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Showing papers on "Stressor published in 1989"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a three-wave panel survey of a representative upstate New York community is examined by lagged causal relationships among social, psychological, and physiological variables, showing that social resources play a buffering role relative to social and psychological stresses for physical well-being.
Abstract: In the life stress process social, psychological, and physiological environments simultaneously impinge on well-being. In this paper we focus on physical health as it is affected by two environmental elements: stress(or)es and resources. Data from a three-wave panel survey of a representative upstate New York community are examined by lagged causal relationships among these variables. The results show that (1) prior physiological conditions contribute directly to current physical symptoms, (2) stress and resource components of the psychological environment directly affect current physical symptoms, (3) social resources buffer both social stressors and psychological stress, whereas psychological resources buffer only psychological stress, and (4) psychological stress mediates the effects of prior social stressors and psychological resources. Clearly, stress is a complex process in which the three interacting environments affect well-being. Importantly, social resources play a buffering role relative to social and psychological stresses for physical well-being.

475 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, acute and sub-acute post-traumatic stress reactions are reported among 246 employees of an industrial factory which was severely damaged by an explosion and fire and a response rate of 97.6% was achieved at the primary examination, and a 100% response at the 7 months follow-up.
Abstract: Acute and subacute post-traumatic stress reactions are reported among 246 employees of an industrial factory which was severely damaged by an explosion and fire. Sixty-six A-subjects had narrow escape experiences (high stress exposure group), while 59 B-subjects were less severely exposed (medium stress exposure group). The 121 C-subjects were not present at work when the explosion occurred (low stress exposure group). A response rate of 97.6% was achieved at the primary examination, and a 100% response at the 7 months follow-up. The frequency and intensity of post-traumatic stress reactions were linked to the severity (A,B,C) of the stress exposure; specific post-traumatic anxiety reactions reported by more than 80% of A-subjects. The reactions appeared immediately or within hours, only 5% of A had delays of a few weeks. While 24.3% of A had State Anxiety Inventory scores 1 week post-disaster higher than 60, 8.5% of B and 2.5% of C had similar scores. Depressive reactions, social withdrawal, guilt, shame and irritability were less frequent, and appeared nearly always concomitant with anxiety symptoms. While the anxiety symptoms made up a tight knit syndrome, the less frequent non-anxiety symptoms were linked to the post-traumatic anxiety syndrome. The subjects' fears reflected the trauma, they feared inanimate objects, and there were hardly any paranoid ideations. The disaster exposure of the A and B but not of the C group members constituted a stressor which fulfilled the PTSD stressor criterion of the DSM III R. A minority of the C group developed a post-traumatic stress syndrome. After 7 months, all 30 post-traumatic stress reactions were more frequent and severe in the A than B group which again differed from the C group. Irritability was the only post-traumatic stress reaction that increased in frequency and intensity during the 7 months observation period. The findings represent evidence that supports the face validity, descriptive and construct validity of the PTSD diagnosis.

120 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Progress made to date on a study of the impact of the AIDS epidemic on the gay community of New York City is described andcriptive trends over time are provided for both the health outcome variables and the stressor variables.
Abstract: This report describes progress made to date on a study of the impact of the AIDS epidemic on the gay community of New York City. Using a model of the life stress process described by Barbara Dohrenwend and her colleagues, the AIDS epidemic was conceptualized as a community stressor resulting in two key stress-inducing events: death of loved ones due to AIDS and potential illness and death of oneself due to infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It was hypothesized that these stressors would be significantly related to three domains of health outcomes: sexual behavior, drug and alcohol use, and psychological distress. Descriptive trends over time are provided for both the health outcome variables and the stressor variables. Cross-sectional analyses for 3 years of data provide evidence in support of the main hypothesis. The implications of these findings are discussed from the standpoints of methodology, public health, and the psychology of stress processes in community settings.

112 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is argued that stress management and coping studies in the health care setting have not been sufficiently theoretically grounded and researchers have not adequately taken into account the nature of the stressor in terms of the degree to which it poses emotion-focused versus problem-focused coping demands for the individual.
Abstract: I argue that stress management and coping studies in the health care setting have not been sufficiently theoretically grounded. In particular, in formulating and evaluating intervention strategies, researchers have not adequately taken into account the nature of the stressor under study in terms of the degree to which it poses emotion-focused versus problem-focused coping demands for the individual. This theme is explored in examination of research in five essential areas: (a) effectiveness of problem- versus emotion-focused coping strategies, (b) effectiveness of interventions, (c) the role of individual difference variables, (d) timing of interventions, and (e) evaluation of treatment impact.

