Stress
53 flashcards covering Stress for the MCAT Chem / Phys / Psych / Soc section.
Stress is the body's natural response to challenges or threats, triggering a cascade of physical and psychological reactions. It begins with the release of hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which prepare you for "fight or flight." While short-term stress can enhance focus and performance, chronic stress often leads to health issues such as weakened immune function, anxiety, or cardiovascular problems. Understanding stress helps in managing daily life and maintaining overall well-being.
On the MCAT, stress appears in the Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations sections, often integrated with topics like the nervous system or behavioral science. Questions might ask about the physiological mechanisms of stress, its effects on health, or effective coping strategies, typically in multiple-choice formats. Common traps include confusing acute stress benefits with chronic risks or overlooking social factors like environmental influences. Focus on key concepts such as the HPA axis, stress-related disorders, and evidence-based interventions.
A concrete tip: Practice linking stress to real-world scenarios in practice questions to improve application skills.
Terms (53)
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Stress
In physics, stress is the force applied per unit area within materials that leads to internal forces and deformation, typically measured in pascals.
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Strain
Strain is the measure of deformation representing the displacement between particles in a material relative to a reference length, often expressed as a ratio.
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Young's Modulus
Young's modulus is a measure of the stiffness of a material, defined as the ratio of tensile stress to tensile strain in the elastic region.
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Shear Stress
Shear stress is the component of stress that acts parallel to a surface, causing one layer of material to slide past another.
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Tensile Stress
Tensile stress is the pulling force applied to a material that tends to stretch it, calculated as force divided by cross-sectional area.
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Compressive Stress
Compressive stress is the squeezing force applied to a material that tends to shorten or compress it, potentially leading to buckling.
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Hooke's Law
Hooke's law states that, within the elastic limit, the stress applied to a material is directly proportional to the strain produced.
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Elastic Limit
The elastic limit is the maximum stress a material can withstand without permanent deformation, beyond which it becomes plastic.
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Ultimate Tensile Strength
Ultimate tensile strength is the maximum stress a material can endure while being stretched or pulled before breaking.
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Stress-Strain Curve
The stress-strain curve graphically represents the relationship between stress and strain for a material, showing elastic and plastic regions.
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Poisson's Ratio
Poisson's ratio is the negative ratio of transverse strain to axial strain in a material under tension or compression.
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Bulk Modulus
Bulk modulus measures a material's resistance to uniform compression, defined as the ratio of pressure change to fractional volume change.
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Shear Strain
Shear strain is the measure of angular distortion in a material caused by shear stress, often described as the tangent of the angle of deformation.
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Stress Concentration
Stress concentration is the localization of stress in a material at points of geometric discontinuity, such as holes or notches, increasing failure risk.
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Psychological Stress
Psychological stress is the body's response to any demand or threat, involving physiological and emotional reactions that can affect health and behavior.
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Acute Stress
Acute stress is a short-term reaction to an immediate threat or event, triggering the fight-or-flight response and typically subsiding once the threat passes.
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Chronic Stress
Chronic stress is a prolonged reaction to ongoing stressors, which can lead to health issues like weakened immune function and cardiovascular problems.
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Eustress
Eustress is a positive form of stress that motivates and energizes individuals, such as the excitement from a challenge, leading to personal growth.
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Distress
Distress is a negative form of stress that results from harmful stimuli, causing anxiety, overwhelm, and potential physical or mental health deterioration.
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General Adaptation Syndrome
General adaptation syndrome describes the three stages of the body's stress response: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion, as outlined by Hans Selye.
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Fight-or-Flight Response
The fight-or-flight response is an automatic physiological reaction to perceived threats, involving hormone release like adrenaline to prepare for immediate action.
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Allostatic Load
Allostatic load refers to the wear and tear on the body from chronic overactivity or underactivity of physiological systems in response to stress.
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Coping Mechanisms
Coping mechanisms are strategies individuals use to manage stress, including problem-solving, seeking support, or avoidance, which can be adaptive or maladaptive.
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Stress and Immune System
Stress can suppress the immune system by increasing cortisol levels, making individuals more susceptible to illnesses and slowing wound healing.
