Embodying psychological thriving: physical thriving in response to stress - Thriving: Broadening the Paradigm Beyond Illness to Health

Relaxation and growth. In addition to the chronicity of stress, the preexisting level of allostatic load affects thriving. To mobilize a large anabolic counterregulatory response, one's allostatic load must be low (Panel B or C of Figure 2). Therefore, a second crucial condition for physical thriving is having restorative breaks from stress - or opportunities for relaxation. Relaxation may lead to these "rejuvenating homeostatic mechanisms" in which restorative functioning prevails and thus may be especially important in preventing or decreasing allostatic load.

Relaxation techniques, such as meditation, have been shown to suppress basal cortisol levels (Alexander, Langer, Newman, Chandler, & Davies, 1989; Gallois, Forzy, & Dhont, 1984; Jevning, Wilson, & Davidson, 1978; Sudsuang, Chentazez, & Veluvan, 1991). In a prospective random assignment study, meditators showed decreases in basal cortisol over four months as well as increases in reactivity to stress (Maclean et al., 1997). This profile of response is strikingly similar to the healthy profile of response proposed by Dienstbier (1989) and that found in dominant baboons (Sapolsky, 1982).

To summarize findings on positive arousal, the opposing forces of arousal and relaxation are both necessary to adapt to our changing environment. Relaxation increases the growth index by decreasing catabolic and increasing anabolic processes. Positive arousal from facing manageable stressors may increase growth through short-term increases in catabolic processes, followed by strong counterregulation by anabolic processes. Only by examining the speed of recovery and response to repeated exposures can we determine toughened or resilient stress responding. Our data, presented later, support the idea that cortisol adaptation to repeated stress is related to psychological thriving. In humans, because we are constantly exposed to potential stressors, which response system prevails at what stage of facing stressors is partly under psychological control.

Psychological Responses to Stress and Growth

In addition to characteristics of the stressors, an individual's psychological responses to stressors can moderate their effects. Cognitive appraisal of a stressor, rather than merely its severity or duration, largely shapes the physiological response. The process of stress perception, physiological arousal, and coping begins with cognitive appraisal of a stressor. Thus, appraisal may be one of the most important moderators of type of neuroendocrine response to stressors.

Appraisals of threat or challenge carry different information to the brain and thus result in different patterns of both endocrine and sympathetic arousal. Appraisals of threat signify potential for harm or loss, whereas appraisals of challenge represent opportunity for growth or gain (Folkman & Lazarus, 1985; Lazarus & Folkman, 1984). Defeated or threatened responses are characterized by threat appraisals, higher reactive levels of cortisol, and distress, and are usually a response to uncontrollable situations (Lundberg & Frankenhaeuser, 1980; Ursin, Baade, & Levine, 1978; Varnes, Ursin, Darragh, & Lambe, 1982). In contrast, defense responses are characterized by challenge appraisals and signs of the fight-or-flight stress response such as increased blood pressure and heart rate, increased effort, and active coping, usually in response to controllable situations (Frankenhaeuser, 1983; Varnes et al., 1982).