Moderators of the Stress

Experience

Outline s
Introduction.
Stress

& Illness.
Coping with Stress.
Social Support.
Coping Outcomes.
Management of Stress.

Introduction
Los Angeles earthquake ( Jan. 1994).
[ The response of 4 different families].
Stress is moderated by individual and
circumstantial factors.
Stress Moderators: are the factors that modify;
1. The way of stress experience, and
2. The effects of stress.

Stress & Illness

Stress has effects on at least 4 systems of the body:
To the extent that
(1)The sympatheticadrenomedullary
stress affects these
system
pathways, illness may result.

(4) The Neuropeptide

system

STRESS
(3) The pituitaryadrenocortical
system

(2) The Immune

system

Stress & Illness-cont.

Factors influencing illness development:

(1)

Initial Vulnerability.

(2)

Health Behavior.

Coping with Stress

(1)

People respond very differently to stress.

Coping is influenced by:
Primary Appraisal: is the event harmful,
threatening, or challenging?

(2)

Secondary Appraisal: what are my coping

resources and how adequate are they?.

Coping with Stress-cont.

Coping: is the process of managing

demands that are appraised as taxing or
exceeding the resources of the person.

Coping with Stress-cont.

1)

Selection of coping efforts is guided by;

Internal Resources:

[A] personality factors, and

[B] preferred coping style.
2)

External Resources: including time, money,

social support,etc.

(1)Internal Resources
[A] Personality & Coping:

Personalities that exacerbate stress & its relation to

illness:

(1)

Negative Affectivity.

(2)

Pessimistic Explanatory Style.

(1)Internal Resources
[A] Personality & Coping-cont. :
Personalities that enhance the ability to cope with
stress effectively:
(1) Hardiness.

(2) Optimism.

(3) Psychological

Control

(1)Internal Resources
[B] Preferred Coping Style:

Consists of predisposition to cope with stressful

situations in a particular way.

Coping Styles are more specific than Personality

Traits.

(1)Internal Resources
[B] Preferred Coping Style-cont. :
(1)

Avoidant Vs. Confrontation Style:

Neither style is more effective in managing stress.

Avoidant Style

Confrontation Style
Effective

Effective

for short-term
threats, e.g. a visit to the
dentist.

for long-term
threats, e.g. a job stress.
Mostly

in people with ext.

resources.

(1)Internal Resources
[B] Preferred Coping Style-cont. :
(2) Disclosure Style:

(1)
(2)

Examples of Disclosure:
Talking with others about the stressful event.
Writing about the stressful event.

(1)Internal Resources
[B] Preferred Coping Style-cont. :

In the absence of Disclosure:

Traumatic Event Inhibition of thoughts,

emotions, behaviors

Physiological Activity.

(1)Internal Resources
[B] Preferred Coping Style-cont. :

Disclosure;

(1)

Allows to gain information about the event,

(2)

Elicits +ve reinforcement, and

(3)

Elicits emotional support from others.

Coping and External Resources

External Resources include:

1. Time,
2. Money,
3. Decent job,

4. Children,

7. Standard of living,

5. Family & Friends,

8. Presence of
+ve life events,

6. Education,

9. Absence of
other life stressors.

Individuals with greater resources cope with stressful events

better.

Social Support

Definition: information from others that one is

loved and cared for, esteemed and valued, and
part of a network of communication & mutual
obligations from community contacts.

Social Support-cont.

Takes several forms:

(1)

Appraisal Support,

(2)

Tangible Assistance,

(3)

Informational Support,

(4)

Emotional Support.

Social Support-cont.

Effects of Social Support:

(1)

Reduces the Psychological Distress,

(2)

Reduces Physiological & Neuro-endocrine

responses,

(3)

Lowers the likelihood of illness.

Coping Outcomes

(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)

Coping efforts center on 5 main tasks;

Reducing harmful environmental conditions,
Enhancing the adjustment process,
Tolerating & adjusting to ve events,
Maintaining a +ve self-image,
Maintaining a +ve emotional equilibrium &
continuing satisfying relations with others.

Coping Outcomes-cont.

(1)
(2)

(3)

Properties of a successful coping:

Reducing physiological indicators of arousal,
Enable the person to return to pre-stress
activities, and
Free the individual from psychological distress.

Management of Stress

For those who need aid in developing their

coping skills.

i.e. for people who suffer from or are at risk for

illness that are aggravated by stress.

Management of Stress-cont.

Basic techniques of Stress Management:

(1) Identify

sources of stress in life,

(2) Develop coping skills to deal with stressors,
(3) Practice employing stress management skills &
monitor their effectiveness.