Causes of Stress

Measuring Stress

Managing Stress

Evidence Johansson (Work Place)Kanner (Hassles)Geer & Maisel (Control)

Evidence Geer & Maisel

Holmes & Rahe (SRRS)Johansson (Work Place)

Evidence Meichenbaum (SI Therapy)Budzynski (Biofeedback)Waxler & Morrison(Support)

A2 Psychology of Health Workbook - Stress

January 2010 Page 2

Try to label the body below with any symptoms of stress you can think of – are the physical or psychological?

… so what is stress?

…why is it important for us to study & understand stress?

A2 Psychology of Health Workbook - Stress

Aim: to investigate whether work stressors such as repetitiveness, machine-regulated pace of work and high levels of responsibility increase stress-related physiological arousal and stress related illness: to measure psychological & physiological responses

Method: Quasi experiment where workers were defined as being at high risk of stress or in a control group

Design: An independent measures design with participants already working in one of 2 areas so no manipulation of IV

Procedures: The researchers identified a high-risk group of 14 “finishers” in a Swedish sawmill. Their job was to finish off the wood at the last stage of processing timber. The work was machine-paced, isolated, very repetitive yet highly skilled, and the finishers’ productivity determined the wage rates for the entire factory. The 14 “finishers” were compared with a low-risk group of 10 cleaners, whose work was more varied, largely self-paced, and allowed more socialising with other workers

Data collection: Levels of stress-related hormones (adrenaline and noradrenaline) in the urine were measured on work days and rest days. Records were kept of stress-related illness and absenteeism. Self reports used about their mood and alertness and caffeine and nicotine comsuptions were recorded

Findings: The high-risk group of 14 finishers secreted more stress hormones (adrenaline and noradrenaline) on work days than on rest days, and higher levels than the control group. The high-risk group of finishers also showed significantly higher levels of stress-related illness such as headaches and higher levels of absenteeism than the low-risk group of cleaners.

Conclusions: A combination of work stressors- especially repetitiveness, machine-pacing of work and high levels of responsibility – lead to chronic (long-term) physiological arousal. This in turn leads to stress-related illness and absenteeism.

January 2010 Page 3

Johansson, Measurement of Stress ResponseHow would we measure psychological stress?

How would we measure physiological stress?

Quasi?

What is this?

Problems?

Measures?

Usefulness?

Independent measures?

A2 Psychology of Health Workbook - Stress

So what? If employers want to reduce illness and absenteeism in their workforce, they need to find ways of reducing these work stressors, for example by introducing variety into employees’ work and by allowing them to experience some sense of control over the pace of their work.

Point Explain Example Link

One of the strengths of Johansson’s study into work related stress is that he uses two measures, both physiological and psychological

However, the use of self reports is not without problems such as social desirability bias …

Johannson’s study is very useful in the real world because he highlights the key factors which seem to contribute to stress in the work

0 1-3 marks 4-7 marks 8-11 marks 12-15 marks

Nothing written

Few evaluation pointsNo argument

Limited argument & organisationSome relevant

Some evaluation using a range of issues

Many evaluation pointsRange of issues

January 2010 Page 4

Usefulness?

Evaluate what Johansson has found out about work related stress

A2 Psychology of Health Workbook - Stress

Badly organisedWrong evidenceNo conclusionsNo summary to show understanding

pointsLimited evaluationValid conclusion some understanding of question

Well organisedLacks balanceRelated to questionGood use of examplesValid conclusionsGood understanding & conclusion

CompetentWell organisedRelates to questionEffective use of examplesHighly skilled summary showing thorough understanding

List in rank order the most stressful to least stressful events in people’s lives (across the whole lifespan) which they may come across which cause stress to them. Try to think of 10.

123456789

10

Have a go at the hassles and uplifts self report on p97 in your book. The have a go at the life events scale on page 101 of the text book. Evaluate both scales using the tbale below …

Kanner’s Hassles Scale p97

Holmes & Rahe SRRS p 101

How were the questions?

Any particular strengths or weakness?

January 2010 Page 5

A2 Psychology of Health Workbook - Stress

What should have been on the scales?

Is this an effective way of meauring the causes of stress?

