stress

Question 1

SAM

Answer 1

Sympathetic branch of the ANS sends out nerve impulses. Stimulates the adrenal medulla to release adrenalin and noradrenalin. Both these substances cause an increase in the activity of the sympathetic ANS: Increase heart rate, Increase blood pressure, Increase in breathing rate, Increase in muscle tension and Diversion of blood to the muscles (fight or flight).

Question 2

HPA

Answer 2

Stimulates the anterior pituitary gland which releases ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone). Stimulates adrenal cortex to release the group of hormones called cortisol. These hormones cause an increase in energy level by: Increase in breakdown of fats to sugar, Increase in blood flow, Lower sensitivity to pain, But they suppress the action of the immune system.

Question 3

What happens when the stressor has gone?

Answer 3

The parasympathetic nervous system will activate to attempt to restore balance to the body. This will reduce the fight or flight response. Heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure will reduce.

Question 4

General Adaption Syndrome

Answer 4

Used to describe the body’s short-term and long-term reactions to stress and how disease is caused by chronic exposure to stress. 3 stages; alarm, resistance and exhaustion.

Question 5

Seyle’s definition of stress

Answer 5

The non-specific response of the body to any demand. It is a generalised reaction. This means that the bodily response is the same regardless of the source of stress (e.g. an exam or being chased by a tiger!). A stressor is any demand that initiates the stress response in the body.

Question 6

ALARM STAGE

Answer 6

The threat or stressor is recognised & a response is made. The brain will trigger production of adrenaline & noradrenaline so the body can prepare itself for the fight or flight response.
What are the key features of such a response?
Increase heart rate, Increase blood pressure. Increase in breathing rate, Increase in muscle tension, Diversion of blood to the muscles.

Question 7

RESISTANCE STAGE

Answer 7

If the stressor continues, the body has to find a way to cope (i.e. adapt to the stressful environment). Physiological activity is greater than normal so this stage uses a lot of energy & resources (e.g. stress hormones). So the body attempts to stabilise the physiological changes that have occurred, restore lost energy and repair any damage. The parasympathetic ANS will be activated in an attempt reduce heart rate, rebuild stores of sugar etc. If stressor goes, body will return to normal.

Question 8

EXHAUSTION STAGE

Answer 8

If stress cannot be overcome, the body can no longer function normally. The initial symptoms of the adrenaline response may reappear (e.g. raised heart rate). The adrenal glands may be damaged due to over-activity & the immune system may be suppressed. Continued stress may lead to diseases of adaptation; Stomach ulcers, hypertension, heart disease, depression, colds and coughs.

Question 9

Strength of the GAS

Answer 9

Supporting evidence. Seyle subjected rats to different stressors such as extreme cold & excessive exercise. The same collection of responses occurred (a syndrome) regardless of the stressor. This shows a general response to any stressor = General Adaption Syndrome. Damage to the body usually occurred 6-48 hours later Seyle could then track the response to a continuing stressor through the resistance & exhaustion stages. Thus supporting the 3 stages proposed.

Question 10

Weakness of the GAS

Answer 10

The GAS proposes that bodily resources (e.g. stress hormones) become depleted so that the body can no longer fight infection. However, we now know that these resources do not run out! The exhaustion stage actually increases hormones such a cortisol and it is this increase which is linked to stress related illness. Therefore more recent research contradicts GAS.

Question 11

This theory is based on biological fact, why is this a strength? (GAS & SAM/HPA)

Answer 11

Biological explanations of behaviour are based on biological fact. This means the biological basis of the stress response can be tested under controlled conditions. In addition it is replicable, Therefore the biological theory is falsifiable.

Question 12

However how can reductionism and determinism be applied to this theory? (GAS & SAM/HPA)

Answer 12

Deterministic. Suggests all behaviour is determined by biological responses & there will be no free will in our reactions. This suggests that everyone will have no choice but to react in the same way (fight or flight / going through the stages of alarm, resistance & exhaustion). The theory is therefore an example of hard biological determinism.

