A2 Psychology - Stress

Work?

-> Major form of stress

-> poor relationships, job demands, lack of control etc

JOHANNSSON

• See if work is a predictor of stress
• temperature, blood tests, self report on irritability, absence records
• finishers had higher irritability + temperature than cleaners.

-> Nature of work causes stress

Hassles and Life Events?

-> Hassles - daily inconviences

-> Life events- Larger, need adjustments

Kanner

• See whether hassles/life events are a greater predictor of stress
• hassles/life events scale/Hscl/Bradburne morale scale
• Hassles had stronger positive correlation with stress

-> Hassles are a better predictor of stress

Lack of control?

-> Control = power over an event

-> Perceived/actual control

Geer and Maisel

• See whether having no control increases stress
  
• Car crash victim slides with GSR
• Actual control - least stress/ Perceived control - Most stress

-> ignorance is bliss if no actual control

High EV; e.g. Kanner + Johannsson

Low EV; e.g. Geer and Maisel

Useful; Johannsson+Kanner+Geer and Maisel - Knowledge

Not useful; Geer and Maisel - Low ev limits p.apps

Ethics- Pop; Kanner + Geer and Maisel - sensitive questions and disturbing images

Reliable; Johannsson - consistent/Kanner - reprint/G+M - Standardised

Valid; Johannsson - Physio = objective/Geer and Maisel = high controls

Invalid; Kanner - Easy to lie

Combined?

-> Self reports - e.g. questionnaires

-> Physiological - e.g. blood tests/body temperature

Johansson

• SR - caffiene intake
• Physiological - body temperature
• higher body temperature = higher irritability

-> combined can be used to measure stress and compares two.

Self Reports?

-> Thoughts, feelings and beliefs

-> interviews/questionnaires

Kanner

• Hassles and Life events scales.
  
• Hassles had the strongest positive correlation with stress

-> show how much a person is suffering from stress

Physiological?

-> Physical symptoms of stress

-> Measures how body changes e.g. GSR - sweat

Geer and Maisel

• GSR
• High control = less stress

-> Stress can be measured by looking at physical changed

Valid; Combined +Physiological as both use objective measures

Invalid; Self report - subjective measures

Reliable; SR - easily remeasured/Physio - reliable measures/ Combined - Consistent

Cognitive?

-> Conceptualisation - Learn about stress

-> Skill acquisition + Rehearsal - Learn to cope

-> Application + Follow through - Practice

Meichenbaum

• See if SIT is effective way of managing stress
• 8 sessions of SIT/SD
•  SIT = least anxiety

-> SIT gets people to perceive stress more positively

Behaviourist?

-> Learn to control stress via operant conditioning

Budzynski

• Biofeedback/fake biofeedback/waiting list
• Biofeedback = most improved after follow ups

-> operant conditioning decreases stress

Social?

-> Cohen - Esteem support/info support/instrumental support/social companionship

-> Actual/Perceived support

Waxler-Morrison

• Asked breast cancer patients about social support
• more social support = less stress

-> Friends, collegues, family etc can reduce stress

EFFECTIVE

Mcgrath - 9 year old girl SD

Budzynski - Biofeedback = effective

Waxler-Morrison - Social support = effective

NOT EFFECTIVE

Mcgrath - Sample = 1 girl

Budzynski - Sample = volunteer so more effort

Waxler-Morrison - Sample = women