4 - coping and social support Flashcards
3 ways to define stress
stressor –> threat demanding us to adapt
behavioural response
subjective experience based on interaction between person and environment
biological mediators affecting ability to cope with stress
genetic susceptibility
exercise
age
gender
psychosocial mediators affecting ability to cope with stress
personality
- e.g. type A or B, how hardy you are, how optimistic you are
beliefs, self-efficacy
health-related behaviours
appraisal, perception, interpretation of stress
altered response
social support and integration
coping definition
the process in which the person has to manage stressors, reduce perceived discrepancy between demands and resources and regulate negative emotions
methods to assess coping
generic questionnaire (assess ways people cope to general stress)
questionnaires for specific stressors (identify different coping strategies) e.g. COPE
who reduced the complexity of categorising coping strategies
skinner et al 2003
skinner et al 2003
reduced more than 100 ways of coping into 12 major coping strategies
how many coping strategies are there
12
give examples of coping strategies
problem solving support seeking escape avoidance (denial, wishful thinking) distraction social withdrawal negotiation
further classification of coping strategies
classifies coping strategies into emotion-focussed or problem-focussed
examples of emotion-focussed coping strategies
self-discharging from hospital (denial)
practising relaxation exercises prior to surgery (emotional regulation)
refusing help from others despite difficulties with task
examples of problem-focussed coping strategies
goal setting
finding out info on weight loss after negative health diagnosis
why do we not know if emotion-focussed strategies are more useful
most studies done are cross-sectional so its hard to tell
what affects the type of coping strategy used
past experiences
culture
the stressor presented
coping with acute phase stress
fear
uncertainty
emotion-focussed coping often unavoidable
e.g. recent bereavement
why is emotion-focussed coping more suited to acute stress
helpful in short-term to help with emotions
may be limited options for problem solving
why is emotion-focussed coping not so suited to chronic phase stress
long term emotion focussed strategies may compromise self-management
such as not overcoming depression
have to learn to face challenges of continuing obligations of normal life
kuber-ross 1969
created the stages of the grief cycle to explain adjustment between coping strategies
stages of the grief cycle from major event occurring to moving on
- shock and denial
- anger
- depression
- coming to terms
- acceptance
coping flexibility
definition
the ability to discontinue an ineffective coping strategy and produce and implement an alternative one
social support
definition
perceived comfort, caring, esteem or help a person receives from others
types of social support
Emotional
Instrumental
Informational
Appraisal
emotional social support
Expressions of empathy, love, trust and caring
e.g. friends providing hope and a listening ear
instrumental social support
Tangible aid and service
e.g. husband works from home 2 days a week while she attends chemotherapy
informational social support
Advice, suggestions, and information
e.g. advice from similar experiences or from professionals (doctor)
appraisal type social support
Information that is useful for self-evaluation
e.g. friend reminding you of self qualities to overcome stressor
3 factors to take into account when assessing social support
structure —> is there a support network? marital status?
function –> do they feel lonely? does the network provide support?
quality –> does the network create strains? are there social exclusion barriers?
holt-lunstad 2010
evidence that social support is effective
meta analysis
stronger social relationships associated with 50% increased odds of survival
greatest associations observed with complex measures of social integration
effect of depression on health
poor adherence of self care
increased duration of illness
self-reported health state decreased
