5.16 Stress and Coping

What Is Stress?

Stress is the process of appraising and responding to events (stressors) perceived as threatening or challenging. Distress is negative stress that harms well-being, while eustress is positive stress that motivates and improves performance. Common stressors include daily hassles, significant life changes, catastrophes, and social/cultural pressures like discrimination or acculturation.

The Body's Stress Response

Hans Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) describes three stages: alarm (fight-or-flight activates), resistance (body copes, resources drain), and exhaustion (prolonged stress depletes reserves, increasing illness risk). Chronic stress weakens the immune system, raising vulnerability to disease, and is linked to cardiovascular problems.

Coping Strategies

Problem-focused coping directly addresses the stressor (e.g., making a plan), while emotion-focused coping manages feelings about the stressor (e.g., seeking support, reframing). Healthy coping includes social support, exercise, and relaxation; defense mechanisms and avoidance can reduce distress short-term but may hinder long-term adjustment.

Key terms

Eustress

Positive stress that motivates and can improve performance.

Distress

Negative stress that harms well-being and functioning.

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

Selye's model of the body's stress response: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion stages.

Problem-focused coping

Coping strategy that directly addresses or solves the stressor.

Emotion-focused coping

Coping strategy that manages emotional reactions to a stressor rather than the stressor itself.

Try an AP-style question

Selye's general adaptation syndrome stages are…

1. fight, flight, freeze
2. denial, anger, acceptance
3. alarm, resistance, exhaustion
4. arousal, plateau, recovery