Paper 2 Revision
Health Psychology
Health Problems
Biological Approach: GAS model and Diathesis Stress Model -Cohen et al (1993) and
Caspi et al (2003)
The biological approach argues that through evolution, stress is often the response to a
threat to life, because of which the body responds physiologically. The GAS model outlines
three stages when individuals perceive a threat or a stressor. They are: The Alarming Stage:
this is immediate, when the stressor is perceived as a threat. The flight-fight response is
activated and stress hormones including cortisol are secreted in response to this. The
second stage is the Resistance, when the body tries its level best to fight off the stressor and
the stress hormones are sustained. The outward symptoms of the Alarm stage might
decrease but the stressor persists. The last stage, ‘Exhaustion’ is a consequence of chronic
stress, where the body’s resources to respond are depleted and leaves the organism
vulnerable to the stressor. In the worst cases, this could lead to death.
Cohen et al (1993) - Investigated whether stress leaves one more vulnerable to illnesses in
this case, a cold or some viral infection.
● All participants responded to a series of questions regarding their level of stress in
everyday life and the means by which they respond to stressors.
● Split into two groups, and either exposed to viral infections or a placebo via a saline
solution.
● The researchers then observed for any changes in their infections, and found that
individuals who had reported themselves as easily stressed faced stronger
symptoms of infections, after all participants had been quarantined for 5 days.
● The type of stressor also seemed to matter, with those facing unemployment issues
having stronger symptoms.
It is possible to have contracted the cold from elsewhere, it really depends on the immune
system rather than the GAS model. This doesn’t reflect the GAS model, but rather the
strength of people’s immune systems.
Caspi et al (2003) - Investigated whether depression and stress can be a result of genetic
predisposition, as suggested by the Diathesis Stress Model - Depression can be influenced
by 5-HTT genes’ lengths. Shorter alleles leave one more vulnerable.
● All participants in the study had the lengths of their alleles measured prior, and were
divided into three groups: 2 short alleles, 1 short and one long, and 2 long alleles.
● Questions were asked about various stressors in their lives within several categories:
jobs, relationships, finance, social life, etc.
, ● People with 2 short alleles tended to show higher symptoms of depression within
these stressors, correlation between the two.
Correlation research, causation cannot be established. The theory is reductionist because
there are many cognitive and socio-cultural factors that play a role in depression, and a
common argument is that health problems like stress are a combination or environmental
factors….
Cognitive Approach: Lazarus and Folkman’s model of transactional stress and coping
-Jobin et al (2014) and Kemney et al (2004)
● Model: Divides perception of stress into subsections known as cognitive appraisals.
They argue that a stressor is first perceived in the primary appraisal, which labels the
stressor as a threat, or benign-positive or irrelevant. If considered a threat, the extent
of coping is weighed by the secondary appraisal, which considers the demands of
the stressor and our coping ability.
Jobin et al measured the effects of stress on optimism -longitudinal study over six years. 135
participants were categorised into optimists or pessimists based on a series of questions and
had their cortisol levels measured regularly. It was found that on days when pessimist
participants experienced higher levels of stress than usual, their cortisol levels were higher
and sustained for longer periods. This suggests that one’s cognitive personality as an
optimist plays a role in how well they cope with stress.
Supports L and F models.
● Self-reported data, and lack of temporal validity, mainly correlational results, and no
causation can be observe as no IV existed
Kemney et al (2004) -investigated the effect of HIV on socially stigmatised communities of
homosexual men and drug addicts. The study was conducted on both HIV positive and
negative individuals and the results showed that rapid progression was prevalent among
more stigmatised individuals than not.
● Link to social self-preservation theory which argues that threat to people’s social self
can result in negative cognitive responses like shame and humiliation, in turn
affecting their immunities, and thus ability to respond to illnesses.
○ Reed et al (1997) people with pessimistic personalities are more susceptivle
to other STIs.
Kemney lacks temporal validity -today’s views towards drug addicts and homosexuals are
very different. Gender biases, all homosexual men, and therefore no generalisability.
Fails to take biological and socio-cultural factors into account, and stress is thought to be
bidirectionally related between physiology -stress negatively affects physiology and
cognition and vice versa. A thorough understanding of all three factors: bio cog and socio
must be taken into account for a holistic method to treat stress.
