Showing papers on "Stressor published in 2000"

Development and preliminary validation of a brief broad-spectrum measure of trauma exposure : The Traumatic Life Events Questionnaire

Abstract: This article describes the development and preliminary validation of a brief questionnaire that assesses exposure to a broad range of potentially traumatic events. Items were generated from multiple sources of information. Events were described in behaviorally descriptive terms, consistent with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV posttraumatic stress disorder stressor criterion A1. When events were endorsed, respondents were asked if they experienced intense fear, helplessness, or horror (stressor criterion A2). In separate studies with college students, Vietnam veterans, battered women, and residents of a substance abuse program, most items possessed adequate to excellent temporal stability. In a study comparing questionnaire and structured-interview inquiries of trauma history, the 2 formats yielded similar rates of disclosure. Preliminary data on positive predictive power are also presented.

The neurobiology of stress and gastrointestinal disease

Abstract: The role of stress in the modulation of the most common gastrointestinal disorders has traditionally been considered a domain of psychology, and has frequently been lumped together with the role of psychiatric comorbidity. Among clinicians, the term “stress” is generally taken as synonymous with psychological (“exteroceptive”) stress. Based on the deeply ingrained Cartesian view in medicine and gastroenterology, stress and psychological factors have been considered fundamentally separate and unrelated to the “real” biological changes underlying organic disease. However, recent breakthroughs in the understanding of the neurobiology of the organism's response to acute and chronic stress, and the evolving understanding of elaborate brain-gut interactions and their modulation in health and disease, are beginning to require a reassessment of chronic stress in the pathophysiology and management not only of functional but also of “organic” gastrointestinal disorders. Certain stressful life events have been associated with the onset or symptom exacerbation in some of the most common chronic disorders of the digestive system, including functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGD), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), and peptic ulcer disease (PUD). Even though methodological differences in reported studies which do and do not support such an association remain to be resolved, the association of sustained stressful life events preceding symptom exacerbation is based on several well designed surveys in patients with FGD,1-4with post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome (IBS),4 and with IBD.5-8 In addition, acute life threatening stress episodes in adult life (rape, post-traumatic stress syndrome) are an important risk factor in the development of functional gastrointestinal disorders.9 Finally, early life stress in the form of abuse plays a major role in the susceptibility of individuals to develop functional as well as IBD10-14 later in life. Thus, depending on the type of stressor, the lag time between the stressful event …

Effects of stress on reproduction in non-rodent mammals: the role of glucocorticoids and sex differences

Abstract: The means by which stress influences reproduction is not clearly understood, but may involve a number of endocrine, paracrine and neural systems Stress impacts on the reproductive axis at the hypothalamus (to affect GnRH secretion) and the pituitary gland (to affect gonadotrophin secretion), with direct effects on the gonads being of less importance Different stressors have different effects and there are differences in response to short- and long-term stress Many short-term stresses fail to affect reproduction and there are reports of stimulatory effects of some 'stressors' There are species differences in the way that specific stressors affect reproduction Sex differences in the effects of a particular stressor have been delineated and these may relate to effects of stress at different levels of the hypothalamo-pituitary axis The significance of stress-induced secretion of cortisol varies with species In some instances, there appears to be little impact of short-term increases in cortisol concentrations and protracted increases in plasma concentration seem to be required before any deleterious effect on reproduction is apparent Issues of sex, sex steroid status, type of stressor and duration of stress need to be considered to improve understanding of this issue

Nursing stress : the effects of coping strategies and job satisfaction in a sample of Australian nurses

Abstract: Nursing stress: the effects of coping strategies and job satisfaction in a sample of Australian nurses The study reported in this paper examined relationships between nursing work-related stressors and coping strategies, and their impact upon nurses' levels of job satisfaction and mood disturbance. It was proposed that higher levels of perceived work stress and use of avoidance coping would increase mood disturbance, while problem-focused coping would be associated with less mood disturbance. The study also aimed to explore the possible 'buffering effects' of using humour in coping with stress, and the effect of job satisfaction on the stress-mood relationship. The sample consisted of 129 qualified Australian nurses who volunteered to complete standardized questionnaires, including the Nursing Stress Scale, Ways of Coping Questionnaire, the Coping Humour Scale, Job Satisfaction Scale of the Nurse Stress Index, and the shortened version of the Profile of Mood States. Results revealed a significant positive relationship between nursing stress and mood disturbance, and a significant negative relationship between nursing stress and job satisfaction. The use of avoidance coping and the perception of work overload were found to be significant predictors of mood disturbance. No evidence was found to indicate that the use of humour had a moderating effect on the stress-mood relationship but there was support for the influence of job satisfaction upon this relationship. These results provided some support for a transactional model of stress since situational factors were found to influence the nurses' coping and perceptions of stress.