Question 13

However how can reductionism and determinism be applied to this theory? (GAS & SAM/HPA)

Answer 13

Biological explanations of behaviour are reductionist. Reduces all stress behaviours down to biological processes. There is further reduction to specific components e.g. precise level of a hormone. Ignores all other factors (cognitive, environmental) so is too simplistic.

Question 14

Emotion focused: coping with stressed.

Answer 14

Dealing with stress by tackling the symptoms eg the anxiety that accompanies stress. This could be done by keeping busy which is a distraction. Or thinking about the stressor in a more positive manner.
Emotion = women

Question 15

Problem focused: coping style with stress.

Answer 15

Dealing with stress by tackling the cause in a direct & practical way. This could include taking control of the situation.
Problem = men

Question 16

Research into gender differences in coping with stress

Answer 16

Peterson et al (2006). Studied over 1000 men & women seeking fertility treatment at a hospital. Ps completed several questionnaires including the ‘Ways of coping questionnaire’.
Findings: There were gender differences in coping. Women were more likely to accept blame & use various avoidance tactics (emotion-focussed approach). Men used more problem-solving including planning solutions (problem-focussed approach).

Question 17

One reason why men & women seem to cope with stress differently is because they may actually have different stressors? What might these different stressors be?

Answer 17

Matud (2004): Studied almost 3000 Spanish men & women aged 18-65. Men listed relationships, finance & work-related events as most stressful (could be dealt with in a problem-focussed way). Women listed family & health related events as most stressful (often had to be dealt with in an emotion-focussed way). Therefore men & women appear to cope differently with stress but that could be because they are coping with different stressors in the first place!

Question 18

Are emotion-focused & problem-focused strategies actually different?

Answer 18

Seeking social support could be seen as either emotion or problem-focussed or both! The emotional support that it provides is emotion-focused but if used to seek information this could be seen as problem-focused. If we have problems defining the types of strategy, how can we conclude that men & women use different strategies? In fact both genders are likely to use both methods depending on the type of stressor.

Question 19

Most stress studies rely on self report methods. What possible methodological issues may occur?

Answer 19

Women may be more willing to reveal the emotional side of coping, whereas men play down their emotional difficulties. Therefore there may be no gender difference in coping styles but there is a difference in willingness to reveal a ‘softer’ side. This may be due to social desirability bias. In addition much research is based on retrospective recall of past events. This is likely to be unreliable & biased depending on how stressed the person is feeling. The more stressed = the more negative the recall.

Question 20

Research has shown that there may be more than 2 coping strategies. What might be a third coping strategy?

Answer 20

The finding that men are more problem- focused & women more emotion-focused is not supported in recent studies. One study assessed male & female undergraduates over an 8 week period & found no gender differences in coping. This might be due to the simplistic division of coping strategies. Subsequent research has shown that there are more than 2 coping styles, Eg a 3rd strategy has been identified – avoidance-orientated coping.

Question 21

Life changes

Answer 21

These are significant changes in a person’s life that disrupt normal routines. Include both positive and negative events. Life changes are a source of stress because you have to make a significant psychological adjustment to adapt to the changed circumstances. The bigger the change, the greater the adjustment and the associated stress. Effects are cumulative – they add together to create more stress.

Question 22

Holmes and Rahe (1967)

Answer 22

Developed a standard measurement tool to measure life changes as causes of stress.
Called the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS).

Question 23

Key study

Life changes - procedure

Answer 23

Reviewed medical records of 5000 people. Found onset of illness often preceded by life events. Selected 43 of these life events asked 394 people to rate degree of social readjustment for each one. From this they developed the social readjustment rating scale (SRRS). Each event is ranked and assigned a number of life change units (LCU’s) to signify the degree of readjustment needed. People are asked to tick which events occurred in a 1-2 year period. Totalled score and used as an index. People with higher scores suffered more stress related illness. Complete the LCU score for yourself over the last 12 months. Score of 150+ increased chances of stress related illness by 30%. Score of 300+ increased chance by 50%. Ps were asked to tick which events occurred in a 1 or 2 year period. The score was added up to give them a total score to represent how stressful their life was Holmes and Rahe then looked back at previous illnesses the P had experienced (retrospective) and observed illness in the following few months (prospective).

