Stress - Measuring Stress

Question 1

What was the aim of Geer and Maisel’s study?

Answer 1

To see if perceived control or actual control can reduce stress reactions to adversity stimuli.

Question 2

What was the study on physiological measures?

Answer 2

Geer and Maisel

Question 3

What was the method of Geer and Maisel’s study?

Answer 3

Lab experiment, participants were shown photographs of dead car crash victims and their stress levels were measured by galvanic skin response (GSR) and heart rate electrodes.

Question 4

What was the design of Geer and Maisel’s study?

Answer 4

Independent, the participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions. Group 1 were given control over how long they saw each photograph for; they could press a button to terminate it and were told that a tone would proceed each photograph. Group 2 saw the photos for the same time as group 1 but were warned that the photos would be 60 seconds apart and for how long they would see each photo. They were also told about the warning tone. They had no control but knew what would happen. Group 3 also saw the photos for the same. Amount of time but were only told that from time to time they would see photographs and hear tones. This group had no control and no predictability.

Question 5

Who were the participants in Geer and Maisel’s study?

Answer 5

60 undergraduates enrolled in a psychology course form New York University

Question 6

What was the procedure of Geer and Maisel’s study?

Answer 6

Each participant was seated in a sound shielded room and wired up to GSR and heart rate monitors. For 5 minuets the machine calibrated while the participant relaxed and a baseline measurement was taken. The instructions were then read over the intercom and after 1 min rest the stimuli were presented beach photograph was preceded by a 10 second tone and then flashed up until the button was pressed or for the predetermined length of time. The GSR analyses were taken at the onset of the tone, during the second half of the tone and in response to the photograph.

Question 7

What were the findings of Geer an Maisel’s study?

Answer 7

The heart rate monitors proved inaccurate so the results from these were discarded. Group 2 showed most stress with the tone, as they knew what was coming, but did not have control over the photograph. Group 1 experienced less stress in response to the photograph than groups 2 and 3.

Question 8

What were the conclusions of Geer and Maisel’s study?

Answer 8

Participants showed less GSR are action, indicating less stress, when they had control over the length of time they looked at the disturbing photographs. It is likely that being able to terminate aversive stimuli reduced their stressful impact.

Question 9

What was the study on self-report?

Answer 9

Holmes and Rahe

Question 10

What was the aim of Holmes and Rahe’s study?

Answer 10

To create a method that estimates the extent to which life events are stressors

Question 11

What was the method of Holmes and Rahe’s study?

Answer 11

A questionnaire designed to ascertain how much each life event was felt to be a stressor.

Question 12

Who were the participants of Holmes and Rahe’s study?

Answer 12

394 subjects (179 males and 215 females), from a range of educational abilities, ethnic groups and religions.

Question 13

What was the procedure of Holmes and Rahe’s study?

Answer 13

Each participant was asked to rate a series of 43 life events. Marriage was given an arbitrary rating of 50 and each event was to be judged as requiring more or less readjustment. Ratings could be based on personal experience and perceptions of other people’s experiences. The amount of readjustment and the time it would take to readjust were both to be considered.

Question 14

What were the findings of Holmes and Rahe’s study?

Answer 14

The final SRRS was completed based on the mean scores allocated by the participants. Correlations between groups were tested and found to be high in all but one group. Males and females agreed, as did participants of different ages, religions, educational level, but there was less correlation between white and black participants.

Question 15

What were the conclusions of Holmes and Rahe’s study?

Answer 15

These events are mostly ordinary (some are extraordinary, I.e. Going to jail, but they do pertain to the western way of life). There are also some socially desirable events which reflect the western values of materialism, success and conformism. The degree of similarity between different groups is impressive and show agreement in general of what constitutes a life event and how much they cause stress (or readjustment).

Question 16

What was the study on combined approach?

Answer 16

Johansson

Question 17

What was the aim of Johansson’s study?

Answer 17

To measure the psychological and physiological stress response in two categories of employees.

Question 18

What was the method of Johansson’s study?

Answer 18

A quasi experiment where workers were defined as being at high risk of stress or in a control group. Data was collected through physiological measures of chemicals in urine and self report of mood.

Question 19

Who were the participants of Johansson’s study?

Answer 19

24 workers at a Swedish sawmill. The high-risk group were 14 workers who had to work at a set pace, governed by the production line; their job was complex and required a great deal of knowledge about raw materials. They were responsible for the rate at which the finished objects were completed and so responsible for their own and their team’s wages. The control group were 10 workers who were cleaners or maintenance workers.

Question 20

What was the design of Johansson’s study?

Answer 20

An independent design with participants already working in one of the two categories, so no manipulation of the IV. The high-risk group were classified as having jobs that were repetitive and constrained, had little control of pace or work routine, were more isolated and involved more responsibility.

Question 21

What was the procedure of Johansson’s study?

Answer 21

Each participant gave a daily urine sample when they arrived at work and at four other times during the day. They also gave self report of mood and alertness, plus caffeine and nicotine consumption. The baseline measurements were taken at the same time on a day when the workers were at home.

Question 22

What were the findings of Johansson’s study?

Answer 22

In the first urine samples of the day, the high risk group had adrenaline levels twice as high as their baseline and these continued to increase throughout the day. The control group had a peak of 1.5 time baseline level in the morning and this declined during the rest if their shift. In the self report, the high risk group felt more rushed and irritated than the control group. They also rated their well-being as lower than that of the control group.

Question 23

What were the conclusions of Johansson’s study?

Answer 23

Participants showed less GSR are action, indicating less stress, when they had control over the length of time they looked at the disturbing photographs. It is likely that being able to terminate aversive stimuli reduced their stressful impact.