This essay is going to examine the evidence for a link between stress and ill health. It will include sections on what stress is, how it is caused and its effects on the body and the mind. This essay is going to look at and evaluate different psychologist's views on stress and the effects it has on the body and mind. There are three main ways at looking at stress. First there is as an external stimulus which places a strain on the individual, for example, taking an exam, moving house, divorce or a new job. Then there is as an internal state of psychological and physiological change in response to a stressor. In this sense stress is something happening inside the person rather than an outside force acting on the person. It is the psychological and physiological changes produced by a stressor. These changes are known as the stress response. Psychological aspects of the stress response may include a state of tension involving emotions such as fear, anxiety and anger. Examples of physiological aspects of the stress response include an increase in heart rate and the release of sugar into the bloodstream. Thirdly, stress can be seen as a transaction between an individual and their environment.
[...] The Stress of Life. New York: McGraw-Hill as cited in Rice, Haralambos, M (2000) Psychology in Focus, AS Level, Lancashire, Causeway Press Limited Cox, T. (1978). Stress. London: Macmillan as cited in Rice, Haralambos, M (2000) Psychology in Focus, AS Level, Lancashire, Causeway Press Limited Keicolt Glaser, J.K., Fisher, L., Ogrocki, P., Stout, J.C., Speicher, C.E. & Glaser, R. (1987). ‘Marital Quality, Marital Disruption and Immune Function' Psychosomatic Medicine 13-34 as cited in Rice, Haralambos, M (2000) Psychology in Focus, AS Level, Lancashire, Causeway Press Limited Glaser R., Rice, J., Speicher, C.E., Stout, J.C. [...]
[...] It also directs motor responses such as running, for example, a visit to the zoo, when you see a lion pacing up and down its cage, you would be unlikely to see the situation as dangerous and simply walk on by, but a safari holiday in Africa, a lion comes charging towards you, you would in all likelihood, interpret the event as a stressor and make an appropriate stress response which would involve physiological changes and activity in all probability, flight. [...]
[...] The evidence for a link between stress and CHD is not simple and clear cut. Some of the research is contradictory. This may be partly due to the difficulty of measuring vague concepts such as stress, hostility and cynicism. Despite these problems, the weight of evidence does suggest a link between stress and CHD. Positive and negative life events are seen as desirable and undesirable. A number of researchers argue that life events are a major source of stress. The most famous application of this idea is the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) devised by Holmes and Rahe (1967). [...]
[...] A number of researchers argue that daily hassles lead to more stress and have a greater impact on physical and mental health than life events. In one study using a hassles scale of 117 items middle aged adults completed the scale each month, for 9 months. They also completed the SRRS life events scale. Hassles scores were a better predictor of psychological problems, such as, depression and anxiety, than life events scores (Kanner et al, 1981). The daily hassles scale has some of the same problems as the SRRS. [...]
[...] The sympathetic branch produces many of the physiological changes involved in the stress response, for example, accelerating the heart rate and dilating the pupils. In response to a stressor the hypothalamus stimulates the pituitary gland to secrete ACTH, the body's major stress hormone. The adrenal gland is stimulated by both the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system and the pituitary gland to secrete hormones which activate the stress response. Stress can occur as short term or long term. Short term stress refers to a sudden burst of energy and emotional feelings in response to situations which are seen as emergencies. [...]
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