Health Psychology Ch. 13

Music: “Save You” Simple Plan

“Bad Day”Daniel Powter

Today’s Agenda• 1. The Field of Health Psychology • 2. Stress:

– a) What makes events more stressful– b) Appraisal and coping

• 3. Stress and Disease– a) The physiological response– b) Type A and heart disease

• 4. Promoting Health– a) Relaxation– b) Social support– c) Exercise and nutrition

• 5. Movies: • “Health and Stress” (6 min.)• “Weight Control” (6 min.)

1. The field of Health Psychology

Definition: Concerned with the role of behavior and psychological factors

in preventing illness and maintaining good health 3 Major killers in Canada:

Cancer, Heart Disease, Stroke Causes?

1) Tobacco #1 culprit for cancer contributes also to heart disease

2) Being overweight emerges as second most important factor in cancer, after cigarettes

3) Diet 30-35% of all cancers caused by what you eat

e.g. red meat and processed meats with nitrates 4) Inactivity

Lack of exercise 5) Stress 6) Alcohol

1. Health Psychology (cont’d.)

Changing patterns of illness, p. 564

2. Stress Physical and psychological response to perceived

environmental threat Stressors

Threatening or challenging events that place demands on the person. Major Life Events Daily hassles Catastrophic events

a) Factors that render events more harmful: Unpredictability/ uncertainty Pressure Lack of control Repeated exposure/ chronicity Loss and Failure Conflict (p. 566-567)

2. Stress: Conflict (cont’d.)

2. b) Appraisal and coping with stress

• Primary appraisal:– “Am I O.K., or in trouble?”

• Secondary appraisal:– “How will I deal with this?”– Consider your ability to cope

Events StressAppraisal

Emotional, physical & behavioural responses p. 570-578

2. b) Coping with Stress• Defensive Coping:

– Avoiding negative feelings associated with stress through the use of defense mechanisms

• e.g. denial, see p. 577

• Emotion focused:– Control or change emotional reaction:

• E.g. venting, drinking, meditating (see p. 568)

• Problem focused:– Change or do something about the situation:

• E.g. study harder, get help• See constructive coping (p. 578 )

3. Stress and Disease• a) The fight-or-flight response:

– See Figure 13.6, p. 574

3. Stress and Disease• a) The physiological response:

– Secretion of catecholamines and corticosteroids • Increases energy• Also reduces the effectiveness of the immune system• Therefore, the ability to ward off infections is

compromised• Natural killer cells can’t do their jobs as well

– i.e. cannot destroy foreign agents or abnormal cells – Impaired healing process

3. Stress and Disease (cont’d.)– Physical disorders

aggravated by stress:

3.b) Self-Report Questionnaire• See questions shown in class• Give yourself a point for each answer that agrees with

the key below:– 1 a, b– 2 a– 3 a, b– 4 a – 5 a, b– 6 d– 7 c– 8 a– 9 c – 10 a

3. b) Type A and Heart Disease

• 7 or above =Type A – 3 or below=Type B

• Coronary heart disease:– Reduction in blood flow in coronary arteries (reduced supply to the

heart)– Atherosclerosis: narrowing of coronary arteries (buildup of fatty

deposits)– Leading cause of death in North America

• Risk factors:– Smoking, obesity, family history, high-fat diet– high cholesterol, physical inactivity, high blood pressure – Depression – Type A personality

3. b) Type A and Heart Disease (cont’d.)

• Friedman & Rosenman (1974)– 8-year study– 3,000 healthy men– Type A: Competitive

• Impatient• Time-conscious/time-urgency• Easily-angered• Verbally aggressive• “workaholics”

– Type B: Easy-going• Non-competitive, relaxed• Enjoys leisure time• Understanding/forgiving

3. b) Follow-up

• After 8 years, 257 men suffered a heart attack• 69% of these were Type A.• What makes Type As more prone to heart

disease?– 1) self-imposed stress– 2) more physiologically reactive to stress– 3) less social support

• Toxic core of Type A: – cynical hostility

3. b) Type A and Heart Disease• p. 583

4. Promoting Health! • Ways of coping with stress and preventing illness:• 1) Relaxation/ biofeedback

– Make yourself feel good!• 2) Social support:

– Increases immune functioning/ suppression of corticosteroids• Diary studies/ lab studies

• 3) Exercise:– 3 X per week, 30-45 min. each time– Aim for Body Mass Index of 19-24

• BMI: weight (kg)/height (meters)²

• 4) Nutrition:– Reduce “bad” fats (trans and saturated)– Reduce red meat and processed meats (with nitrates) & replace with fish and

poultry (increase omega 3’s)– Reduce sugary drinks– Increase calcium, vitamin D, whole grains, fruits and vegetables

3rd Midterm

• In two weeks Feb. 23rd • Same as before:

– 60 multiple choice; 4 short answers– In class; 2 hours; worth 25% of overall grade– One question from movies shown in class

• Tackle the problem!– You know what to do…

• & You’ll O.K.

5. Short Movies

• “Health and Stress”– Studies by Sheldon Cohen determine the

mechanisms by which stress affects the immune system, and how emotional states like happiness and loneliness may influence our ability to fight off infection. (6 min.)

• “Weight Control”– Researchers are helping people respond to the

obesity epidemic by determining the relative importance of intensity and duration in exercise. (6 min.)