Serotonin, stress and corticoids.

Abstract: There is evidence for stressor- and brain region-specific selectivity in serotonergic transmission responses to aversive stimuli. The aim of the present review is to provide an overview of the effects of different acute and repeated/chronic stressors on serotonin (5-HT) release and reuptake, extracellular 5-HT levels, and 5-HT pre- and postsynaptic receptors in areas tightly linked to the control of fear and anxiety, namely the dorsal and median raphe nuclei, the frontal cortex, the amygdala and the hippocampus. In addition, our knowledge of the impacts of corticoids on serotonergic systems in these brain areas is also briefly provided to examine whether the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis may play a role in stress-induced alterations in 5-HT neurotransmission. Taken together, the data presented reinforce the hypothesis that stress affects such a transmission, partly through the actions of corticoids. However, we are still left with unanswered, albeit crucial questions. First, the question of the specificity of the serotonergic responses to stress, with regard to the site of action and the nature of the stressor still remains open due to the heterogeneity of the results obtained so far. This could indicate that environmental factors, other than the stressor itself, may have enduring consequences on 5-HT sensitivity to stress. Second, the question regarding the role of stress-elicited changes in 5-HT transmission within coping processes finds in most cases no clearcut answer. In keeping with human symptomatology, the need to consider the environment (including the early one) and the genetic status when assessing the effects of stress on 5-HT neurotransmission is underlined. Such a consideration could help to answer the questions raised.

Talking facilitates cognitive-emotional processes of adaptation to an acute stressor.

Abstract: The authors examined the influence of talking and the social context of talking on cognitive-emotional processes of adjustment to stressors. Two hundred fifty-six undergraduates viewed a stressful stimulus and were then assigned to a no-talk control condition or 1 of 3 talk conditions: talk alone, talk to a validating confederate, or talk to an invalidating confederate. Two days later, they were reexposed to the stressor. Compared with individuals in the no-talk condition, those in the talk alone and validate conditions had a lower level of intrusive thoughts in the 2-day interim, and they had lower perceived stress when reexposed to the stressor. The effects of talking and validation on perceived stress appeared to be mediated by lowered intrusions. The benefits of talking were diluted when disclosures were invalidated. These findings suggest that talking about acute stressors can facilitate adjustment to stressors through cognitive resolution.