Question 24

key study life changes - findings.

Answer 24

People with higher scores on SRRS suffered more stress related illness = Positive correlation between the two. Score of more than 150 increased chances of stress illness by 30%. More than 300 increases by 50%. It was concluded that the social readjustment from life changes is a source of stress and therefore leads to stress related illness.

Question 25

Daily Hassles

Answer 25

Daily Hassles are the minor but frequent aggravations and annoyances of everyday life that combine to cause us stress. It has been argued that these could give a better understanding of how stress can make us ill than Life changes.

Question 26

key study daily hassles - procedure

Answer 26

Kanner (1981) developed a scale of 117 events that annoy people daily, 100 middle class adults had to complete the hassles scale for 9 months. They also completed a life changes scale twice (before the study began and after the study finished). Finally the participants completed a scale to measure the psychological symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Question 27

key study daily hassles - findings

Answer 27

Found significant positive correlations between hassle frequency and psychological symptoms for both men and women. The more hassles they experienced, the more severe their psychological symptoms were.
Conclusion: They also found that Hassles were a better predictor of psychological problems, than the Life changes scores.

Question 28

Supporting evidence - srrs

Answer 28

Many studies have found a link between the SRRS and illness e.g Rahe (1970), 2500 male sailors given SRRS to measure life changes experienced in the last 6 months. For the following 6 months they kept records of their health. The LCU score was correlated with illness, Small but significant positive correlation +0.118. However as its only a small correlation it suggests stress only plays a small part in causing illness.

Question 29

Evaluation of using the SRRS & daily hassles.

Answer 29

quick and easy to use, therefore should be able to obtain a large sample size. This means results should be generalisable.
However, issues with social desirability bias for example people may not want to admit to ‘sexual dysfunction’. Therefore there could be issues with internal validity.

Question 30

Cause and effect - SRRS & dialy hassles.

Answer 30

Research is correlational
SRRS -
It cannot be claimed that the stress of life changes causes illness. It is possible that some other variable (for example, having less money) could cause this relationship. Also some of the life change events may result from illness rather than causing the illness in the first place e.g. changes in eating and sleeping habits, sexual difficulties and increased trouble with a boss or family members could all be the result of illness. Therefore cause and effect cannot be inferred.
Daily Hassles
A final problem with the Daily hassles scale being linked to illness is that research is correlational. This means that we cannot infer cause & effect as it cannot be claimed that the stress of daily hassles causes illness (as the research suggests). Instead it may be that being ill magnifies the effect of hassles which at other times may be insignificant. Therefore the direction of causality between stress & illness is not clear.

Question 31

individual differences - SRRS & Daily hassles.

Answer 31

SRRS - Ps just tick off events they have experienced, this gives no indication of their perception of the event. An event may be more/less stressful for an individual depending on their circumstances E.g. pregnancy gets a score of 40 regardless of circumstances. Also does not take into account personality. E.g. Type A and hardiness have both been linked to perception of stress.
DAILY HASSLES - A problem with using the Daily hassles scale is that Individuals may perceive hassles differently; so what may be a hassle to one person may not be to another. One psychologist attempted to overcome this issue by revising the scale allowing people to rate each hassle on 4-point scale. This allows the individual’s perception of stress surrounding the event to be considered. It was found that Ps with higher scores had more symptoms of stress (flu, sore throat, headaches). Thus, supporting the role of daily hassles in illness, even when individual differences are taken into account.

