahe Life Stress Inventory
Daily Hassles or Uplifts
occassional everday hassles
e.g. locking keys in the car
accumulation is just as likely to adversely affect one's health as the death of a spouse
uplifts
life's highs (eustress)
people who have no exposure to positive 'uplifts' are also more susceptible to disease and illness
Who?
Lazarus & Folkman (1984)
Transactional Theory of Stress
Stages we go through when confronted with a potential stressor
Stress is a transaction (an exchange) between the person and their environment
"Stress occurs when the situation is appraised as harmful and as exceeding our ability to cope"
Interpretation (appraisal) of the stressor is central to this theory
Person has control, not the environment
we tend to see stress as coming only from the environment
in reality, we have some control over whether something is stressful or not
Origins
Used in physics
describe enough tension or force placed on an object to bend or break it
Hans Selye
(1956)
Physiologist who applied "stress" to the human condition in his book "The Stress of Life"
focused on understanding the physiological response to chronic stress & relationship with disease
General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)
Alarm
threat perceived
nervous system triggered for survival
activates 'fight or flight' response
release adrenaline and cortisol
Resistance
body adapts to stressor
maintaining physiological responses
while attempting to cope
tries to revert to homeostasis (for recovery)
metabolic state of some organ tissues is higher
Exhaustion
Prolonged exposure to the stressor depletes the body's resources
this can lead to fatigue, weakened immunity & potential health issues
happens when organ tissues can no longer meet the demands placed upon them so they fail to function properly
can result in the death of the organ & possibly death of the organism as a whole
"adaption energy"
individuals have a limited reserve
chronic stress drains this energy
makes it harder for the body to respond to new stressors effectively
"diseases of adaptation"
stress as a non-specific response
chronic stress can contribute to the development of various health problems
cardiovascular diseases
ulcers
immune system dysfunction
Bio Psycho Social (BPS) Approach
Biological
Evolution of our brain
Reptilian (instinctual)
Limbic (emotional)
Amygdala
Hippocampus
Hypothalamus
HPA Axis
Hypothalamus
CRH - corticotropic-releasing hormone
Pituitary Gland
ACTH - adrenocorticotropic hormone
Adrenal Cortex
cortisol
Effects
3 more items...
plays central role in stress and immunity modulation
Thalamus
Neocortex (rational)
3 types of stress hormones
Adrenaline
responsible for the immediate reaction we feel when stressed
responsible for tension in the body during stress
Known as fight or flight hormone
Norepinephrine
Causes arousal (similar to adrenaline)
makes us feel more aware, awake and focused
shifts blood flow to more important areas in the body (e.g. muscles to fight or run)
Cortisol
a steroid hormone (commonly known as the stress hormone)
optimal amount of cortisol can be life-saving in survival mode
helps maintain fluid balance & blood pressure
negatively affect body functions like
reproductive drive
suppresses the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which is necessary for the production of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone
High cortisol levels can impair ovulation, sperm production, and implantation, reducing fertility
immunity
Prolonged cortisol elevation suppresses the immune system by reducing the production of lymphocytes (white blood cells), making the body more prone to infections
Impaired wound healing and increased susceptibility to diseases, including autoimmune disorders, can result from chronic stress
digestion
Cortisol diverts energy away from non-essential processes like digestion during stress, leading to slowed digestion
It increases acid production in the stomach, which can contribute to ulcers or acid reflux
Gut Microbiome: Chronic stress and elevated cortisol levels can disrupt the gut microbiota, potentially leading to conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
growth
Cortisol suppresses the release of growth hormone from the pituitary gland, which is essential for normal growth in children and tissue repair in adults.
Chronic stress in children can stunt growth due to reduced GH secretion
Bone Health: Cortisol reduces calcium absorption in the intestines and increases calcium excretion in urine, which can weaken bones over time
IT WORKS BOTH WAYS
bi-directional relationship between brain and body
body actually feeds back to brain
psychoimmunology
interactions of psychological process, nervous system and immune system - influence on health and disease
e.g. Diazepam (valium)
muscle relaxant
Core concepts
Mind-Body Connection
Bi-directional Communication
Influence of emotions on health
Social Exclusion
Social pain felt as actual pain
lighting up of anterior cingulate (pain response)
implications on DEIB
we are social animals wired to connect
Occupational Stress Models
Job Demand Control Support (JDCS)
History
Robert Karasek (1979)
Job Demand Control model
Tores Theorell (1990s)
enhanced to become JDCS
Key Interaction Effects
High - Low Strain Jobs
High Strain (dangerous)
associated with negative health outcomes
burnout
cardiovascular issues
mental health problems
high demands, low control, low support
Low Strain
low demands, high control, high support
allows employees to maintain well-being over time
Active - Passive Jobs
Active Jobs
high demands, high control, high support
stimulating and challenging jobs but provide resources needed to manage stress effectively
encourages learning, skill development and job satisfaction
Passive Jobs
Low demands, low control, low support
boredom, disengagement, reduced motivation
Practical Applications
Workplace Stress Management
adjust one or more dimensions
improve managerial support
reduce workload
Job Design
design roles to maximise productivity and well-being
adjust control levels
ensure adequate support
Organisational Policies
advocate for policies that promote mental health
FWAs
Supportive Leadership
Criticisms
Simplistic
modern work environments involve additional complexities
role ambiguity
technological stress
Individual Differences
employees vary in their responses to demands, control and support
based on personal traits, coping styles and resilience levels
Cultural factors
Variations
work norms
autonomy
importance of social support
Practical Tips
Manageable Work Loads
Increase Job Control
Involve employees in decision-making processes
Offer flexibility in work schedules & methods
Enhance Social Support
encourage team collaboration & open communication
train and support managers to provide effective support to their teams
Job Demands - Resources Model
Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) Model
Johannes Siegrist (1990s) - German Sociologist
imbalance contributes to stress and adverse health outcomes
imbalance between effort by employees and rewards they receive
Effort > Rewards
Leads to chronic stress & health risks
Mindful of overcommitment
individuals invest excessively in work and derive their self-worth from it
Overcommitted employees are more prone to stress, as they perceive the imbalance more intensely
Application
Diagnosing Workplace Stress (high turnover, absenteeism, employee dissatisfaction)
Job Design & Compensation Planning (equitable rewards)
Organisational Change (mergers, layoffs, restructuring)
balance additional efforts with appropriate rewards
Preventing Burnout
especially professions like healthcare, education & law enforcement
Person-Environment Fit Model
Edwin Locke (1960s)
Kristin J. McMillan & Edward E. Lawler
emphasizes the relationship between an individual's characteristics and their work environments
how well might an individual's attributes match the environmental characteristics
individual's attributes
personality
skills
values
environmental characteristics
job demands
organisational culture
social support
types of fit
person-job fit
match between skills, abilities, interests & job requirements / tasks
person-organisation fit
alignment between an individual's values, goals and organisational culture, values and goals
person-supervisor fit
management style of immediate supervisor and expectations
'Fit Index'
subjective?
perceived by employee
objective?
distinct from employee's perception
Implications
Human Resources
Employee Selection
Recruitment & Retention
Job Design & Role Allocation
Work Adjustments
matching strengths and preferences to roles
Socialisation
Career Counselling
Employee Development & Training
planning career pathways
3 Key Points
Restructuring
High Turnover (Attrition)
Low job satisfaction / employee engagement