Autonomic, Neuroendocrine, and Immune Responses to Psychological Stress

Abstract: Summary Although stress may be necessary for survival, it can also alter susceptibility to disease. Stress, particularly if prolonged or repeated, can produce cardiovascular changes that can contribute to a narrowing of blood vessels and to heart attacks or strokes and reduce the strength of immunological activities in the body. Stress may alter cardiovascular function, immune function, and health through various pathway. Stress may obscure symptoms, increase appraisal and patient delays and reduce medical compliance. Stress can activate maladaptive behaviors that reflect attempts to cope with negative emotional responses. Persons experiencing psychological stress may engage in unhealthy practices such as smoking, not eating or sleeping properly, and not exercising, and these behaviors may foster accidents, cardiovascular disease, and suppressed immune function. Nerve fibers connecting the central nervous system and immune tissue provide another path by which stress may influence immunity. Stress also evokes a variety of adaptational somatic responses, including stimulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) and the sympathetic adrenal medullary (SAM) system. The pituitary and adrenal hormones and other neuropeptides play an important role in the modulation of the immune system. Hormones such as epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol circulate in the blood and can act on visceral as well as cellular immune receptors. These neuroendocrines, therefore, are an important gateway through which psychological stressors affect the cellular immune response. The association between stress and immune function has received considerable attention in recent years. This review focus on the association between autonomic, neuroendocrine, and immune responses to psychological stress. Key words: stress, immune response, cardiovascular system. As we approach the 21st century the world is increasingly burdened by preventable illness, injury, and disability. Heart disease, for instance, accounts for approximately three quarters of a million deaths annually in the U.S., cancer more than another half million; and respiratory and viral infections remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality among older adults (Baum, Cacioppo, Melamed, Gallant, & Travis, 1995; McGlone & Arden, 1987). In 1960, 5% of the Gross National Product (GNP) went to medical services; in 1990 this share had grown to 12% (U.S. Public Health Service, 1990). Injury now costs more than $100 billion annually, cardiovascular disease about $135 billion, and cancer over $70 billion. Many of these health problems, and the consequent human, societal, and economic costs, have affective bases ranging from anxiety, anger, and depression to unrealistic or druginduced feelings of euphoria and invulnerability. According to the US Public Health Service, of the 10 leading causes of death, at least seven could be reduced substantially if people at risk would change just five behaviors: compliance (e.g., use of antihypertensive medication), diet, smoking, exercise, and alcohol and drug abuse. For instance, approximately 65% of instances of cancer are thought to be caused by smoking, diet, and exposure to sun; workplace carcinogens, chemical interactions among compounds like tobacco and asbestos or alcohol, and viruses such as hepatitis B are thought to account for another 20-30%. Epidemological studies have established a relationship between such social factors as social isolation and health. In a recent review of prospective studies, for instance, House, Landis, and Umberson (1988) found social isolation to be a major risk factor for morbidity and mortality from widely varying causes, even after statistically controlling for known biological risk factors, social status, and baseline measures of health. The strength of social isolation as a risk factor is comparable to health risk factors such as smoking, blood pressure, obesity, and physical activity (House et al. …

Developmental and Cross-Situational Differences in Adolescents' Coping Strategies

Abstract: In this study, we investigated developmental and cross-situational differences in strategies adolescents use to cope with family, school, and peer stressors. We also examined the relation between adolescents' use of coping strategies and two indices of adjustment (self perceptions of their adjustment as a result of coping with the specific stressor and state anxiety). The sample included 148 seventh graders, 124 ninth graders, and 103 twelfth graders (n = 375). Approach coping increased across the three grade levels, especially in relation to family and peer stressors. Adolescents used more avoidance than approach coping strategies for family stressors, and more approach than avoidance strategies for school and peer stressors. Across stressors, approach coping predicted more favorable outcomes and avoidance coping predicted less favorable outcomes. Coping strategies in response to a specific stressor were more strongly predictive of stressor-specific adjustment than state anxiety, suggesting the need to include both stressor-specific and global measures of adjustment in assessing the relation between coping and adjustment.

Patterns of children's coping with life stress: implications for clinicians.

Abstract: In a study of children's patterns of coping with daily stressors, boys and girls 9-17 years old were asked to complete a coping checklist in response to one of four types of stressors--school, parents/family, siblings, or peer/interpersonal. Patterns of coping-strategy use were found to be similar across the various stressors, with wishful thinking, problem-solving, and emotional regulation being among those most frequently used. Older adolescents, compared to younger children, tended to use a broader range of coping strategies, regardless of stressor. Implications for clinical practice are discussed.

Selective impairments in the stress response in schizophrenic patients.

Abstract: Objective: In the vulnerability-stress concept of schizophrenia, schizophrenic patients are thought to display increased sensitivity to stress. Little is known about the biological mechanisms that are involved in stress processing in schizophrenic patients. In this study, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) function in schizophrenic patients was studied for its essential role in stress processing and adaptation to the environment. Methods: Eighteen schizophrenic patients were compared to 21 healthy controls in their salivary cortisol response to a physical (bicycle ergometry) and a psychosocial (public speaking) stressor. Coping questionnaires were included as a measure of stress processing at the psychological level. Basal HPA function was assessed by measuring cortisol day profiles and feedback activity by using dexamethasone and hydrocortisone. Results: Schizophrenic patients showed blunted cortisol responses to the psychosocial stressor, but not to the physical stressor, in spite of similar increases in heart rate. The cortisol response to the psychosocial stressor tended to be negatively correlated to the use of passive and avoidant coping strategies. Basal HPA function appeared intact in the schizophrenic patients. Conclusions: The findings show a selective impairment in the response to psychosocial stress in schizophrenic patients. This suggests the involvement of brain systems that play a role in the activation of the HPA system to psychosocial stress, like arginin-vasopressin (AVP), and cognitive processes, like coping.