Question 32

Retrospective data - SRRS & Daily hassles

Answer 32

SRRS - You are asked to recall past events and illness over the last 1-2 years. SO forgetting may occur. Supporting this issue, Rahe investigated the test-retest reliability of the SRRS and found that scores vary depending on the time interval between testing. Also, ill people remember more negative events. Therefore there may be memory recall biases.
DAILY HASSLES - A problem with the use of the Daily hassles scale is that it relies on retrospective data which may lead to an inaccurate recall of events. Research has suggested that a person’s current state of mind affects their memory of past events. E.g. if they are feeling low then they are likely to recall more negative than positive events that have happened. However, some researchers have overcome this by using a diary method to rate hassles on a daily basis. Therefore using the diary method may increase accuracy of recall & validity of daily hassle scores.

Question 33

Supporting research of DAILY HASSLES

Answer 33

A strength is that there is supporting evidence that daily hassles causes stress and ill-health. Some studies combine the hassles and uplifts scales because it is thought that daily uplifts are a boost which will make people feel better. One such study showed that people are likely to experience an increase in daily hassles and a decrease in daily uplifts a few days before the onset of a respiratory infection e.g. a cold. Therefore there is supporting evidence that daily hassles are linked to stress and ill-health.

Question 34

Workplace Stressors

Answer 34

1- Workload (work overload and under load)

2 - The role of control

3 - Repetitive work

4 - Social isolation

Question 35

The job-strain model

Answer 35

We are focusing on the issues of workload and control. They have been combined in the job-strain model of workplace stress. The model proposes that the workplace creates stress and illness in two ways: High workload (creating greater job demands), Low control (e.g. over deadlines, procedures etc.).

Question 36

Johansson’s sawmill study - aim

Answer 36

to investigate whether work stressors like high workload and low control increase stress related physiological arousal and stress related illnesses.

Question 37

Johansson’s sawmill study - procedure

Answer 37

Compared 14 “finishers” (finish off the wood at the last stage of processing timber) with control group of 10 cleaners in a Swedish sawmill (all males). Finishers job was machine-paced (so low control), isolated, very repetitive yet highly skilled, & the finishers’ productivity determined the wage rates for the entire factory (high workload). Cleaners work was more varied, largely self-paced (high control), & allowed more socialising with other workers, they also had less responsibility. Measured stress hormones in urine on work days & rest days. Recorded stress-related illness & absenteeism.

Question 38

Johansson’s sawmill study - findings and conclusion

Answer 38

Urine analysis showed: finishers had more stress hormones (e.g. adrenaline) on work days than on rest days, and higher levels of stress hormones than cleaners. Finishers showed higher levels of stress-related illness (headaches, higher BP, more stomach disorders) and higher levels of absenteeism than the cleaners.
CONCLUSION
High workload and low control create chronic stress which leads to the production of stress hormones and the development of stress related illness. Thus supporting the Job-strain model.

Question 39

What might be the positive economic implications of this research? - workload stress

Answer 39

Research has positive economic implications for both workers & for businesses as suggests ways to reduce stress. How could the Swedish sawmill reduce stress amongst it’s workers? E.g. In this mill moving to a fixed salary structure that is not dependent on productivity, rotating jobs to introduce variety and improving job control meant stress would be decreased and productivity of the factory would increase.

Question 40

What type of experiment is this? What might be a problem of using this type of experiment in this study?

Answer 40

The study was a quasi experiment carried out in a natural environment.
We cannot infer cause and effect, It may not be the job that caused illness but other factors as there were many extraneous variables that were not controlled: It may be that certain people who are vulnerable to stress (e.g. Type A) may be attracted to high-risk demanding jobs, such as finishing in a sawmill. Therefore, the greater illness in finishers might actually be due to their personality. Alternatively, it could be factors outside of the work environment, such as money troubles and poor housing, which are causing the stress and stress related illness. Therefore, it is difficult to isolate the workplace as the main cause of stress.

Question 41

Why does this study lack population validity? Sawmill - cultural bias

Answer 41

The sample was ethnocentric as it was a study of sawmill workers in Sweden. A study reviewed cross-cultural research into workplace stressors & found that lack of job control was found to be stressful in individualist cultures but in collectivist cultures control is seen as less desirable. Therefore the idea of job control may be a western notion reflecting individualist ideals and the results may not generalise to non-western cultures. The conclusion that lack of control leads to stress in the workplace is therefore beta culturally biased.