110 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The stressors identified by both the patients and caregivers can serve as a beginning means to explore the needs encountered by this population group.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to identify perceived home care needs of outpatients receiving treatment for cancer and their caregivers. The purposive subsample consisted of 16 subjects, 8 patients receiving treatment as outpatients and their 8 caregivers. Two interview guides, one for the patients and the other for their caregivers, were based on the Neuman Systems Model to assess patient and caregiver stressors The data were analyzed in relation to intrapersonal stressors (within the individual), interpersonal stressors (between the individual and others), and extrapersonal stressors (between the individual and the environment) Several stressors within each category were identified by both the patients and caregivers. Intrapersonal stressors included treatment uncertainty and role change, the interpersonal stressor of lack of social support, and the extrapersonal stressors of lack of transportation and limited finances. In addition, patients identified specific intrapersonal stressors in relation to their situation. These included assistance in coping with physical restrictions resulting in subsequent anger and depression. On the other hand, intrapersonal stressors identified by the caregivers included support in coping with the added responsibilities in relation to patient care, the fear of being alone, guilt, and the interpersonal stressor of limited knowledge regarding the patient situation. The stressors identified by both the patients and caregivers can serve as a beginning means to explore the needs encountered by this population group.

97 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The role of aggregate work stress, coupled with individual sensitivity to environmental stressors, in increasing the risk of accidents is highlighted, as indicated by reported job dissatisfaction and somatic complaints, and not directly to E-S-L.
Abstract: This study was designed to evaluate the association of a single, integrated measure of simultaneous exposure to a number of adverse work and environmental conditions, termed the Ergonomic Stress Level (E-S-L), on workers' accident and sickness absence rates The factors determining the E-S-L were body motion and posture, physical effort, active hazards and environmental stressors E-S-L evaluation was based on 'walk-through' hazard inventories, direct observations, measurements and interviews Workers were assigned to one of four stress levels ranging from low (A) to high (D) Subjects were 729 males, aged 20-67 years, employed in five factories in Israel A linear relationship between E-S-L AND accident incidence was found, increasing from the lowest to the highest E-S-L Moreover, workers more sensitive to environmental stressors, as indicated by their reported subjective annoyance, showed higher accident rates across all the ergonomic stress levels, a tendency which was statistically significant at levels C and D On the other hand, sickness absence was significantly related to the overall subjective stress experienced, as manifested by reported job dissatisfaction and somatic complaints, and not directly to E-S-L These findings highlight the role of aggregate work stress, coupled with individual sensitivity to environmental stressors, in increasing the risk of accidents

70 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is suggested that psychological phenomena as anticipation, mental assimilation, and reflection could explain these findings, and that these should be taken into account when investigating the so-called "psychological" infertility.

69 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
Philip Dewe1
TL;DR: This research revealed the extent to which the demands of frequently occurring situations actually taxed the resources of the nurse; provided a procedure for investigating the relationship between stressor frequency and response and considered these findings in terms of different types of nurses (enrolled, staff, charge) and the coping strategies used.
Abstract: In nursing research a number of approaches have been adopted when measuring the relationship between stressor and stress. However, despite thorough questionnaire development, excess demand, that is the extent to which the situation actually taxes the resources of the nurse, is measured more by implications than by presence. By combining different facets of demand and by measuring them in conjunction with one another this research revealed the extent to which the demands of frequently occurring situations actually taxed the resources of the nurse; provided a procedure for more specifically investigating the relationship between stressor frequency and response and considered these findings in terms of different types of nurses (enrolled, staff, charge) and the coping strategies used. The results were discussed in terms of measurement, training, available resources, coping and interventions.

56 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, it was hypothesized that the relationship between chronic work stressors and strain would be stronger among individuals high in private self-consciousness than among individuals low in privacy selfconsciousness, and moderate regression analyses, using a sample of 135 blue-collar workers, revealed strong support for this hypothesis.
Abstract: By using a cybernetic approach to occupational stress, it was hypothesized that the relationship between chronic work stressors and strain would be stronger among individuals high in private self-consciousness than among individuals low in private self-consciousness. Moderated regression analyses, using a sample of 135 blue-collar workers, revealed strong support for this hypothesis. This finding is antithetical to prior research showing that self-focused attention may buffer the effect of acute life events (Mullen & Suls, 1982; Suls & Fletcher, 1985). The results of the present study in conjunction with prior research suggest that the type of stressor (acute vs. chronic) examined may be a boundary condition influencing the direction of Stressor X Self-Focused Attention interactions. Implications for future research and stress management are discussed.