Socio-Psychological Predictors of Acculturative Stress among Latino Adults

Abstract: The study aimed to predict the acculturative stress experienced by Latino adults from socio-psychological factors. A random sample of 197 members of two social services agencies completed a demographic questionnaire and objective instruments to assess family cohesion and adaptability, acculturation, acculturative stress, and stress coping-resources effectiveness. The results suggest that the acculturative stress experienced by Latinos relates to the efficacy of stress-coping resources, degree of acculturation, cohesion of the family, language use, and length of residence in the United States. These variables accounted for 48% of the variability in the acculturative stress of adult Latinos. The findings highlight the complexity of acculturative stress for Latinos. Acculturation is the process of adjusting to a nonnative culture (Rogler, Cortes, & Malgadi, 1991). It involves changes in identity, values, behaviors, cognitions, and attitudes (Berry, 1990; Liebkind, 1996). Frequently, such changes engender a unique type of distress referred to as acculturative stress (Berry & Anis, 1974; Weaver, 1993). Initial formulations of acculturative stress suggested that negative psychological consequences of acculturating such as emotional distress, shock, and anxiety were inevitable (Marcos, 1976). More recent views, however, do not emphasize the inevitability of these negative consequences. Contemporary views acknowledge the ameliorating effects of environmental, familial, demographic, and other factors on the outcomes of acculturation (Miranda & Umhoefer, 1998). Berry (1980) was one of the earliest researchers to rely on a stress-coping framework in discussing acculturative resilience. He emphasized the importance of stress-coping resources in buffering the negative effects of acculturation. He maintained that dysfunctional and psychopathological consequences occur from acculturation when coping resources prove inadequate. His view accords nicely with the comprehensive model of stress coping constructed by Matheny, Aycock, Pugh, Curlette, and Canella (1986) from their meta-analytic study of the effectiveness of treatments for stress disorders. The model suggests that stress is the consequence of an imbalance between perceived demands and perceived resources, and it draws on the appraisal process conceptualized by Lazarus and Folkman (1984). Accordingly, people first appraise the seriousness of the demands being encountered and then the adequacy of their resources for coping. When perceived resources are judged to be deficit, the stress response is automatically triggered regardless of the nature or origin of the demand. These models, which emphasize the critical role of coping resources in preventing stressful reactions to stressors such as acculturative stress, have derived considerable support from empirical research (Fleishman, 1984; Hobfoll, 1989; Lazarus, Kanner, & Folkman, 1980; Price, Jurs, Jurs, Rhonehouse, & Isham, 1985). Although these models seem appropriate to the investigation of acculturative stress among Latinos, such research is yet in its infancy. This seems highly unfortunate given that Latinos are predicted to become the largest minority group in the United States by the year 2010, and they continue to confront serious obstacles as they attempt to participate in economic and educational opportunities offered by the dominant culture (Frevert, Miranda, & Kern, 1998). In order to design effective mental health interventions to lessen the impact of acculturative stress on Latinos, we must first identify the contributing factors. In this study we examine environmental, demographic, and familial factors that are commonly identified as correlates of acculturative stress along with a measure of stress-coping resources. Although much evidence exists that acculturative stress is a dynamic and multifaceted experience, limited attention has been given to the relative contribution of the aforementioned factors to the experience. …

Hospital noise pollution: an environmental stress model to guide research and clinical interventions.

Abstract: Hospital noise pollution: an environmental stress model to guide research and clinical interventions This commentary provides an expanded environmental stress model. Conceptual relationships between ambient stressors, ambient stress, and health are detailed. A three-part intervention, enhancement of person-environment compatibility, is specified. Details are provided on how this approach to reducing environmental pollution/hazards and sustaining these changes may be influenced by sociopolitical values, technological advances, and motivation for control over hazards. Personal variables thought to mediate the impact of environmental stress on health, including intrinsic sensitivity to specific hazards, personality, restricted capacities, other stress, culture, personal preferences, stage of life, gender, and perceived social support, are highlighted. Research results on the stress and health effects of hospital noise on patients and nurses are summarized to provide support for the model. Future directions for research are recommended. Implications of the model for nursing, including an environmental activist role in an interdisciplinary effort to plan and implement noise abatement interventions, are described.