Health Psychology
Health Problems
Biological Approach: GAS model and Diathesis Stress Model -Cohen et al (1993) and
Caspi et al (2003)
The biological approach argues that through evolution, stress is often the response to a
threat to life, because of which the body responds physiologically. The GAS model outlines
three stages when individuals perceive a threat or a stressor. They are: The Alarming Stage:
this is immediate, when the stressor is perceived as a threat. The flight-fight response is
activated and stress hormones including cortisol are secreted in response to this. The
second stage is the Resistance, when the body tries its level best to fight off the stressor and
the stress hormones are sustained. The outward symptoms of the Alarm stage might
decrease but the stressor persists. The last stage, ‘Exhaustion’ is a consequence of chronic
stress, where the body’s resources to respond are depleted and leaves the organism
vulnerable to the stressor. In the worst cases, this could lead to death.
Cohen et al (1993) - Investigated whether stress leaves one more vulnerable to illnesses in
this case, a cold or some viral infection.
● All participants responded to a series of questions regarding their level of stress in
everyday life and the means by which they respond to stressors.
● Split into two groups, and either exposed to viral infections or a placebo via a saline
solution.
● The researchers then observed for any changes in their infections, and found that
individuals who had reported themselves as easily stressed faced stronger
symptoms of infections, after all participants had been quarantined for 5 days.
● The type of stressor also seemed to matter, with those facing unemployment issues
having stronger symptoms.
It is possible to have contracted the cold from elsewhere, it really depends on the immune
system rather than the GAS model. This doesn’t reflect the GAS model, but rather the
strength of people’s immune systems.
Caspi et al (2003) - Investigated whether depression and stress can be a result of genetic
predisposition, as suggested by the Diathesis Stress Model - Depression can be influenced
by 5-HTT genes’ lengths. Shorter alleles leave one more vulnerable.
● All participants in the study had the lengths of their alleles measured prior, and were
divided into three groups: 2 short alleles, 1 short and one long, and 2 long alleles.
● Questions were asked about various stressors in their lives within several categories:
jobs, relationships, finance, social life, etc.
, ● People with 2 short alleles tended to show higher symptoms of depression within
these stressors, correlation between the two.
Correlation research, causation cannot be established. The theory is reductionist because
there are many cognitive and socio-cultural factors that play a role in depression, and a
common argument is that health problems like stress are a combination or environmental
factors….
Cognitive Approach: Lazarus and Folkman’s model of transactional stress and coping
-Jobin et al (2014) and Kemney et al (2004)
● Model: Divides perception of stress into subsections known as cognitive appraisals.
They argue that a stressor is first perceived in the primary appraisal, which labels the
stressor as a threat, or benign-positive or irrelevant. If considered a threat, the extent
of coping is weighed by the secondary appraisal, which considers the demands of
the stressor and our coping ability.
Jobin et al measured the effects of stress on optimism -longitudinal study over six years. 135
participants were categorised into optimists or pessimists based on a series of questions and
had their cortisol levels measured regularly. It was found that on days when pessimist
participants experienced higher levels of stress than usual, their cortisol levels were higher
and sustained for longer periods. This suggests that one’s cognitive personality as an
optimist plays a role in how well they cope with stress.
Supports L and F models.
● Self-reported data, and lack of temporal validity, mainly correlational results, and no
causation can be observe as no IV existed
Kemney et al (2004) -investigated the effect of HIV on socially stigmatised communities of
homosexual men and drug addicts. The study was conducted on both HIV positive and
negative individuals and the results showed that rapid progression was prevalent among
more stigmatised individuals than not.
● Link to social self-preservation theory which argues that threat to people’s social self
can result in negative cognitive responses like shame and humiliation, in turn
affecting their immunities, and thus ability to respond to illnesses.
○ Reed et al (1997) people with pessimistic personalities are more susceptivle
to other STIs.
Kemney lacks temporal validity -today’s views towards drug addicts and homosexuals are
very different. Gender biases, all homosexual men, and therefore no generalisability.
Fails to take biological and socio-cultural factors into account, and stress is thought to be
bidirectionally related between physiology -stress negatively affects physiology and
cognition and vice versa. A thorough understanding of all three factors: bio cog and socio
must be taken into account for a holistic method to treat stress.