Aim: to compare the Hassles & Uplifts Scale & the Berkman Life Events Scale as predictors of psychological symptons of stress

Methodology: a repeated measures design in that each participant completed the Hassles Rating Scale and the Life Events Scale. They then assessed their psychological symptoms of stress using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL) and the Bradburn Morale Scale

Participants: 100 people who had previosuly completed a health survey in 1965. They were from California were mostly white, protestant awith adequate or above income and at least 9 th Grade education. 216 were initially contacted, 109 agreed to take part and 9 dropped out.

Procedure: All tests were sent out by post one month before the study began. Participants were asked to complete (i) the hassles rating for 9 months; (ii) the life events rating after 10 months: (iii) the HSCH and the Bradburn Morale Scale every month for 9 months

Findings: Hassles were consistent from month to month. Life events for men correlated positively with hassles and negatively for uplifts.

For women the more life events they reported the more hassles and uplifts they reported.

Hassle frequency correlated positively with psychological symptoms on HSCL.

Hassles correlated positively more with psychological symptoms than life events did

Conclusions:

January 2010 Page 6

Kanner – Comparison of 2 methods of stress management

Design? Rating scales?

Sample?

Longitudinal?

using the four boxes below, sketch a scattergraphto represent each of the findings …

Correlations?

Conclusions? What do you think?

A2 Psychology of Health Workbook - Stress

January 2010 Page 7

Life events for men/ hassles

Life events for

Life events women / hassles

Life events women / uplifts

Hassles & symptoms on

Hassles & Life Events

A2 Psychology of Health Workbook - Stress

Aim: To see if perceived control or actual control can reduce stress reactions to averse stimuli.

Method: Laboratory experiment in which participants were shown photographs of dead car crash victims and their stress levels were measured by GSR (Galvanic skin response) and heart rate through ECG monitoring.

Participants: 60 undergraduates enrolled in a psychology course at a New York university.

Design: Independent measures with participants randomly assigned to three conditions.

Group 1: were given control over how long they looked at the images for. They could press a button to terminate the image and were told a tone would precede each new image.

Group 2: Were warned the photos would be 60 seconds apart they would see the picture for 35 seconds and a 10 second warning tone would precede each photo. The group had no control but did know what was happening.

Group 3: were told that from time to time they would see photos and hear tones but were not given timings or any control.

Procedure: each participant was seated in a sound proofed room and wired up to the GSR and ECG machines. The machine was calibrated for 5 minutes while the participant relaxed and a baseline measurement was then taken. Instructions were read over an intercom. Each photo was precede with a 10 second tone and then flashed up for 35 seconds (only the one group could terminate the photo and move on). The GSR was taken at the onset of the tone and during the second half of the tone and in response to the picture.

Results: ECG recordings were discarded as they appeared inaccurate.

Group 2 showed most stress. Group 1 showed least stress.

Conclusions: that having control over your environment can reduce stress responses.

January 2010 Page 8

Geer & Meisel Effect of Control in Reducing Stress Reactions

Comment in the margins on the words in bold …

… so what?

Evaluation Points

Evaluation Points

A2 Psychology of Health Workbook - Stress

January 2010 Page 9

A2 Psychology of Health Workbook - Stress

Describe the method

Summarise the study …

Strengths Weaknesses

Geer & Maisel

Holmes & Rahe

Johannson

January 2010 Page 10

a) Describe one physiological methods of measuring stress.(10)

a) Outline how self reports could be used to measure stress.(10)

a) Describe how a combined approach to measuring stress may be effective.(10)

b) What problems do psychologists face when trying to measure stress?

(15 Marks)

A2 Psychology of Health Workbook - Stress

What would this approach say about the causes of stress?

What would this approach say about the management of stress?

Cognitive Approach

Behavioural Perspective

Social Approach

January 2010 Page 11

1. Read Section 3.1 on pages 102-103 of your text book and complete the table above on the cognitive approach to stress management.

2. Read Section 3.2 on page 104 of your text book and complete the table above on the behaviourist approach to stress management.