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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, leading to symptoms like flashbacks, anxiety, and avoidance.
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Cognitive Appraisal of Stress
Cognitive appraisal of stress involves evaluating a situation as threatening, harmful, or challenging, which influences the intensity of the stress response.
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Stress Inoculation
Stress inoculation is a technique where individuals are gradually exposed to stressors to build resilience and improve coping skills over time.
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Burnout
Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress, often from excessive work demands without adequate recovery.
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Stress Hormones
Stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, are released by the adrenal glands in response to stress, preparing the body for action but potentially harming health if elevated chronically.
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Social Support and Stress
Social support, such as from friends or family, can buffer the effects of stress by providing emotional comfort and practical help, reducing its negative impacts.
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Minority Stress
Minority stress is the chronic stress experienced by individuals from stigmatized groups, due to prejudice and discrimination, which can lead to health disparities.
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Socioeconomic Status and Stress
Lower socioeconomic status often correlates with higher stress levels due to factors like financial insecurity and limited resources, exacerbating health inequalities.
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Urban Stress
Urban stress arises from city living, including noise, pollution, and overcrowding, which can contribute to mental health issues like anxiety and depression.
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Family Stressors
Family stressors are tensions within the household, such as conflict or illness, that can affect all members and lead to broader emotional or behavioral problems.
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Work-Related Stress
Work-related stress results from job demands, poor work-life balance, or harassment, potentially causing decreased productivity and increased absenteeism.
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Acculturative Stress
Acculturative stress occurs when individuals from one culture adapt to another, involving challenges like language barriers and identity conflicts that heighten anxiety.
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Inequality and Stress
Social inequality, such as in income or education, can generate stress by limiting opportunities and fostering a sense of injustice, impacting overall well-being.
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Community Stress
Community stress emerges from shared environmental threats, like natural disasters or crime, affecting group dynamics and individual mental health.
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Gender Differences in Stress
Gender differences in stress responses may arise from societal roles, with women often experiencing more relational stress and men more competitive stress.
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Age and Stress
Stress perception and coping vary by age, with children and older adults potentially more vulnerable due to developmental or health factors.
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Resilience to Stress
Resilience to stress is the ability to adapt and recover from stressors through factors like optimism and strong relationships, promoting long-term health.
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Mindfulness for Stress
Mindfulness practices, such as meditation, help manage stress by focusing on the present moment, reducing rumination and physiological symptoms.
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Exercise and Stress Reduction
Regular exercise reduces stress by releasing endorphins, improving mood, and enhancing the body's ability to handle physical and emotional demands.
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Nutrition's Role in Stress
Proper nutrition supports stress management by maintaining stable blood sugar and providing nutrients that aid hormone regulation and energy levels.
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Sleep and Stress
Adequate sleep is crucial for stress recovery, as it allows the body to repair and regulate systems, with sleep deprivation amplifying stress effects.
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Avoidance Coping
Avoidance coping involves evading stressors rather than confronting them, which may provide short-term relief but often leads to prolonged problems.
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Problem-Focused Coping
Problem-focused coping targets the source of stress through actions like planning, differing from emotion-focused coping that manages feelings instead.
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Secondary Appraisal
Secondary appraisal is the evaluation of one's resources to cope with a stressor, determining whether the situation is controllable or overwhelming.
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Stress-Induced Anorexia
Stress-induced anorexia is a condition where chronic stress leads to reduced appetite and weight loss, affecting metabolic and immune functions.
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Cortisol Awakening Response
The cortisol awakening response is the surge in cortisol levels upon waking, which can be altered by stress and influence daily energy and mood.
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Telomere Shortening from Stress
Chronic stress accelerates telomere shortening, the protective caps on chromosomes, potentially speeding up cellular aging and disease risk.
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Stress and Cardiovascular Health
Stress contributes to cardiovascular issues by raising blood pressure and promoting inflammation, increasing the risk of heart disease over time.
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Epigenetic Changes from Stress
Stress can cause epigenetic modifications, altering gene expression without changing DNA, which may affect long-term health outcomes.