What the exam asks
- Section I (Multiple Choice): You will classify scenarios by stressor type, physiological response (General Adaptation Syndrome, fight-flight-freeze, tend-and-befriend), or coping strategy (problem-focused vs. emotion-focused), and interpret correlational graphs linking stress to physical illness.
- Section II (Free Response): In an AAQ, you may analyze a study measuring physiological stress markers (such as blood pressure) or coping interventions. In an EBQ, you can apply concepts like the exhaustion phase or problem-focused coping to explain why evidence from a study supports your claim.
Core ideas
Health psychology and the physical toll of stress
Health psychology explores how biological, psychological, and social factors interact to influence physical health, illness, and wellness. It investigates how behaviors (like sleep, exercise, and coping) and mental processes (like how we appraise events) affect the body.
Stress is not just a stimulus; it is the process by which we perceive and respond to certain events—called stressors—that we appraise as threatening or challenging. Chronic stress directly increases susceptibility to physical disease and psychological disorders by keeping the sympathetic nervous system and endocrine system activated:
- Hypertension (chronically high blood pressure): Stress hormones constrict blood vessels and increase heart rate, damaging arterial walls over time.
- Headaches: Persistent muscle tension and vascular changes trigger tension headaches and migraines.
- Immune suppression: Stress hormones divert energy away from the immune system, slowing the production of lymphocytes (white blood cells). This leaves the body vulnerable to viral infections, slows wound healing, and worsens inflammation.
Types of stress and stressors
Not all stress is harmful, and stressors vary in scale and timing:
| Concept | Definition | Classroom / Everyday Example |
|---|---|---|
| Eustress | Motivating, manageable stress appraised as a positive challenge that improves performance and focus. | Feeling energized and focused before playing in a championship basketball game. |
| Distress | Overwhelming, unpleasant stress appraised as a threat that impairs functioning and depletes health. | Feeling panicked and unable to concentrate after losing a part-time job needed to pay bills. |
| Traumatic stressors | Sudden, catastrophic, or life-threatening events that overwhelm a person’s ability to cope. | Surviving a severe wildfire, a major car crash, or violent assault. |
| Daily hassles | Everyday minor irritations; when they accumulate without relief, they often predict worse health than isolated major life events. | Sitting in heavy traffic, dealing with a slow laptop, and misplacing keys on the same morning. |
| Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) | Potentially traumatic events occurring before age 18 (e.g., abuse, severe neglect, household instability). | Growing up in a household with severe caregiver substance use or chronic domestic instability. |