Age differences in stress and coping processes

The dramatic increase in the numbers of people who are living into old age has been accompanied by a growing interest among psychologists and health care professionals in their sources of stress and how they cope with them. Despite this interest, little is known about normative stress and coping patterns and the ways in which these patterns differ in older and younger people. This study, which draws on stress and coping theory, compares younger and older community-dwelling adults in daily hassles and eight kinds of coping. Two interpretations of age differences are evaluated: a developmental interpretation, which says that there are inherent, stage-related changes in the ways people cope as they age, and a contextual interpretation, which says that age differences in coping result from changes in what people must cope with. The findings indicate that there are clear age differences in hassles and coping. Overall, the findings tend to support the developmental interpretation, although the contextual interpretation also applies.     

正、负性压力情境下教师应对方式的比较研究

采用修订的COPE量表对530名中小学教师进行调查,探讨中小学教师压力现状及其在正、负性压力情境下应对方式的异同。结果表明:(1)中小学教师总体压力水平为中等,但承受着较大的工作压力且负性多于正性;(2)中小学教师应对两类性质压力采用的方式趋于一致,具有一定的跨情境性。但在应对负性压力时,倾向于联合使用各种应对方式,且更倾向于采用精神寄托、行为解脱等非适应性应对方式。     

Coping in context: the role of stress, social support, and personality in coping

Personality and social relationships play an important role in almost every aspect of stress and coping. Daily process methods are particularly useful in elucidating how these factors might influence both responses to and outcomes of stress. Our work has linked both dimensions of personality, particularly the Big Five, and aspects of social relationships, particularly social support, to the likelihood of engaging in certain coping strategies and the effectiveness or outcomes of these coping strategies. In addition, we have found the effect of personality on coping and stress outcomes to vary by the situational context in which stress occurs. We review findings from our recent daily process studies of stress, coping, and social support. Further, we discuss the costs and benefits of the daily process methodology for addressing these questions, highlighting the clinical utility of findings gleaned with the use of this approach. Finally, we discuss future directions and applications of daily process methods to the study of stress and coping.     

Subjective Religiosity and Depression in the Transition to Adulthood

Does being more religious make one less susceptible to depression? We consider the association between subjective religiosity (religious self‐perception and coping) and depression in the context of social support (from family and friends) and stress exposure (recent negative life events, chronic stress, lifetime trauma, and discrimination). Data come from a sample of 1,803 Miami‐Dade County young adults interviewed between 1997 and 2000. We find higher levels of depression among the moderately religious than among either very religious or nonreligious respondents. Interestingly, when observations are made within gender, this relationship applies only to females. Controlling for socioeconomic status and social support largely accounts for the link between religiosity and depression. However, controlling for stress exposure reveals a suppressor effect wherein religiosity once again emerges as significant. Our interpretation is that, while established patterns of religious coping can routinely mitigate distress, heightened stress exposure may elicit increased prayer among the less religious.     

Stress,coping styles,and optimism: are they related to meaning of education in students’ lives?

We explored the meanings that undergraduate students make of their education and how these meanings relate to students’ perceived stress, styles of coping with stress, and optimism. Participants completed a meaning of education questionnaire, the Perceived Stress Scale, the COPE (a measure of coping styles), and the Life Orientation Test-Revised. As expected, optimists were less likely, and students who used disengagement coping styles were more likely, to see education as a source of stress or as an escape. Emotion-focused coping positively predicted several meanings of education, including seeing the university experience as providing opportunities for social connections, for learning and for self-development. These and other findings are discussed in terms of student success in college.     

Trait Influences on Stress Appraisal and Coping: An Evaluation of Alternative Frameworks

According to contemporary trait models, personality variables influence the relation of certain social-cognitive processes to coping and adjustment. Specifically, neuroticism may effect a greater perception of threat in a given stressor and thus effect a greater propensity for emotion-focused coping efforts. Similarly, higher levels of conscientiousness may be related to a greater use of problem-focused coping. We tested these presumed effects of personality traits on the association between stress appraisals and coping among 141 undergraduates. Resulting models indicated that certain personality characteristics are related to appraisal and coping activities, but these relations do not fully explain the association between stress appraisal and coping.     