Question 42

Why does this study lack population validity? Sawmill - gender

Answer 42

The sample used was biased. All participants were male (androcentric bias) the findings cannot be generalised to women. Stress is less likely to lead to illness in women as female hormones such as oestrogen protect against the negative effects of stress. Also, there is evidence to suggests that males and females cope with stress differently. Female’s strategy of seeking social support may be more successful than males who often bottle up their feelings. Ignoring such differences means that the study is beta gender biased.

Question 43

Biofeedback

Answer 43

Biological = involves paying attention to physical information from your body (eg heart beat or blood pressure). Psychological = involves conditioning where successful behaviour is rewarded & therefore continues. Aims to turn physiological processes such as heart rate into signals that a client then learns to control. Client does this by applying techniques they have learnt such as relaxation & cognitive restructuring.

Question 44

Biofeedback 2

Answer 44

Biofeedback deals with the body’s physiological response to stress due to the arousal of the sympathetic branch of the ANS. Heart rate, blood pressure etc are not normally under our voluntary control as they are automatic responses controlled by the ANS. However, biofeedback allows clients to exert voluntary control over these (normally) involuntary behaviours. This can occur if clients are made aware of what is happening in the ANS using technology that allows us to see or hear our physiological functioning.

Question 45

How does biofeedback work?

Answer 45

4 Processes:
Relaxation
Feedback
Operant conditioning
Transfer

Question 46

How biofeedback works: Relaxation

Answer 46

Client is taught relaxation techniques. Eg learning to tighten & relax specific muscles groups. The techniques should reduce activity of the sympathetic branch of the ANS.

Question 47

How biofeedback works: Feedback

Answer 47

Client is attached to machines that provide information about activity of the ANS. There are many such machines which convert physiological activity into a visual or auditory sound eg: Heart rate machines – showing activity as a visual or auditory tone, EMGs – converts electrical activity of muscles into a tone of varying pitch, EEGs – shows brain activity on a screen, Skin conductance response – measures amount of sweating. Client then practises relaxation techniques whilst seeing/listening to the feedback.

Question 48

How biofeedback works: Operant conditioning

Answer 48

Clients should be able to learn how to use this feedback to make physiological adjustments. Eg slowing down their heart rate might reduce the pitch of a tone on a machine. This is rewarding & reinforces the behaviour. Thus further relaxation should be possible.

Question 49

How biofeedback works: Transfer

Answer 49

The client needs to learn to transfer the skills learned to the real world. They must use their relaxation techniques in response to stressful situations (without the use of their feedback machines).

Question 50

AO3: Effectiveness of biofeedback

Answer 50

Jemaine et al (2011): Doctors were trained using a biofeedback machine. They used it 3x a day for 28 days & completed a stress questionnaire. The mean stress score of users dropped over the course of the study suggesting that biofeedback can be effective for stress in the workplace.

In 1998 four monkeys were trained to raise & lower their body temperature & reduce muscle tension using biofeedback! Shows that biofeedback does not depend on conscious thought.

Question 51

AO3: Weaknesses of Biofeedback

Answer 51

Some argue that it could be the relaxation techniques themselves that work, in which case the equipment is unnecessary. One study tested this by investigating children who suffered from tension headaches. One group used biofeedback to help them relax. The other group were taught relaxation techniques only. After 3 months headache frequency dropped by 55% in each group suggesting biofeedback equipment is unnecessary. However, improvements were greater in the biofeedback group after 1 & 3 years.
Suggests relaxation techniques can be effective on their own but biofeedback is beneficial as it makes relaxation easier (rather than being a stress management techniques in itself).

