Risk factors and addiction: Stress

Question 1

How is stress related to addictive behaviours?

Answer 1

Addictive behaviour can be explained by Cappell & Greeley’s (1987) the ‘tension-reduction hypothesis’ i.e. addictive behaviour reduces tension & anxiety linked to stress as tension raises arousal levels and addiction (e.g. to alcohol) can reduce this state for a short term

Question 2

How can addiction become a coping mechanism?

Answer 2

Addiction can also becomes a coping mechanism -self medication model suggested by (Gelkopf et al., 2002) which suggests that some individuals intentionally use different forms of pathological behaviour to ‘treat’ the psychological symptoms they experience because of everyday stressors in their lives.

Question 3

Everyday stress?

Answer 3

Addiction is generally associated with relieving anxiety. People report that they drink, smoke, use drugs etc as a means of coping with daily hassles such as relationship problems, money worries and workplace stress. Such stressors may contribute to initiation and continuation of addictions, as well as relapse even after long periods of abstinence.

Question 4

Traumatic stress?

Answer 4

Research has found that people exposed to severe stress are more vulnerable to addictions, especially children who have experienced parental loss or child abuse. PTSD is also linked to addiction - Driessen found that 30% of drug addicts and 15% of alcoholics also suffered from PTSD

Question 5

STRESS - Research evidence?

Answer 5

For example, Piazza (1989) found a link between stress and addiction in rats.
The stressor was the pinching of the rats tail, which caused the rat to seek out the amphetamines more often.
Counter - lack of biological continuity

Question 6

STRESS - Further research evidence?

Answer 6

For example, alcohol dependence occurs twice as much in those with social phobias than those without (Schneier et al 1991). We could presume the anxiety and stress from this condition contributes to addiction

Question 7

STRESS - Cause and effect issues?

Answer 7

Although evidence links stress and addiction, it is largely retrospective research with no before measurements meaning we cannot assume stress CAUSES addiction.
Other factors that may mediate the effect of stress could be coping strategies, upbringing, genetics etc
This means the links between STRESS and ADDICTION is simply correlational

Question 8

STRESS - Individual differences?

Answer 8

This is because stress may create vulnerabilities in some but not all people, and personality traits should be considered.
This was illustrated by research by Kobosa ( 1979) who suggested having ‘hardiness’ as a personality trait gives a strong defence against negative effects of stress (traits for this are :high control over their lives), commitment (strong sense of purpose ) and challenge (eager to overcome challenges rather than see them as a source of stress)
This means this stress factor is incomplete

Question 9

STRESS - Further research evidence 2?

Answer 9

For example Tavolacci et al (2013) argued students who found university stressful may develop addictive disorders.
They compared highly stressed students with those feeling less stress and found high perception of stress was related to smoking regularly , alcohol abuse and internet addiction