dp.9 - Coping with Stress

Question 1

Self efficacy

Answer 1

The beliefs we have about our abilities affect our actual outcome

Question 2

resilience

Answer 2

One’s ability to adapt to stress and adversity

Question 3

coping flexibility

Answer 3

The ability of an individual to replace an ineffective coping strategy with a different strategy one
Positive outcomes for the individual with high coping flexibility
High levels are linked to low incidence of mental illness, but measurement tools can be inconsistent
Coping flexibility refers to the ability to effectively modify or adjust one’s coping strategy according to the demands of different stressful situations.

Question 4

context specific effectiveness

Answer 4

Many situations or occupations are known to be highly stressful (ie. army, or nasa)
Stress and coping research and suitability studies can help to determine how someone ill cope with high stress situations
They are most effective when the context that will be experienced can be replicated
Individual differences can be predicted
A coping strategy is considered to have context specific effectiveness when there is a match or good fit between the coping strategy that is used and the stressful situation.

Question 5

exercise

Answer 5

When stressed the body releases adrenaline, and doing exercise uses that adrenaline in order to combat the stress
Exercise is physical activity that is usually planned and performed to improve or maintain one’s physical condition
When an individual experiences stress, stress hormones are secreted into the bloodstream. Physical exercise increases demands on the body for energy and in the process uses up the stress hormones. This reduces levels of stress hormones, thereby helping the body return to normal functioning sooner.

Question 6

approach strategies

Answer 6

Involve behaviours that attempt to decrease the stress by alleviating the problem (ie. start applying for jobs, commence homework)
Approach strategies are typically a healthy response to stress
Involve efforts to confront a stressor and deal directly with it and its effects
Activity is focused towards the stressor

Question 7

avoidance strategies

Answer 7

Involve avoiding dealing with the stress by protecting oneself from psychological distress (ie. ignore the facts, denial)
Avoidance strategies are typically maladaptive, unhealthy for the individual and unhelpful for relieving the source of the stress
Involve efforts that evade a stressor and deal indirectly with it and its effects.
Activity is focused away from the stressor, and there is no attempt to actively confront the stressor and its causes.