Question 52

AO3: Other strengths of biofeedback

Answer 52

It is a non-invasive technique (unlike drugs which alter the body) so there will not be any side effects. Therefore it is suitable for children who can’t be treated with drugs & can’t cope with the demands of SIT.
It also provides a long term way of reducing stress & can be used for future stressors. As biofeedback has a positive effect in lowering activity of the sympathetic branch of the ANS it can prevent stress related illness.

Question 53

Stress Inoculation Therapy

Answer 53

This is a psychological method of stress management. We can’t stop many of the stressors that we face in life but we can change the way that we think about these stressors. Negative thinking can lead to negative outcomes such as anxiety and depression but positive thinking leads to positive attitudes & feelings. These positive thoughts reduce the stress response & help us cope in the future. There are 3 phases to SIT. Each phase focuses on practical steps needed to help the client. The phases are not completely distinct & may overlap. There may be some working backwards to an earlier phase to refresh before moving on .

Question 54

CONCEPTUALISATION

Answer 54

Client and therapist work together to identify & understand the actual cause of stress. The client learns to break down stressors into smaller manageable parts. The client is taught to view perceived stressors as challenges that can be solved. This allows clients to become more realistic about the demands on them & their ability to cope.

Question 55

SKILLS ACQUISITION & REHEARSAL (TRAINING)

Answer 55

Clients are taught skills & strategies for coping with their stress. Such skills could include relaxation techniques, social skills, use of support systems, time-management & the use of coping statements. The skills taught are both cognitive & behavioural. The client is taught to think in a different way & they will be able to learn new behaviours to allow them to deal with the stress.

Question 56

REAL LIFE APPLICATION

Answer 56

Clients are given the opportunity to apply their newly learned coping skills in different situations. Role play may be used first until the client is confident to apply their skills in the real world. The therapist’s involvement lessens as the client gains greater control over their stress.

Question 57

Strengths of SIT: Effectiveness

Answer 57

Actually addresses the stressor by looking at the source of the stress & teaching coping strategies. Therefore equips people with skills to deal with the present stressors & also future stressors SIT puts the person in control which may also reduce stress. It is also effective because it combines both cognitive & behavioural therapies.

Question 58

Research evidence to support SIT

Answer 58

Shown to be effective. For public speaking, stress of police work & life events e.g. divorce. This is because it teaches practical techniques for dealing with the problem and addresses the actual cause of stress. Therefore SIT has practical applications.

Question 59

Weaknesses of SIT

Answer 59

SIT is seen as a demanding therapy as it requires high levels of motivation & commitment. Therefore it is best suited for long term stressors & businesses (workplace stress - due to cost). SIT involves changing cognitions & behaviour which is difficult to do. The 3rd phase (real life application) can be challenging as it might be difficult to use coping strategies in a highly stressful situation. Therefore for acute stressors drugs are likely to be more effective.

Question 60

Difficulties in measuring the effectiveness of SIT

Answer 60

It is difficult to assess the effectiveness of therapies such as SIT because we depend on subjective reports from clients. Clients often exaggerate their problems at the beginning because they want to convince the therapist that they really do need help. So in the conceptualisation phase they may make their problem look worse than it actually is. At the end of the treatment clients are grateful for the help they were given & therefore minimise any remaining issues. This is known as the hello-goodbye effect.

Question 61

Drug Therapy

Answer 61

These reduce the biological effects of stress. They aim to reduce the anxiety associated with stress by reducing the unpleasant physiological symptoms.
Two types of drugs:
Beta blockers, Benzodiazepines.

Question 62

Beta blockers

Answer 62

BBs act on the sympathetic nervous system which activates the fight or flight response. Mode of action: BBs work by blocking beta receptors on the heart & other parts of the body that are usually stimulated by noradrenalin & adrenalin. This will slow heart rate & decrease the strength of its contraction, thus reducing blood pressure. Other activity in the ANS will also reduce e.g. breathing rate. This will make people feel calmer BBs do not affect the brain.

Question 63

For what type of people & in what situations might BBs be beneficial?

