Measuring Stress

Question 1

Self report scales

Answer 1

Social readjustment scale SSRI
- assess stress in terms of life chnages over set period of time
- 43 events related to number of life change units

Hassles and uplifts scale HSUP
- assess both hassles and uplifts
- scored on 3 point scale for severity and frequency
- 2 scores reported separately

Question 2

Physiological measures

Answer 2

Skin conductance response
- electrical conductivity of skin
- increase sweat is produced = linked to arousal of SNS
- arousal of ANS = hormones released = lead to increase HR,BR,BP and sweating
- more sweat = more electrical conductivity
- 2 electrodes are places on the index and middle finger
- small voltage applied
- measuring the current flows = conductance can be reported

Other
- blood pressure - measure before and after a cognitive test
- cortisol/adrenaline measured in blood Swabia and urine

Question 3

Evaluation of self report

Answer 3

Weaknesses
- life events SRRS have different meanings to different people therefore may be unrepresentative of actual stress experienced
- SRRS lack internal validity when used with younger people as it does not apply = can only be applied to adults however a child version has been devilled improving validity
- HSUP = very long ptps may find it hard to concentrate for this time = not accurate reducing internal validity

Strengths
- both used in psychological research on stress contributing to research the causes of stress

Question 4

Evaluation of physiological measures

Answer 4

Strengths
- skins conductance avoid problems with self report eg social desirability bias
- used on children and animals

Weaknesses
- only measures sympathetic arousal occurs due to emotion doesn’t tell us about individual stress response
- effected by medication eg sweat and body temp reduces internal validity as may not be accurate measure of stress levels