Communication with police supervisors and peers as a buffer of work-related traumatic stress

Abstract: Traumatic events are a particular type of stressor that may affect police officers engaged in front line duties. In this study, specific types of social support predicted to buffer the psychological and physical health effects of trauma are drawn from theory and empirical evidence in the area of post-traumatic stress. Social support, measured as the content of communication, and the ease of talking about trauma was tested with 527 working police officers who responded to a questionnaire survey. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that the communication variables contributed to the variance in post-traumatic stress disorder and physical symptoms with differential effects for different aspects of communication. Analysis of the effects of traumatic stress on symptoms for sub-groups at different levels of communication showed that some types of communication, such as the ease of talking about trauma or positive communications about work, moderate the effects of stress for police officers, in that higher levels are associated with a weaker trauma–strain relationship. However, some types of communication buffered stress only at moderate levels and other types may not be protective. These results are discussed in terms of the types and sources of social support that are likely to buffer post-traumatic stress at work. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Stress, immune regulation, and immunity: applications for asthma.

Abstract: The neuroendocrine mediators reach the cells of the immune system either through the peripheral circulation or through direct innervation of lymphoid organs. Primary and secondary lymphoid organs are innervated by sympathetic nerve fibers. Lymphocytes and monocytes express receptors for several stress hormones, including CRH, ACTH, cortisol, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that the neuroendocrine hormones released during a stressful event could alter immune function and subsequently alter the course of immune-based diseases. The impact of psychological stress on immune function has been the subject of extensive research efforts. Using a variety of models from largely healthy humans undergoing various forms of natural and experimental stress models, stress has been associated with suppression of NK activity, mitogen- and antigen-induced lymphocyte proliferation and in vitro production of IL-2 and IFN-gamma. Psychological stress is also associated with a higher rate of in vivo hypoergy to common recall-delayed type hypersensitivity antigens. These studies have suggested that psychological stress suppresses various components of CMI responses. Also, data suggest that chronic stress does not simply suppress the immune system, but induces a shift in the type-1/type-2 cytokine balance toward a predominant type-2 cytokine response. Such a change would favor the inflammatory milieu characteristic of asthma and allergic diseases. Recent studies using well-controlled teenage asthmatic subjects demonstrated immunological changes (decreased NK cell cytotoxicity and cytokine alterations) in response to exam stress. These immune alterations are consistent with a cytokine milieu that could potentially worsen asthma. However, there were no changes in peak flow rates, self-report asthma symptoms, or medication use. The lack of correlation between stress and asthma symptoms may have been related to the timing of the visits in relation to the stressor, the duration of the stressor, disease severity, or a lack of accurate self-report data. Alternatively, stress-mediated exacerbations of asthma may require multiple alterations by stress, including cytokine dysregulation or vagal-mediated airway hyperresponsiveness. The rationale for stress management in asthma is based upon the notion that stress causes a change in immune balance that would favor asthma activity in susceptible individuals. This immune imbalance can be found in TH1/TH2 cytokine changes that occur with stress. Although it has not yet been demonstrated that stress can cause or directly influence the development of asthma, it is interesting to note that both the incidence and prevalence of asthma continue to increase and are higher in urban than in rural areas. Among other differences is the well-appreciated higher chronic stress levels associated with urban living.

Job stress and sleep disorders: findings from the Helsinki Heart Study

Abstract: Sleep disorders and daytime fatigue are common health problems in middle-aged and elderly populations, and they vary greatly between occupational groups. There is widespread evidence that working hours and job stress may explain these differences. In this study the relationship of job demands and job control to sleep disorders was investigated. The subjects were 3079 middle-aged working men. The data were collected with a questionnaire including scales on sleep quality, job stress and lifestyle. The main effects of job demands and job control on insomnia, sleep deprivation and daytime fatigue were highly significant. Some interaction effects of the stressors were also noted. Lifestyle factors were not found as significant mediators or confounders of the effects. The associations between the stressors and sleep disorders were greater in the daytime workers than in the shift workers. The main conclusion is that job stressors have a direct relationship to sleep disorders, independent of working hours and lifestyle. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The role of stressful events in the relationship between positive and negative affects: evidence from field and experimental studies.

