HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY FOR PROF KHESWA’s STUDENTS
Stress is a reality of life. The causes of stress are widespread and include major life-
changing events such as death of a loved one, unemployment, and disasters such as
the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and Hurricane Katrina, abduction of girls by
Bokko-Haram in Nigeria, incurable health conditions such as HIV/AIDS, COVID-19 that
killed many people around the world.
- The effects of stress on the body result from our nervous system’s responses to
our environment.
- The more the stress, the higher activity of the sympathetic nervous system.
- Not enough sleep
- Poor diet
- Thus people……experience the following types
Frustration (it is experienced when there is resistance/ blockage and
prevention from reaching one’s goals)
Internal conflict (occurs when two or more incompatible motivations
or behavioural impulses compete for expression )- Examples are :
1. approach-approach conflict (a person has to choose between two
favourite meals, pair of sneakers, to watch soccer or rugby )
2. approach-avoidance conflict (a person has to make a choice about
whether pursue a single goal that has both attractive and
unattractive aspects such as getting ap romotion at workplace but
you should relocate to another town/ province/country)
Change refers to adjustments or alterations that one has to make in
their lives. For example, upon losing a loved one, being a mother,
retrenched, evicted, attending classes online as compared to face-to-
face, involvement in a car-accident,
Pressure : involves expectations or demands that one behaves in a
certain way. Pressures are about conformity. For example, as a
tertiary student has to pass all the courses/modules in order to
graduate. A nurse should always wear uniform as a form of
identification.
In South Africa…..stress could also be caused by limited job-opportunities, pressure
from social media, water shortage, theft, poor connectivity, heist, GBV, housebreaking,
fraud, assaults. Thus, people, in turn, suffer from Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD),
insomnia (lack of sleep due to being worried), depression,
HOW DO PEOPLE RESPOND TO STRESS?
-Emotional component (A person may display anxiety, fears, apprehension, feelings of
helplessness and hopelessness, self-blame, anger, sadness, rage and annoyance )
-Cognitive component (a person may display poor memory, forgetfulness, poor
reasoning, judgment and decision -making,
-Behavoural component (people apply coping strategies to master, reduce, or tolerate
demands created by stress) The theory by Lazarus and Folkman on coping and stress
states that people may opt to solve their challenges in a problem-focused manner of
emotional focused manner. Seeking help from the professionals, church leaders, peers,
changing a lifestyle.
-Physiological component: Hans Seyle, a Canadian scientist, discussed the
physiological effects of stress.
GENERAL ADAPTATION SYNDROMME (GAS)
- Three stages : Alarm (recognition of a threat), Resistance (the stress continues
to mount although an individual may cope) and Exhaustion (the body cannot
overcome stress,,,,,that is why some people died from sleeping because they
decided not to seek emotional help or support. Research indicates that their
lungs, hearts, liver, could not take any more pain)
STRESS CAN BE EVIDENT: These effects are likely to be experienced ;
• Heart, sympathetic activation causes an increased heart rate, the force of
contraction, and rate of conduction, allowing for increased cardiac output to
supply the body with oxygenated blood.
• Runny tummy,
• Secretion of adrenal gland to cause sweating, goose bumps, dilation of ther
pupils, dry mouth , loss of appetite, erectile dysfunction
IN GENERAL , PEOPLE WHO FAIL TO MANAGE STRESS TEND TO :
-Give up and blame themselves and others
-striking out at others by being resentful, vengeful, displace their anger and frustration
to weak and innocent people.
- Indulge themselves – risk sexual behaviour, compulsive shopping, substance abuse,
internet addiction, living a lie on social media, social withdrawal, academic failure,
- non adherence to ARV treatment
CONSTRUCTIVE COPING
- Making efforts to keep one’s body physically healthy
- Being reasonable and realistic
- Confronting problems directly
- Viewing the problems in a less threatening manner
STRESS AND PHYSICAL HEALTH
TYPE A and TYPE B -Personality
- Type A personality includes 3 elements- have a strong competitive orientation,
impatience and time urgency.
- They are ambitious, - Hard-working/workaholics, drive themselves to meet deadlines.
- Type B personality is characterized by relatively relaxed , patient, easygoing, amicable
behaviour. They are less competitive,
Emotional reactions, depression and heart diseases
-Individuals who prolong their stress levels are prone to heart failure, depression,
emotional dysfunction.
Stress , other diseases and immune functioning
-Stress can cause stroke, arthritis, diabetes, migraine, respiratory infections and other
physical illness due to weak immune system.
Factors moderating the impact of stress
-Social support has the power to restore life as opposed to loneliness. This is
supported by Abrahaham Maslow’ theory of motivation (e.g Sense of belonging)
-Optimism and conscientiousness: Optimism refers to possession of positive outlook
on life and expectation of good results. They have long- lasting relationships with
others.
- Optimists believe that stress is not a life-threatening condition unlike pessimists.
-Optimists , when, they are sick, they adhere and comply with the doctors’ orders by
taking their medication.
- Conscientiousness entails good -planning, caring for others, working hard, saving for
the future, optimal functioning at the workplace and for academic achievements.
- Individuals who are conscientious end up being promoted at the workplace because of
being disciplined. As a result, they earn better salaries, have greater health and
longevity as opposed to individuals who are poor.
- Accessing nutritional diet, and exposure to health living such as physical exercises,
avoiding alcohol and drug use.
-Affordability of high -quality medical care, hospitalization. Less toxic environment -all
contributes towards coping in stressful times.
HEALTH IMPARING BEHAVIOUR
-Smoking
Alcohol abuse
Lack of exercises
HIV/AIDS
Theories of Behaviour change
The Transtheoretical Model The most well-known stage model is the transtheoretical
model because it cuts across and borrows from other theoretical models;
The stages-of-change model is another name for this theory. The transtheoretical
model, developed by James Prochaska, Carlo DiClemente, and John Norcross
(1992, 1994), assumes that people progress as well as regress through five spiraling
stages in making changes in behavior: precontemplation, contemplation,
preparation, action, and maintenance.
Stage 1 During the precontemplation stage, the person has no intention of stopping
smoking.
Stage 2 : In the contemplation stage, the person is aware of the problem and has
thoughts about quitting, but has not yet made an effort to change.
Stage 3 : The preparation stage includes both thoughts (such as intending to quit within
the next month) and action (such as learning about effective quitting techniques, or
telling others about intentions).
Stage 4 : During the action stage, the person makes overt changes in behavior, such as
stopping smoking or using nicotine replacement therapy.
Stage 5: In the maintenance stage, the person tries to sustain the changes previously
made and attempts to resist temptation to relapse back into old habits
