Post on 07-Jan-2016
description
HNC Social Care
Psychology for Care
What is stress?
There are many definitions of stress. Stress is an individuals response to a
stimulus in the environment Stress occurs when perceived demands
on an individual exceed resources Stress is an emotion Stress is a condition of physiological and
psychological arousal
Definitions
Stress- “ A pattern of negative physiological states and
psychological responses occurring in situations where people perceive threats to their well-being which they may be unable to meet” (Lazarus & Fockman, 1984)
“Stress is the individual’s response to an inappropriate level of pressure. It is the response to the pressure, not the pressure itself.’ (Arroba & James 1987)
Causes of Stress
External causes: Lifestyle-drinking/addictions/obesity/relationship Work based problems Environmental problems-noise/poverty/housing
etcInternal Causes: Poor health Low self esteem/low confidence Age related changes e.g. adolescence/mid life
crises
StressWhile some stimulus or arousal is good for us, excessive amounts can result in physical psychological emotional social effects which are unpleasant in the short term
and harmful in the long term
Physical effects Headaches Nausea Neck/back pain High blood pressure Ulcers Strokes
Psychological/Behavioural Effects Confusion Anxiety Inability to concentrate Depression Overeating Drug abuse Aggression
The Holmes-Rahe Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) Based on their well known study in 1967 into the
effects of life events and the subsequent follow-up studies, Dr.T. Holmes and Dr. R. Rahe created the SRRS
noted that patients often had experienced several life events in the months before becoming ill.
They developed a list, of 43 such life events Some of the events are desirable, but appear
because any change is stressful. Each life event carries a score in life change
units.
The Holmes-Rahe Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS)
These predictions are not definite. What produces a change in physical or
mental health status is an interaction of many factors such as how significant those life events are to you
your personal capacity to cope with change the quality of your support system through
family, work and friends. Completing this inventory can give you some
insight into the stressors that are potentially hazardous to your health and well-being
What do we mean by resilience? Overcoming the odds – being
successful despite exposure to high risk
Sustaining competence under pressure – adapting to high risk
Recovering from trauma – adjusting successfully to negative life events
Resilience“Compared to non-resilient children, a
resilient child can resist adversity, cope with uncertainty and recover more successfully from traumatic events” (Barnardo’s 2001)
Intrinsic FactorsResearch suggests that in order to promote
resilience, children need: A secure base: a sense of belonging and
security Good self-esteem: an internal sense of
worth and competence A sense of self-efficacy: a sense of
mastery and control, along with an accurate understanding of personal strengths and limitations
Extrinsic FactorsIn addition to intrinsic factors there also
needs to be: At least one secure attachment
relationship Access to wider supports such as extended
family and friends Positive nursery, school and or community
experiences
Resilience: normal development under difficult circumstances
Adversity Protective Factors
Vulnerability: Those characteristics of the child, their family and the wider community which might threaten or challenge healthy development, e.g. isolated parent, poor housing, lack of community support
Life events or circumstances which pose a threat to healthy development, e.g. racism, domestic violence, parental depression etc.
Factors which buffer the affects of adversity, e.g. a good school experience, secure attachment etc.