53 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is likely that some drinking behavior is a response to psychosocial stressors, and that rapid ingestion or large quantity alcohol consumption may also precipitate the psychogenic stress response, thereby exacerbating stress in the individual.
Abstract: American Indian drinking behavior is often attributed to stress. The causal relationship of stress to Indian drinking and alcohol's role as a stressor is explored. It is likely that some drinking behavior is a response to psychosocial stressors, and that rapid ingestion or large quantity alcohol consumption may also precipitate the psychogenic stress response, thereby exacerbating stress in the individual. Using alcohol to reduce stress increases opportunities for injury and illness.

45 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Findings support a stress process model of parenting in which effects of stressors on maternal identity are mediated by perception of stress, and health practices contribute positively and directly to maternal identity.
Abstract: Maternal employment, cesarean birth, and infant difficultness were used to test the mediating effect of perceived stress and the stress-buffering role of health practices on maternal identity. One hundred seventy-three mothers returned a parenting survey that focused on: stressors, perceived stress, health practices, maternal identity, and a demographic profile. Work status and infant difficultness were related to perceived stress. Neither had direct effects on maternal identity, but were related to it through the mediating effects of perceived stress. While health practices did not show buffering effects between stressors and perceived stress, these did contribute additively to the prediction of stress perception. Also, health practices contributed additively to the prediction of identity. Notable among the health practices predicting identity were self-actualizing expression, nutrition, interpersonal support, and stress management. These findings support a stress process model of parenting in which: (a) effects of stressors on maternal identity are mediated by perception of stress, and (b) health practices contribute positively and directly to maternal identity.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Although the data did not support a direct relationship between psychophysiological activity and illness, support for a buffering effect was found and implications of these results were discussed in the context of theoretical models relating stress and illness.

Journal Article
TL;DR: The findings support the theoretical framework underlying this study as a useful model for studying and evaluating parental stress during a child's admission to an ICU and suggest that additional personal family and situational factors may need to be added to the model to more fully predict parental stress responses.
Abstract: This study was designed to evaluate a theoretical framework, based on stress theory, which identifies potential sources of stress in parents of children hospitalized in an intensive care unit (ICU) The framework suggests that personal, situational, and ICU environmental stress stimuli interactively impact on the overall parental stress response Multiple regression techniques were used to evaluate the interaction of personal family factors, situational stimuli, and ICU environmental stressors and to assess their impact upon the overall parental stress response Data were collected from 510 parents of children hospitalized in one of five midwestern ICUs Instruments used were the Parental Stressor Scale: Pediatric ICU (Carter & Miles, 1984), the State-Trait Anxiety Scale (Spielberger, Gorsuch, & Luschene, 1970), the Review of Life Experiences Scale (Hurst, Jenkins, & Rose, 1978), and a personal-experiential questionnaire Results indicate that a number of personal and situational variables were predictive of higher stress In addition two aspects of the ICU environment contributed the most variance to the overall stress of parents: alterations in the parental role and the child's behavioral and emotional responses In evaluating the full framework, one personal variable (Trait Anxiety); two situational variables (perception of severity and type of admission); and three ICU environmental dimensions, (parental role alteration, the child's behavior and emotional response, and the child's appearance) significantly predicted stress (State Anxiety) The findings support the theoretical framework underlying this study as a useful model for studying and evaluating parental stress during a child's admission to an ICU Results also suggest that additional personal family and situational factors, such as uncertainty, may need to be added to the model to more fully predict parental stress responses

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a review of the literature concerning unemployment and mortality is presented, and it is shown that when unemployment is an element of downward mobility it is particularly damaging and may be associated with increased morbidity and mortality.
Abstract: The literature concerning unemployment and mortality is reviewed. Studies on the aggregate level do not show a systematic relation between unemployment and mortality on a societal level. Longitudinal studies in which cohorts of unemployed and employed people are followed up for 10 years show SMR values from about 110 to 200. These studies do not include information on health status before the onset of unemployment and therefore do not present adequate possibilities for evaluating the extent and significance of health-related selection. Unemployment is a psychosocial stressor that threatens the identity, self-esteem, social network and economy of unemployed people. Studies on psychological well-being show that unemployment as a stressor is modified by a number of factors, such as various coping patterns. We put forward the hypothesis that when unemployment is an element of downward mobility it is particularly damaging and may be associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Finally, we emphasize the need for a more flexible theory on unemployment as a stressor and for regarding unemployment as a dynamic element in a person's relation to the labour market.

