Chapter 8 - Understanding Stress and Coping in Context Flashcards
Distal contextual factors
Distal contextual factors: Predisposing processes which shape stressors, resources, coping processes, and outcomes. NOT direct triggers of a problem. May be contextual or personal.
Contextual factors
poverty, crime, unemployment, discrimination: racism, sexism, cultural/ religious traditions and practices, public education, public health systems
Personal factors
Genetic Factors, personality traits (optimism), chronic illness.
Proximal Stressors
Directly trigger or contribute to a problem: Major life events, Life transitions, Daily hassles, Disasters, Vicious Spirals; Note: Some coping resources may also be proximal: Social support
Daily hassles
A proximal stressor.
Psychological impact of disasters
A proximal stressor.
Vicious spirals
A proximal stressor.
Life transitions
A proximal stressor.
Resources for coping
Individuals activate resources for coping with stressors, often from many ecological levels. Types of resources: Material resources, Social-emotional competencies, Social, cultural, and spiritual resources.
Social-emotional competencies
Resources for coping
Appraisal:
The process of constructing the meaning of a stressful situation or event. Involves the extent to which the situation is seen as challenging, expected or unexpected, controllable or uncontrollable. Also involves our assessment of our available resources to combat the stressor.
Problem-focused
Type of coping. A coping strategy differentiated from others by the presence of ideas designed to decrease or eliminate stressors by generating solutions to a specific problem at hand. Such actions may be directed at the environment or the self. This strategy is also referred to as primary coping.
Emotion-focused
Type of coping. Coping strategy focusing on regulating negative emotional reactions to a stressor. See secondary coping. Compare problem focused coping.
Meaning-focused
Type of coping. Meaning-focused coping is in its essence, appraisal-based coping in which the person draws on his or her beliefs (e.g., religious, spiritual, or beliefs about justice), values (e.g., ‘‘mattering’’), and existential goals (e.g., purpose in life or guiding principles) to motivate and sustain coping and well-being during a difficult time.
Virtuous spiral
resources are increased, successes build on each other and the stressor is transformed into a catalyst for growth.
Thriving
grow beyond prior levels.
Resilience
adapt, maintain, or recover functioning.
Wellness
more than absence of problems; strengths.
Empowerment
gaining access to valued resources
Main goal of case management
Promote an effective plan.
Generalized support
Refers especially to caring and attachment in close personal relationships. Marriage, parent-child relationship, friendship, etc. Can include both actual and perceived support.
Results of Maton’s study
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Natural Mentor
Sources of informal support in the community. Can occur naturally (e.g., a barber or beautician) or be provided through programs (e.g., Big Brothers/ Big Sisters).
Multidimensional
Two or more persons involved do a number of things together and share a number of role relationships.
High-density v. Low-density networks
??
Results of Hirsch’s study
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Elements of mutual help groups
Voluntary associations of persons who share a life situation or status that produce challenges for coping in their environments. Different than self-help books; relationships are key to this approach. Can be considered alternative settings formed to address shortcomings in existing resources for addressing stressors. Range from more formal organizations (e.g., AA) to informal community support groups.
Helper therapy principle
a model, first described in 1965 by Frank Riessman, attempting to explain the therapeutic effect for both people in a “helper” and “helpee” relationship within self-help / mutual-aid support groups.
Community narrative
asserts that students need to be afforded an opportunity to express their views and examine issues related to history from their own lens, and in the process claim their place as full members of the community.
Studies of GROW and Alcoholics Anonymous
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Resources for coping offered by spirituality and religion
Faith-based coping pre-dates history. Can help make sense of the incomprehensible, unfathomable, and uncontrollable. Provides various coping resources. Personal: Sense of transcendence; framework for meaning-making; coping behaviors (prayer, meditation); Social: Rituals; membership and support through congregation; potentially also used by non-religious individuals.