Abstract: Three studies are presented that examine the effects of stress on the relationship between positive and negative affective states. In the first study, recently bereaved and disabled older adults were compared to matched control groups without these recent stressors. Negative affect was inversely correlated with positive affect to a significantly greater extent for the highly stressed groups compared with controls. In a second study, older adults were exposed to a laboratory stressor, and their positive and negative affective reactions recorded. Immediately following a speech stressor task, the inverse correlation between positive and negative affect was significantly greater than in pre- and postassessments of affects. The third study was an attempt to replicate and extend the findings from Study 2 with a mid-aged sample of women. The speech stressor had the same effects as in Study 2. A second stressor, which induced pain through immersion of an arm into cold water, had no effects on the correlation between affective states. Alternative explanations for these effects and the implications for cognitive interventions are discussed.

Posttraumatic stress disorder and retrospectively reported stressor exposure: A longitudinal prediction model.

Abstract: There has been recent concern about the degree to which posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology influences reports of prior exposure to highly stressful life events. In this longitudinal study of 2,942 male and female Gulf War veterans, the authors documented change in stressor reporting across 2 occasions and the association between change and PTSD symptom severity. A regression-based cross-lagged analysis was used to examine the relationship between PTSD symptom severity and later reported stressor exposure. Shifts in reporting over time were modestly associated with PTSD symptom severity. The cross-lagged analysis revealed a marginal association between Time 1 PTSD symptom severity and Time 2 reported stressor exposure for men and suggested that later reports of stressor exposure are primarily accounted for by earlier reports and less so by earlier PTSD symptomatology.

Resilient and stress-affected adolescents in an urban setting.

Abstract: Studied 185 seventh- and eighth-grade inner-city adolescents. Participants were categorized as low and high in exposure to stressors (stressful events or neighborhood disadvantage) and externally exhibited competence (self-, teacher, and school reports). We predicted that resilient (high-stress/high-competence) and stress-affected (high-stress/low-competence) youth would differ across three domains of hypothesized protective resources: internal resources (i.e., coping skills, perceived competence), familial support, and extrafamilial support. We also predicted that there would be an emotional cost to resilient youth in terms of experiencing internalizing problems (depression, anxiety). There were direct effects for stressor level on several protective resources; however, the hypothesized protective resources did not discriminate resilient from stress-affected youth. Both Resilient and stress-affected youth experienced equivalent levels of internalizing symptoms, and these groups' scores were higher than t...

Stress in College Athletics: Causes, Consequences, Coping

Abstract: Stress in College Athletics: Causes, Consequences, Coping addresses the causes and consequences of stress in college sports and offers effective coping mechanisms that will help individuals understand and control stressors and emotions in their environment. Athletic administrators, coaches, student athletes, parents of athletes, educators, and social and behavioral science researchers will benefit from this examination of what stress is, the different types of stress, and what factors can contribute to anxiety. Containing insight from hundreds of student athletes, coaches, and administrators, this vital book offers you proven research, clear explanations, and recommended suggestions that will enable you to cope with stress and not let it affect your job or your game.Examining how both males and females perceive stress, Stress in College Athletics explores developmental differences between the genders to explain the ways in which the two groups react to and deal with stress. Discussing the challenges that you deal with every day, this valuable book offers you several proven suggestions and methods to help reduce stress, including: Using coping techniques, such as physical exercise (other than the sport you play), recreational activities, muscle relaxation, biofeedback, and meditation Doing things for others and looking to your own spirituality in order to alleviate anxiety Eliminating factors such as fatigue and inferior health in order to avoid the negative emotions of jealousy, fear, and anger that can lead to tension and anxiety Learning how to relieve stress in your immediate environment (on the sidelines, in the audience, or during a test) through simple, effective, and inconspicuous exercises Adapting procedures for self-modification of behavior, such as identifying a behavior you want to change, thinking about the result of that behavior and how often it occurs, and reforming that conduct Through practical research, theories about stress and its causes and effects, and insight from peers, this excellent resource offers suggestions for further inquiry in the field of college athletics and stress. Complete and thorough, Stress in College Athletics will provide you with the necessary tools to help you create a personal stress management system that will improve your well-being in and out of the athletic forum.

The role of stressors and psychosocial variables in the stress process: a study of chronic caregiver stress.