Answer 63

Long term stressors often lead to hypertension = higher risk of stroke & CVDs so BBs can reduce this risk. As BBs don’t affect the brain they are suitable for people who want to eliminate the symptoms of stress but still stay alert e.g. stage performers, musicians, surgeons. BBs increase hand-eye co-ordination & would help golfers & snooker players, but for this reason they have been banned by the International Olympic Committee.

Question 64

Effectiveness of BBs

Answer 64

A review of research concluded that BBs are effective for treating everyday anxieties e.g. public speaking & exam nerves. Lockwood studied over 2000 musicians & found that 27% took BBs. The musicians said they felt that they performed better & music critics also judged their performances to be better when they had taken BBs. However, another study looked at the effect of BBs on Ps doing a maths test, BBs did reduce heart rate compared to Ps taking a placebo. BUT did not reduce Ps perceived sense of stress. Therefore BBs are only useful for reducing physiological effects of stress.

Question 65

Drug Therapy: Benzodiazepines

Answer 65

BZs e.g. Valium & Xanax. Minor tranquilizers which lessen anxiety by reducing arousal in the central nervous system, BZs do this by enhancing activity of the neurotransmitter GABA.

Question 66

The role of GABA in synaptic transmission

Answer 66

GABA has a quietening effect on many of the neurons in the brain, GABA reacts with GABA receptors on the postsynaptic neuron. When GABA binds onto these receptors it opens a channel that increases flow of chloride ions into the postsynaptic neuron. Chloride ions make it harder for the postsynaptic neuron to be stimulated by other neurotransmitters thus slowing down its activity (an inhibitory effect). BZs boost the action of GABA allowing more chloride ions to enter the neuron. Resulting in lower nervous system activity, which will make the person feel calmer. GABA binds to GABA receptors on the postsynaptic neuron. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter. So this causes a reduction in action potentials. This is because GABA causes the chloride ion channels to open allowing negatively charged chloride ions to enter the neuron. Causing the postsynaptic neuron to become negatively charged.

Question 67

BZs: the role of GABA

Answer 67

BZs work by enhancing this inhibition, causing even less neural activity in the brain. BZ drug molecules bind to a receptor site on the GABA receptor, alongside GABA. This causes the chloride channels to allow more chloride ions to enter the neuron. Making it even more negatively charged. Resulting in less action potentials. This also makes the neuron less responsive to other neurotransmitters.

Question 68

Effectiveness of BZs

Answer 68

Have been shown to be 60% effectiveness in reducing feelings of anxiety & panic. They have almost immediate effects therefore they are suitable for acute stressors. E.g. experiencing violent crime or sudden bereavement.

Question 69

Weaknesses of BZs only (not BBs!!)

Answer 69

BZs create dependency for 2 reasons: Over time people need a higher dosage of the drug to get the original effects (due to tolerance).
Withdrawal symptoms occur when people try to stop taking them (can even occur when on the drugs if you have reached tolerance!) E.g. tremors, irritability and insomnia. Also sickness & diarrhoea. Nowadays GPs should restrict such drugs to short courses (usually up to 4 weeks).

Question 70

Weaknesses of BZs only (not BBs!!)

side effects

Answer 70

BZs also have side effects such as drowsiness and impaired memory, and other effects such as changes in appetite or sex drive. Therefore they are not appropriate for all patients.

Question 71

Strength : General Evaluation of BBs & BZs

Answer 71

Allows people to live normal lives and improves their quality of life. People prefer taking drugs to psychological therapy as taking medicine is more familiar. Drugs require little effort from the patient. This is very different from Psychological treatments where patients have to be actively involved in their treatment. However drugs remove control from the patient, as the doctor makes all the decisions about what drug should be taken & for how long. This lack of control can actually increase feelings of stress & anxiety.

Question 72

Weakness : General Evaluation of BBs & BZs

Answer 72

Only treat the symptoms of anxiety and not the cause. So when patient stops taking drugs symptoms will return e.g. there is a 90% relapse rate when BZ medication is ceased. Therefore drugs are only a short term solution. Psychological treatments (e.g. SIT) offer a more long term cure as they actually treat the cause of the problem. Drugs should therefore be used to manage acute stressors such as the shock of bereavement.