01 Jan 1989
TL;DR: The discussion also treats strategies for reducing stressors, assisting staff members in developing good stress management, and helping the employee who is at risk of burnout.
Abstract: THIS ARTICLE PROVIDES INFORMATION on organizational approaches to managing stress in the library workplace; defines stress as a person’s psychological and physiological response to the perception of a demand or challenge; develops the concepts of stressors and coping strategies; and emphasizes the importance of library personnel officers, administrators, and managers knowing the dynamics of stress in the lives of individual workers and having awareness of the important sources of stress in the library workplace. The discussion also treats strategies for reducing stressors, assisting staff members in developing good stress management, and helping the employee who is at risk of burnout.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Environmental cues associated with a stressor provoke profound alterations of immunoresponsiveness, but the direction of the effect is dependent upon the time at which the stressor was initially applied.
Abstract: A critical period exists (approximately 72 h) following administration of sheep red blood cells (SRBC) during which inescapable footshock suppressed the peak splenic plaque forming cell (PFC) response and serum antibody titers in CD-1 mice. The immunosuppression was likewise provoked in mice that were exposed to the stressor 2 weeks prior to immunization and reexposed to stressor-related cues 72 h after inoculation. In contrast, when the stressor was initially applied immediately after immunization, reexposure to the stressor-related cues was found to provoke an immunoenhancement. Moreover, stressor exposure immediately following inoculation had the effect of counteracting the immunosuppression otherwise induced by a stressor applied at the 72-h interval. Evidently, environmental cues associated with a stressor provoke profound alterations of immunoresponsiveness, but the direction of the effect is dependent upon the time at which the stressor was initially applied.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A study of the U.S. Navy's top major project R&D managers was conducted to test the use of various coping skills and social support as preventive stress management techniques for this population as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: R&D project managers work in an environment in which the uncertainty and complexity of engineering development problems are an important source of episodic job stress. A study of the US. Navy's top major project R&D managers (N = 118) was conducted to test the use of various coping skills and social support as preventive stress management techniques for this population. It was found that perceived environmental uncertainty (PEU) had a direct, positive effect on psychological distress of these project managers while social support had a therapeutic effect on their experience of burnout. While problem focussed coping had a small, positive effect on burnout, neither coping skills nor social support were found to have a primary prevention effect upon perceived environmental uncertainty (PEU). Engineering managers engaged in high technology R&D are confronted by a wide range of uncertainties, risks and changing demands that give rise to the stress response with its attendant physiological and psychological changes (Asterita, 1985). Adams (1980) has argued that an episodic versus chronic dichotomy of stressors is valuable because it distinguishes between intermittent stressors of finite duration (episodic) and ongoing stressors of indeterminant duration (chronic). This article reports the results of a study of uncertainty as an episodic work stressor for the U.S. Navy's high technology R&D project managers. The results suggest that R&D project managers should develop social support systems and structures to maintain well-being and avert distress and strain.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The authors found that stress exerts its effects on decision-making after, rather than during, exposure to the stressor, and after-effects of stress include both increases in the use of heuristics (shortcutting strategies) and increased confidence in the decisions that are made.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Examination of stress-related behavioral effects that may be associated with living near an ambient stressor: a toxic-waste landfill found no significant differences were found across area or amount of stimuli exposure on the dependent variables of bodily effects, anger-hostility, and demoralization.
Abstract: This study examines the stress-related behavioral effects that may be associated with living near an ambient stressor: a toxic-waste landfill. Results are based on a telephone survey of 426 persons living in three distance strata from the landfill (within 1 1/2 miles, 1 1/2 to 5 miles, and 5 to 10 miles). The instrument was adapted from the Hopkins Life Checklist (SCL-90) and from surveys used by researchers studying the effects of the Three Mile Island nuclear accident. No significant differences were found across area or amount of stimuli exposure on the dependent variables of bodily effects, anger-hostility, and demoralization. Scattered effects across age, sex, educational level, and home ownership (v rental) occurred; however, these could not be attributed solely to the landfill.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Examination of mean levels of autonomic activity during the naive and informed baseline blocks and the patterns of correlations involving those blocks indicated that the naive-informed baseline blocks were noncomparable.
Abstract: The present study investigated the effects of informed consent regarding upcoming, aversive stimuli on autonomic and self-report measures of anxiety. Physiological and self-report measures were recorded prior to the subject receiving information regarding the nature of the upcoming stressor (naive baseline block), following the receipt of this information (informed baseline block), during the anticipation of the stressor (anticipation block), and following the expected stressor (post-stressor baseline block). Examination of mean levels of autonomic activity during the naive and informed baseline blocks and the patterns of correlations involving those blocks indicated that the naive and informed baseline blocks were noncomparable. Implications of these findings for experimental design and clinical assessment are discussed.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A model of stress process among mothers of infants was retested, and work status and perceived stress each contributed to predicting identity and health-promotive lifestyle acted directly, not as a buffer, on maternal identity.
Abstract: A model of stress process among mothers of infants was retested. In that model, stressors (work status or infant difficultness) influence maternal identity through perception of stress. Also, maternal identity may be buffered from stressor effects by health-promotive lifestyle. This model previously received partial support in a one-panel mail survey. The present study reports maternal outcomes from a 6-month follow-up of the original sample. One hundred nineteen (69%) mothers of infants aged 8-20 months participated in the follow-up study. Despite subject attrition, most findings from the original study were replicated in this study. As before, work status and perceived stress each contributed to predicting identity. Health-promotive lifestyle acted directly, not as a buffer, on maternal identity. When extraneous influences were controlled, neither perceived stress nor health-promotive lifestyle was significantly correlated across a 6-month period.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The ABCX and Double ABCX Models of Family Stress are reviewed, identifying factors affecting a family's adjustment to a severe ongoing stressor and variables which account for observed differences among families' adaptations to stressful situations.
Abstract: Chronic illness or disability of a child is a specific stressor affecting the entire family. To analyze the factors influencing the family's stress response, the ABCX and Double ABCX Models of Family Stress are reviewed. Four factors of the model which are particularly relevant when applied to the experience of the family with a chronically ill or disabled child are discussed: the specific characteristics of the child's disorder, the family's perception of the stressor, the chronicity of the problem, and the social network of the family. Therapists having frequent and intimate contacts with families may benefit from knowledge of the factors of the model to enhance their ability to reduce family stress. Specific therapist roles in reducing stress are respecting the parents' emotional and social needs, interpreting and anticipating medical and developmental events, and facilitating functional adaptation of the child. Health care professionals in pediatrics frequently encounter families under tremendous stress related to serious health problems in a child. The professionals' words and actions, their management of the family and the child, their responses to the parents' behaviors all are potential sources for ameliorating or increasing stress on the family. Professionals who deal with children with chronic disabilities or illnesses, and with their families, must empathize with the experience of parents in the foreign world of medicine and disability, respect the immediacy and gravity of their concern, and tolerate their occasional confusion and irrational behavior. Physical therapists and occupational therapists in pediatrics have both the opportunity and responsibility to enhance the effective coping of parents who struggle to deal with their child's difficulties and the stress their child's problems place on the entire family. To be effective, therapists must understand the factors and processes of family coping. Models which structure family response to stressors and coping efforts have been developed to facilitate analysis of the complex processes. Hill developed the original ABCX model of family stress, which McCubbin and Patterson expanded into the Double ABCX Model of Adaptation, identifying factors affecting a family's adjustment to a severe ongoing stressor (Figure 1). The expanded model includes the family's adjustment to cumulative effects of the stressor after the impact of the original crisis. Both the original ABCX and the expanded Double ABCX models identify variables which account for observed differences among families' adaptations to stressful situations.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Pretzer et al. as mentioned in this paper presented an idiographic cognitive model of the psychological processes that mediate stress and that underlie stress management techniques, and applied it to a clinical case example in which traditional nomothetic stress management technique were ineffective.
Abstract: Extreme variability has been observed in individual responses to stressors. It appears that a more detailed analysis of individual variation in cognitions related to stress may result in a greater understanding of their differential responses. An idiographic cognitive model of the psychological processes that mediate stress and that underlie stress management techniques is presented in the form of an illustrative series of hypotheses based on Beck's cognitive model (Beck, Rush, Shaw, & Emery, 1979). The model is presented in detail and is applied to a clinical case example in which traditional nomothetic stress management techniques were ineffective. The advantages and disadvantages of a more idiographic approach to stress are examined as are the implications of the cognitive view of stress for research and practice. INTRODUCTION Recent evidence suggesting that stress contributes to the development of disorders ranging from depression (Beck, Rush, Shaw, & Emery, 1979, p. 222; Hammen & deMayo, 1982; Hammen, Mayol, deMayo, & Marks, 1986; Krantz, 1985; Nezu, Nezu, Saraydarian, Kalmar, & Roman, 1986) to cancer (Sklar & Anisman, 1981) to general immuno-Requests for reprints should be directed to James Pretzer, Ph.D., Family Practice Center, Bolwell Health Center, 2078 Abington Rd., Cleveland, OH, 44120. logical dysfunction (Borysenko, 1984; Zegans, 1982) makes it apparent that a clear understanding of stress and methods for managing and reducing stress are needed. Despite the contributions of a number of major theorists and researchers, the current theoretical models (e.g., Lazarus, 1975, 1977, 1982; Shontz, 1965, 1975; Klinger, 1975, 1977; Wortman & Brehm, 1975) have little predictive power when applied to individual cases (Silver & Wortman, 1980). Most of these theoretical models suggest that people will respond to stress with predictable, normative response patterns, and that these responses will occur in orderly sequences of stages. However, empirical studies of reactions to stressors find extreme variability in both the responses observed and the time periods over which these responses occur (see Silver & Wortman, 1980). Overall, leading theories of stress and their corresponding approaches to stress management have been criticized as paying insufficient attention to individual differences (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984). One of the most basic difficulties in the field has been to adequately define and operationalize the concept of stress (Mason, 1975a). Part of the problem is that the term has been used alternately to describe environmental stimuli (i.e., stress = agent outside the person), the response of the person to environmental stimuli, and the interaction between the two. This lack of consensus on the meaning of stress has resulted in considerable confusion. However, the term has immense public and professional appeal and is therefore too firmly established to be abandoned. In keeping with Mason's (1975b) persuasive recommendations, stress will be used in this article as a collective term to refer to situations in which environmental demands, internal demands, or the combination of the two tax or exceed the person's adaptive capacity. Stressor will be used to refer to the environmental and internal stimuli that require an adaptive response from a person. Stress researchers have gradually approached a consensus on the view that stress is cognitively mediated (Forsythe & Compas, 1987; Mason, 1975a, 1975b; Singer, 1986; Zegans, 1982). The most widely known view of the role of cognition in stress has been developed by Lazarus (Lazarus, 1975, 1977, 1982; Lazarus, Averill, & Opton, 1970; Lazarus & Folkman, 1984; Lazarus & Launier, 1978). He and his colleagues emphasize the impact that a person's appraisal of situational demands and of responses for coping has on both stress and coping. In this case, stress is seen as being related to a person's perceptions of the magnitude of environmental risks (e. …