A2 Psychology of Health Workbook - Stress

Meichenbaum’s Aim & Methodology … To compare SIT with standard systematic

desensitisation & a control group in a group of students with anxiety

Field Experiment

Using self reports & grade averages before & after

Single blind – experimenters did not know what condition participants were in

Cognitive approach; insight into control of stress but changes in thinking about stress can only be inferred

High in ecological validity student coping with real stress but low on control – extraneous variables?Social desirability bias? Demand characteristics? Effective baseline

Eliminates researcher effectsParticipants & Design …

21 students aged 17-25 responded to an advert with anxiety …

Matched pairs with random allocation to 3 groups

Gender controlled to be equal in each group

Anxiety levels matched

Procedure … Each participant tested using test anxiety

questionnaire Told they would be doing IQ tests and assed

using Anxiety Adjective Test which gave baseline score

SIT group received 8 therapy sessions; given positive statements to say to overcome negative thoughts

Taught relaxation techniques to use in tests Systematic desensitisation group given 8 therapy

sessio0n with relaxation trainingFindings & Conclusions …

SIT performance improved though significant difference were between the therapy groups & control

SIT group showed most improvement in anxiety levels

SIT is more effective than other techniques in controlling anxiety & improving performance in tests

January 2010 Page 12

Meichenbaum’s Stress Innoculation Therapy SIT

Stage 1Stage 2 Stage 3

A2 Psychology of Health Workbook - Stress

Budzynski – Aim & Method

To see if biofeedback was effective in headaches or really just a placebo effect

Lab experiment

Data collected using EMG & psychometric test of depression

Questionnaires on their headaches

Participants & Design18 participants replied to an advert, Screened by phone, then psychiatric & medical exam

2 males, 16 females aged 22-44

Independent measures design, 3 conditions

Group A = BiofeedbackGroup B = Relaxation training & pseudo-feedbackGroup C = Waiting listProcedure

For 2 weeks patients kept a record of headaches rating them 0-5 mild to severeCompleted psychometrics on depression, hysteria & hypochondriaGroups A given biofeedback training; Group B training & pseudo feedback; Both practised relaxation at homeGroup C = nothing; All recorded headache activityAfter 3 months Groups A & B given an EMG test & completed a questionnaire & psychometrics

Findings & ConclusionGroup A muscle tension & headaches < BGroup A headaches also dropped from baseline cf other groupsOnly group A showed decrease in hypochondriaGroup A greater decrease in depression, apathy etcA & B both better social relationshipsGroup A less drug useBiofeedback was effective in reducing tension headachesRelaxation more effective than just being

January 2010 Page 13

What is behaviourism What is biofeedback?

What were the headaches caused by?

A2 Psychology of Health Workbook - Stress

Waxler-Morrison Aim & Method

To look at how a woman’s social relationships influence her response to breast cancer and survival chances

Quasi experiment women with breast cancer

Questionnaires, interviews & medical records

Participants & Design

133 women under 55 (pre-menopausal) confirmed diagnosis of breast cancer

Independent measures women with different levels of social support

Procedure

Patients sent a questionnaire asking about demographics & social networks, educational level, families, perception of support from others

Psychometric tests of social network marital status, contact with friend and church membership

Findings & ConclusionsSix aspects of social networks linked to survival; marital status, support from friends, contact with friends, total support, social network & employmentQualitative data revealed importance of practical helpProspective methodology removed problems of retrospective studies; the more social support women have the greater the chance of survivalMost important factor in survival was of course the

January 2010 Page 14

A2 Psychology of Health Workbook - Stress

Point Explain Example Link

The use of field experiments in research on stress management may increase the ecological validity of the findings …

However, when lab experiments are used, they are high in control …

Often the only method that can be used in researching stress management is the quasi experiment …

0 1-3 marks 4-7 marks 8-11 marks 12-15 marks

Nothing written

Few evaluation pointsNo argumentBadly organisedWrong evidenceNo conclusionsNo summary to show understanding

Limited argument & organisationSome relevant pointsLimited evaluationValid conclusion some understanding of question

Some evaluation using a range of issuesWell organisedLacks balanceRelated to questionGood use of examplesValid conclusionsGood

Many evaluation pointsRange of issuesCompetentWell organisedRelates to questionEffective use of examplesHighly skilled summary showing

January 2010 Page 15

Evaluate the methods used to research stress management.

