BIOLOGICAL - Stress & life events Flashcards

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1
Q

What does SRRS stand for?

A

Social Readjustment Rating Scale

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2
Q

Who and how did psychologists form the SRRS?

A

Homes and Rahe-examined medical records of over 5000 patients.-made a list of 43 life events-made the patients rate the events in comparison to marriage (score of 500) then average out the scores and divide by 10.Score over 300 meant an 80% chance of developing a serious physical illness in the following year

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3
Q

Name a study looking at the application of the SRRS

A

Rahe2700 navy personell filled in the SRRS for 6 months before a trip, and then for the next 7 months the number and severity of stress related illnesses was recorded and rated producing an overall illness score.

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4
Q

What were the results of Rahe’s into the application of the SRRS?

A

Positive correlation of 0.12

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5
Q

Evaluate Rahe’s study into application of the SRRS

A

-Low population validity (only male navy personnel so cannot generalise)-Correlational research (can’t establish causality)-Prospective research (more reliable)

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6
Q

State 4 evaluative points about the SRRS

A

-Individual differences (i.e in a divorce, how long they have been together)-Cause and effect (the scale implies a correlation between two factors, but one may not cause the other)-Self report (unreliable; not a consistent form of measurement)-Out of date (i.e ‘mortgage over £10,000’ is not longer an appropriate price for a house)

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7
Q

What are daily hassles?

A

Minor everyday annoyances causing stress

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8
Q

What are daily uplifts?

A

Positive everyday experiences which protect us from stress

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9
Q

State 3 examples of daily hassles

A

-Health of a family member-Home maintenance-Property prices

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10
Q

State 3 examples of daily uplifts

A

-Relating well to those around you-Getting enough sleep-Being healthy

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11
Q

Who devised the daily hassles scale?

A

Kanner and Lazarus

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12
Q

Name a study into the effects of daily hassles and life events on illness

A

De Longis

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13
Q

State the procedure for De Longis’ study

A

100 participants (all over 45) were asked to complete four questionnaires each:1. Hassles scale 2. Uplifts scale 3. Life events questionnaire4. Health questionnaire.Compared the results from the scales

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14
Q

What were the results from De Longis’ study?

A

Hassles correlated with ill health, but life events did not

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15
Q

Name and explain a study looking at depression and life events/daily hassles

A

BouteyreGot first year French University students to complete two questionnaires, one measuring life events, the other symptoms of depression (Beck’s Inventory). It was found that students showing the most depressive symptoms were also likely to be suffering from the most hassles.

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16
Q

Evaluate Bouteyre’s study

A

It was a correlational study so cause and effect cannot be established. It could be that feeling depressed and having negative thoughts makes us focus more on negative events such as hassles.Cultural differences - only in France

17
Q

State a factor that could be used to evaluate daily hassles

A

Cultural differences:Some cultures use social support as a protection against stressors (including daily hassles).As shown in Kim and Mckenny’s study, African Americans, Asian Americans and Hispanics use social support more than white Americans and they are less effected by daily hassles

18
Q

How are daily hassles thought to be stressful? (2 ways)

A

-Minor hassles may build up leading to a decreased sense of wellbeing which could lead to more serious feelings such as anxiety and depression-Can amplify the effects of an existing chronic stressor or life event

19
Q

Why shouldn’t daily hassles be considered in isolation?

A

If combined with daily uplifts, then the effects of daily hassles can be reduced

20
Q

What did Ruffin conclude about daily hassles?

A

That they produce greater psychological and physiological dysfunction than major life events

21
Q

What 4 factors lead to stress in the work place?

A

-Work overload-Environmental factors-Role ambiguity -Role conflict

22
Q

What was the aim of Johansson’s study?

A

To investigate whether work stressors such as repetitiveness and machine paced work led to an increase in stress related illness and physiological arousal.(a test of difference)

23
Q

What was the method of Johansson’s study?

A

Looked at 14 finishers (repetitive, isolated and machine paced, and responsibility for the wages of the whole factory) - high stress) and 14 cleaners (self paced, sociable).Tested adrenaline levels in urine on a work day and rest day.

24
Q

What were the results of Johansson’s study?

A

Found higher adrenaline levels on work days, and finishers higher than cleaners. Stress correlated with days off work due to stress related illnesses

25
Q

State two strengths of using correlations in stress research

A

-Involve no ethical issues (do not involve inducing stress onto participants-High ecological validity (take place in natural environments)

26
Q

What did Karasek propose?

A

A model to picture the relationship between work demand and work control

27
Q

What kind of job is most vulnerable to stress?

A

High strain jobs (high demand, low control)

28
Q

What kind of job is least vulnerable to stress?

A

Low strain jobs (low demand, high control)

29
Q

Give an example of a high strain job

A

Factory worker

30
Q

Give an example of a low strain job

A

Shop owner

31
Q

Make an evaluative point on Johansson’s study

A

It does not identify which of the various work stressors may be the most stressful. To separate out the effects of different factors, a more controlled study (experiment) would be necessary but this would effect ecological validity.

32
Q

Name and explain a meta analysis for stress in the work place

A

Van der Doef and MaesReviewed research in stress in the workplace and concluded that a combination of high job demands and low control is associated with an increased chance of heart disease. Supports Karasek’s model by that the PAS and SAM system would relate to increased chances of heart disease from a high strain job

33
Q

State a methodological point on Van der Doef and Maes’ research

A

Because it is a review of multiple studies, it is more reliable as it considers a lot of studies and findings rather than just one

34
Q

What was the method of Marmot’s study?

A

Began with the hypothesis that control negatively correlated with stress-related illnesses.10,000 civil servants were investigated over 3 years, where their job control and stress related illnesses were assessed.

35
Q

What were the results from Marmot’s study?

A

Workers with less control were 4 times more likely to die of a heart attack than their colleagues with more control, as well as having other stress related illnesses. This was the same when other contributory factors were considered (smoking, diet etc.)

36
Q

State 3 methodological issues with Marmot’s study

A

-Based on self-report (possibility of biased responding. e.g lying about the amount they smoke)-Extraneous variables (e.g those in similar ‘grades’ or jobs could be in those jobs for a certain reason, meaning that is why that group of people are more likely to have a heart attack)-Population validity (just government civil servants)