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a survey of four hundred twenty-one persons was conducted with adaptations from the Hopkins Life Checklist and instruments used in studies of the Three Mile Island nuclear accident.
Abstract: There has been increasing concern over environmental hazards such as toxic waste disposal, but little research has occurred on those effects related to the stress associated with these hazards. Related research has suggested the presence of both behavioral (e.g., headaches, nausea) and attitudinal effects (demoralization, upset, perceived threat, lack of trust). Mediators to these effects were found to include distance from the stressor, frequency of stimuli, gender, age and presence of small children. Four hundred twenty-one persons were surveyed with adaptations from the Hopkins Life Checklist and instruments used in studies of the Three Mile Island nuclear accident. Effects for the attitudes ofperceived threat, declining qualify of life, anddistrust of authorities were significant for both distance from site and frequency of stimuli. Future anticipation, quality of information and having children significantly affected attitudes, as did age and gender. Implications for policymakers and researchers are also discussed.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the relationship between situation specific stressors and the coping behaviour of intensive care nursing staff was analyzed, and it was observed that the majority of stress situations in intensive care are tackled by staff members using active external coping strategies whereas coping with personal stress involves passive strategies.
Abstract: The relationships between situation specific stressors and the coping behaviour of intensive care nursing staff were analysed. The results were discussed with regard to additional data relating to ‘contentment with coping’ and ‘psychosomatic reactivity (FPI)’. It was observed that the majority of stress situations in intensive care are tackled by staff members using active external coping strategies', whereas coping with personal stress involves passive strategies. Relationships between ‘contentment with coping’, ‘psychosomatic reactivity (FPI)’ and type of stressor and coping behaviour were found.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Analysis indicated that significant differences between groups of high and low heart-rate reactivity subjects were consistent over a period of 4 to 6 wk.
Abstract: Reliability of heart-rate reactivity responses to a timed and competitive mental arithmetic stressor was investigated in a sample of 40 students. Analysis indicated that significant differences between groups of high and low heart-rate reactivity subjects were consistent over a period of 4 to 6 wk., with no significant effects from mental arithmetic performances.

