Stress

Question 1

What was the AIM of Kiecolt-Glaser’s experiment?

Answer 1

-LONG-TERM stress (EXAMS)

Effects…

-Immune System Functioning

Question 2

Name a researcher that looked at the effects of stress on Immune System functioning?

Answer 2

Kiecolt-Glaser (1984)

Question 3

Which type of experiment did Kiecolt-Glaser use?

Answer 3

-NATURAL experiment

Question 4

Outline Kiecolt-Glaser’s procedure?

Answer 4

BLOOD SAMPLES

Condition 1 (1 MONTH before exams)
(^HIGH stress)

Condition 2 (DURING exams)
(^LOW stress)

Measured NK cells

Question 5

Apart from from the blood tests, what else did the participants do?

Answer 5

• QUESTIONNAIRES (PV’s)
• Life events & Loneliness

(Correlated to Data)

Question 6

What were Kiecolt-Glaser’s findings?

Answer 6

NK Cell Activity…

• LOWER in SAMPLE 2 (Than 1)
• HIGH (Life events & Loneliness) - (^Questionnaires)

Question 7

What conclusion did Kiecolt-Glaser come to?

Answer 7

-LONG-TERM STRESSORS (Exams)
…REDUCE Immune System Functioning!

-Leaving the individual… VULNERABLE

Illness & Infections

Question 8

Give 3 main evaluation points of Kiecolt-Glaser’s experiment?

Answer 8

ETHICS (Stressor not directly manipulated by researcher - naturally occurring. (However, ADDED STRESS)
Blood Tests: Informed consent & Debrief

RELIABILITY (Replicated Findings)!!!

• Alzheimer’s Carers
• Divorce Women

POPULATION VALIDITY - Limited!!
-SAMPLE of Medical students
-Generalisations (made with caution)
HOWEVER... Alzheimer's & Divorce
(^Findings CAN be generalised - Despite Specific Nature of Samples)

Question 9

Why are life changes so stressful?

Answer 9

• Significant CHANGE from DAILY routine)
• Adjustment —> More M.E!!
• Exhausted (Can’t cope)

Question 10

Who did research into the effects of Daily Hassles on levels of stress?

Answer 10

Holmes & Rahe (1967)

Question 11

Which type of Sampling was involved in Holmes & Rahe’s experiment?

Answer 11

Opportunity (394/5000)

Question 12

Outline Holmes & Rahe’s procedure?

Answer 12

5000 medical reviews

FOUND: Certain Life Events ..Linked..
-Stress (Before illness - Occur)

ASKED: 394 (Opportunity Sample)
-Hierarchy - How stressful is each event?

LCU (Life Change Unit) - Each life event
-(Based on DEGREE of stress caused)

Question 13

What does SRRS stand for and which researchers is this relevant to?

Answer 13

• Social Readjustment Rating Scale

- Holmes & Rahe

Question 14

What did Holmes’s and Rahe’s Social Readjustment Rating Scale Consist of?

Answer 14

43 Ranked Events

1. Death of spouse (LCU: 100)
2. Divorce (LCU: 73)
3. Retirement (LCU: 45)

Question 15

What did Holmes & Rahe suggest from their rating scale?

Answer 15

SCORES… (Becoming ill)

• Between 200-300 (50%)
• 300+ 80%

Question 16

Who else did a study using a Social Readjustment Rating Scale?

Answer 16

Rahe (1970)

Question 17

What type of study was Rahe’s study?

Answer 17

-Correlational investigation

Question 18

Outline Rahe’s study?

Answer 18

-2500 Male American SAILORS
-“How many life events?” (6 months)
(^Each participant = Total SRRS score)

NEXT 6 MONTHS! (Tour duty)…

• Detailed records
• Health status

Question 19

What were Rahe’s findings?

Answer 19

POSITIVE Correlation (0.118)
-(LCU & Illness Scores)

INCREASED
-LCU & Illness Frequency

Question 20

What conclusions did Rahe come to?

Answer 20

• LIFE EVENTS (Exp) —-> STRESS-Related Health Breakdown. (Chances)
• STRESS MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES…Very Important
• HOWEVER: (Imperfect Correlation = Other factors (not just life events)