Abstract: Objective An investigation was conducted 1) to examine the relative importance of stressor types (ie, daily hassles, caregiving-specific stressors, and life events) on the stress response, 2) to assess the stability of relationships between psychosocial variables and stress over a 6-month period, and 3) to explore how the nature and magnitude of the contributions made by stressors and psychosocial factors to the stress process varied according to the qualitative characteristics of the stress response (ie, anxiety, depression, and stress). Methods Fifty spousal caregivers of patients with dementia were recruited and asked to participate in a detailed psychosocial evaluation at 3-month intervals; the evaluation involved measurement of stressor frequency, psychosocial variables, and indices of the stress response (ie, anxiety, depression, and stress). Results The data revealed that the effects of stressors and psychosocial factors on the stress response were considerable (accounting for 49-63% of the variance in stress response measures). Furthermore, there was some evidence of stability in the effects of the stressor and mediator variables on the stress response. Specifically, the contributions of life events and caregiver difficulties were largely consistent at both 3 and 6 months, and the psychosocial factor of "reactive coping and self-appraisal" influenced all three stress response indices at both 3 and 6 months. Conclusions There is some evidence of stability in the effects of stressors and psychosocial variables on the stress process over a 6-month period. However, it would also seem that the nature of the stress process differs according to the qualitative characteristics of the stress response.

Similarity of prior trauma exposure as a determinant of chronic stress responding to an airline disaster.

Abstract: The cumulative effects of trauma were examined in 108 workers at the site of a major air disaster at 4 time points over a year following the crash. The influence of trauma history on chronic distress and physiological arousal associated with the crash were examined. Stress levels were expected to differ on the basis of the similarity of prior trauma exposure to work at the crash site. Prior traumatic exposure that was "dissimilar" to this type of work was associated with greater vulnerability to crash-related stress, that is, more distress and crash-related intrusions during the year following the crash. Accumulation of a variety of different traumatic experiences appeared to sensitize workers to the new stressor and to perpetuate chronic stress. Understanding the role of trauma history is important for improving intervention efforts aimed at alleviating stress following a trauma.

Occupational stress and gender: a cross‐cultural study

Abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the interaction of gender and culture in managers' experiences of work stress. Data were collected on sources of occupational stress (stressors), coping and consequences of occupational stress (strains) from male and female managers from four countries—South Africa, the United Kingdom, United States of America and Taiwan. Few significant results were found for the interaction between country and gender on any of the measures. When the sample as a whole was examined, however, there were also virtually no differences in sources of work stress, but there were differences in the consequences of work stress for male and female managers. The implications of finding a lack of differences in sources of work stress for males and females combined with finding differences in strains for male and female managers are discussed. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A Descriptive Study of Urban Mexican American Adolescents’ Perceived Stress and Coping:

Abstract: In this descriptive study, the perceived stress, coping, and coping effectiveness of 158 low-income, urban, Mexican American 10th graders were assessed using open-ended and structured interview procedures. A total of 95% of participants were able to identify a difficult life event stressor and at least one way they coped with this event. Participants, particularly females, most frequently identified family-related events as being the most difficult recent life event stressor. To manage stress, participants most commonly reported using active coping strategies, followed by family social support, self-reliance, and behavioral avoidance. Females were more likely than males to seek family support and to vent emotions when coping with stress. Participants were most likely to use active, problem-focused strategies when confronting school- and personal-related stressors, and to find coping most helpful when dealing with stressful school events. Findings are discussed in terms of the urban, ethnic-minority backgrounds of participants and directions for further research.

Social Contact, Socioeconomic Status, and the Health Status of Older Malaysians

Abstract: We tested the applicability of the stress buffering hypothesis in a developing country setting with data from the Senior Sample of the Malaysian Family Life Survey-2. Using ordered logistic regression methods, we examined whether having daily contact with adult children moderates the effect of low socioeconomic status (SES; conceptualized as a chronic stressor) on self-assessed health status. We found that low SES is associated with poorer health for all three ethnic groups--Malay, Chinese, and Indian. Further, for Malays and Chinese, we found that the negative effects of low SES on health tend to be stronger for older people with less frequent contact with adult children than for those who have daily contact. These results provide general support for the buffering model and suggest that, as found in developed countries, active intergenerational relationships in developing country settings may have protective effects on the health of older people experiencing chronic stressors.