Book ChapterDOI
01 Jan 1989
TL;DR: The pituitary- adrenocortical and sympathetic-adrenomedullary systems, under neural control of select cell populations in the hypothalamus, coordinate the broad profile of adaptive bodily responses that collectively define the emergency reaction of the organism.
Abstract: The pituitary-adrenocortical and sympathetic-adrenomedullary systems, under neural control of select cell populations in the hypothalamus, coordinate the broad profile of adaptive bodily responses that collectively define the emergency reaction of the organism. To meet the threat of an environmental stressor, the body is initially readied for action: heart rate, blood pressure and respiration are increased, muscles function more efficiently, pain sensitivity is dampened, and a variety of other responses are coordinated in what Selye1 termed the alarm reaction. Once the threat is reduced or identified (for all such responses display adaptation to repeated exposures to the same brief stressor), the action of these systems is self-limiting, and the body returns to normal. However, some stress situations are chronic, or recur periodically in a pattern that defeats adaptation. As a consequence of this type of malignant exposure to stress, certain bodily functions fail to return to pre-stress levels and remain in a prolonged activated state, overriding endogenous homeostatic mechanisms.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Mar 1989
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used data from 72 unemployed blue-collar families with adolescents to test the hypothesis that families with balanced levels of adaptation and cohesion, as defined by the Circumplex Model, will use different and more adaptive coping strategies to deal with the nonnormative stressor of unemployment and the normative stressors of adolescence, than will families with extreme levels of adaptability and cohesion.
Abstract: Data from 72 unemployed blue-collar families with adolescents are used to test the hypothesis that families with balanced levels of adaptation and cohesion, as defined by the Circumplex Model, will use different and more adaptive coping strategies to deal with the nonnormative stressor of unemployment and the normative stressor of adolescence, than will families with extreme (very high) levels of adaptability and cohesion. The data do not support the hypothesis but rather suggest that adaptation, cohesion, and adaptive coping strategies are associated linearly instead of curvilinearly.