A2 Psychology of Health Workbook - Stress

understanding & conclusion

thorough understanding

January 2010 Page 16

Johansson, Measurment of Stress Response

Kanner et al- Comparison of Two Methods of Stress Measurement

1. CAUSES OF STRESS -

A P

C

F

Hassles:

Control

24

Work

Home

Adrenalin High risk

Control

Evaluation

Work

A2 Psychology of Health Workbook - Stress

January 2010 Page 17

A

P

F

C

Evaluation:

Hassles Life events

Hassles+Life Events

1001965

Life events

HSCL

Life events

HSCL

+

A2 Psychology of Health Workbook - Stress

January 2010 Page 18

Geer & Maisel- The Effect of Control in Reducing Stress Reactions

AP

FC

Evaluation:

Lack of control:

GSR

60

STOP!

Group 2

Control

Group 1

ControlPerceived control

A2 Psychology of Health Workbook - Stress

Johannson**********

Kanner**********

Geer & Maisel (Control)**********

Geer & Maisel (measurement)

**********

Holmes & Rahe Johansson (measurement)

Meichenbaum**********

Budzynski Waxler Morrison**********

January 2010 Page 19

A2 Psychology of Health Workbook - Stress

Stress is one of the most commonly cited problems in western society. It has many aspects that interest psychologists. What causes stress? How does it affect us? How can we reduce or manage the effects of it? You are a psychologist who wants to find out about how stress affects student performance in tasks. You decide to see the effects of stress on students’ ability to complete tasks. You will obviously need to decide on the stressor and the task. This is an experiment.

Answer all the following questions.

1. State an operationalised hypothesis for your investigation [3].

2. Suggest a suitable sample and sampling method for your investigation and give reasons why you have made these choices

[3 +3]

3. Describe a suitable design for your investigation and say why you would use this design (i.e. independent samples, repeated measures or matched pairs ). Explain how you would control important extraneous variables (participant, experimenter and situational )

[3+3]

4. Describe and justify the overall design (structure ) of your questionnaire, making clear how you would measure the dependent variable and the level(s) of measurement of the data. You should also give examples of your self-report questions and explain clearly how the questionnaire is to be scored. Marks are awarded for the details and replicability of your design as well as the quality of the design and the fitness of the design for purpose [4 + 4]

5. Outline two ways in which you show your awareness of ethical issues in the conduct of your study.. [4]

6. Describe briefly how you would present your data from your study, including measures of central tendency and dispersion, and labelled sketches of data tables and/or graphs.

[4 ]

7. Choose one statistical test that would be appropriate to analyse your data and say why you would choose this test . Explain what is meant by a ‘type 1 error’. What significance level would you select for your investigation to minimise the chances of a type 1 error.

[2+ 3]

8. Outline how you would investigate one further aspect of your question in a future practical project. (You are free to choose whether to suggest an alternative methodology, e.g. observation or to add additional questions of the same or different style to your questionnaire) Justify your answer. [8]

January 2010 Page 20

…okay you could also do a correlational study about stress …

…what about the relationship between student hassles and levels of stress

… how would you go about designing such a study?

A2 Psychology of Health Workbook - Stress

a) Outline what psychology tells us about the causes of stress. (10 marks)

b) Evaluate the methods used to investigate the causes of stress.(15marks)

a) Describe how we can measure stress. (10 marks)

b) What problems are there in measuring stress. (15 marks)

a) Outline one method of stress management. (10 marks)

b) How effective are stress management techniques? (15 marks)

a) Describe one study which investigates the causes of stress. (10 marks)

b) Discuss the usefulness of research into the causes of stress. (15 marks)

January 2010 Page 21

…okay you could also do a correlational study about stress …

…what about the relationship between student hassles and levels of stress

… how would you go about designing such a study?

Revision Tips …1. Make some revision cards for the evidence you

need to learn

2. Put details on one side & evaluation points on

A2 Psychology of Health Workbook - Stress

Synoptic Checklist for ‘Stress’

January 2010 Page 22

Revision Tips …1. Make some revision cards for the evidence you

need to learn

2. Put details on one side & evaluation points on

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