Question 73

The role of social support in coping with stress

Answer 73

Friends and family are important sources of support as they provide social networks. Social networks vary in size and the strength of support they offer. It is possible that someone with a relatively small social network can get a great deal of support. Additionally, just because someone has a large social network does not guarantee good support. Being very closely involved in a small network of close friends, relatives & colleagues may provide greater support than spreading yourself too thinly.

Question 74

Instrumental support

Answer 74

Practical & tangible support. Includes physically doing something to help (providing money or driving you to the doctors) or providing information (giving advice or feedback). This support could be provided by anyone – not just friends & family. This is a problem-solving approach where the focus is on doing something.

Question 75

Emotional support

Answer 75

Focuses on how someone is feeling rather than providing practical help. Includes expressing warmth, concern, affection & love. Aim is to make the stressed person feel better & lift their mood by listening & empathising. This kind of support is less likely to be provided by strangers (unless in an emergency situation). This is an emotion-focused approach.

Question 76

Esteem support

Answer 76

Increasing a person’s sense of self worth so that they feel more capable about coping with their stress. We could do this by expressing our confidence in them which should in term increase their own confidence in their ability to cope. This support is unique to close relationships.

Question 77

Research into social support

AO1

Answer 77

Procedure: They phoned 404 healthy adult Ps every evening for 14 days & asked how many hugs they had received that day. Ps also completed a questionnaire to assess perceived social support. Stress was measured in terms of daily interpersonal conflicts (arguments/disagreements) Ps were then placed in quarantine & exposed to the common cold virus. They monitored who became ill. Findings: Ps who experienced the most interpersonal conflict (ie stress) were more likely to become ill but those who perceived that they had greater social support had a significantly reduced risk of illness. Hugs accounted for 1/3 of the protective effect of social support, Ps who had the most hugs were less likely to become infected & if they did so their symptoms were less severe.
Conclusion: Perceived social support acts as a buffer against stress. Hugs provided a physical way of providing emotional support

Question 78

Evaluation: Strengths– supporting evidence for the role of SS

Answer 78

Fawzy & Fawzy (1993). Ps with skin cancer were randomly allocated to a support group for 6 weeks (attended one session a week) or a control group. The support group provided an opportunity for patients to express their feelings (emotional support) & also get advice & information (instrumental support) 6 years later the support group patients were more likely to be alive & free of cancer. Shows the benefits of social support can be long lasting.

Question 79

What social support can pets provide?

Answer 79

Supporting evidence that pets can be used effectively for social support and help people to cope with stress. Allen (2003) reviewed research findings on pets. He reported that the presence of pets: reduced blood pressure in children reading aloud, buffered the elderly against life event stressors & reduced risk of CVDs. Another study even found that talking to pets was more effective than talking to people in reducing the stress response! This has important implications for the healthcare system, particularly for helping those without family/friends to give social support.

Question 80

Can you think of times when social support might not be beneficial?

Answer 80

Social support is not always beneficial. Although emotional support is usually welcomed from friends & relatives, we might value instrumental support more from medical professionals. But there could also be times when emotional support from friends or relatives is not welcome e.g. they might insist on accompanying you to a hospital appointment when you would rather go alone thus imposing their support. Sometimes the presence of others might increase physiological stress activity e.g. if a friendship is strained. One study reviewed 64 studies of married couples. The benefits of social support were related to the quality of the relationship.

Question 81

Do you think there are cultural differences in social support?

Answer 81

The research we have looked at is beta culturally biased because it ignores differences in social support between cultures. However one study compared Asian students (collectivist society) living in Australia with Australian students (individualistic).They found that the individualistic coping style was more instrumental than the coping style of collectivist students who used more emotional & esteem support. Therefore, there was a difference in coping styles but the longer the Asian students lived in Australia, the more they began to use instrumental coping styles.