Journal Article
TL;DR: A large-scale study of family physicians in North Carolina, conducted by May, Revicki, and Jones in 1983, confirmed the fact that most physicians who reported a high level of professional stress also tended to score high on measures of external locus of control, i.e., the perception that external or environmental factors are mainly responsible for one's problems or successes as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Early attempts to understand the causes of physician stress focused almost exclusively upon the role of external stressors and demands. Recent psychosocial and behavioral research, however, suggests that individual attitudes, beliefs, personality factors, and learned coping strategies probably play a more important role. In addition, such cognitive and behavioral tendencies are within the control of each individual, and clinical experience has shown that these factors can indeed be modified. Freudenberger noted that most health professionals who are experiencing high levels of stress fail to identify the role that they themselves play in generating such symptoms. Instead, they tend to blame others as the cause of their problems and tend to react cynically toward suggestions that they could benefit from help. A large-scale study of family physicians in North Carolina, conducted by May, Revicki, and Jones in 1983, confirmed the fact that most physicians who reported a high level of professional stress also tended to score high on measures of external locus of control--i.e. the perception that external or environmental factors are mainly responsible for one's problems or successes. My own experience in treating physicians and other people with stress tends to confirm these findings. More importantly, I have found that once individuals are helped to identify the role that their own cognitive and behavioral tendencies play in the origin of their stress, they can usually bring about impressive reductions in stress and tension without significant changes in environmental factors or demands. While many people advocate stress-releasing and other relaxation skills for physicians, I have found that such approaches are often counterproductive.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)