Barriers to maintaining a sense of meaning and control in the face of loss

Abstract

Although finding meaning and reestablishing a sense of control following a major loss are important contributors to successful coping, many individuals are unable to restore these adaptive assumptions. Five strategies for reestablishing meaning and control are identified, and it is proposed that the use of these strategies requires cognitive work, the ability to change views and try new perspectives, and flexibility in goal identification. This framework is used to understand why many people fail to find meaning and control following a serious loss. Characteristics of the situation that make it difficult to find meaning and control include the severity and type of the loss. Personal factors that block or impede the restoration of adaptive assumptions include an avoidant coping style, few opportunities to vent, the belief that positive interpretation involves self-delusion, a rigid belief system, and difficulty in disengaging from goals. Interventions to address these blockades and increase successful coping are discussed.     

Treatment-related anxieties in children and adolescents with cancer

Abstract

Side-effects of anti-cancer treatment like nausea and vomiting and frightening medical procedures are relevant sources of anxiety in children and adolescents with cancer. Anticipatory nausea and vomiting can be described in terms of respondent conditioning. Hypnosis, systematic desensitization, relaxation training and employment of video-games are effective in mitigating these unpleasant concomitants of chemotherapy. Venipunctures, bone marrow aspirations, and lumbar punctures are repetitive painful procedures. Responses of pain and anxiety are ubiquitous, but still difficult to differentiate by psychological assessment. Rating scales and checklists have been developed to evaluate various intervention programs. Hypnotherapeutic approaches and comprehensive cognitive-behavioral treatment packages have been employed successfully to reduce anxiety reactions. In the future, it might be promising to match specific intervention programs with the coping behaviors spontaneously shown by the child; for instance, patients avoiding anxiety-provoking stimuli should be supported by additional distraction techniques, whereas vigilant patients that spontaneously focus their attention on these stimuli should be shown how to transform them in a positive context.     

工作环境下的员工压力应对研究——内涵、模型、测量及热点评述

员工在工作中所感知到压力的水平,以及多大程度上会随之产生负面结果,取决于员工如何应对。因此,从上世纪80年代开始,国外学术界就开始关注工作环境下的员工压力应对研究。无论是理论探索还是实证研究,都一致认同探索员工压力应对的选择具有重要意义。但目前国内这一领域的研究还很少。基于这种状况,本文首先回顾了应对的理论内涵和研究模型。然后,结合Business Source Premier和APAPsycNet检索获得的2000年至今18篇最具影响力的实证研究文献,对工作压力所引致的员工应对的结构和测量进行归纳和回溯。最后,重点评述和展望了员工应对组织变革、应对过程模型完善和员工应对外派这三个近年来的热点研究问题。     

Seventh-day Adventist Clergy: Understanding Stressors and Coping Mechanisms

This article examines the extent and types of clergy stress, the strategies used in coping with stressors, and the relationship between stressors and coping mechanisms in a sample of 261 Seventh-day Adventist pastors in North America. The results indicate that the most commonly reported stressors in order are: (1) lack of social support, (2) financial stress, and (3) time and workload stress. In terms of coping strategies, pastors sought relief most often through: (1) reflective growth/internal change; (2) social/emotional coping; (3) passive coping; and lastly (4) action-oriented coping. Significant correlational relationships existed between passive coping and financial stress, relocating stress, and congregational stress. In addition, we found significant inverse correlations between coping through reflective growth or internal change and relocating stress and congregational stress. There were no significant relationships with action coping or social/emotional coping and any stressor. Multi-regression analysis reveals that passive coping strategies were significantly related to financial stress. Thus, the greater the financial stress, the more likely pastors were to engage in passive coping strategies. Other coping strategies showed no significant relationships when included in multi-regression analysis. We conclude with recommendations for Church administrators to address structures and practices in place for pastors including an expansion of coping mechanisms to help pastors address their stress.     

Type D personality,physical symptoms and subjective stress: The mediating effects of coping and social support

Coping style and social support may represent mechanisms to explain the relationship between Type D personality and ill-health. This study investigated whether Type D is associated with physical symptoms and perceived stress in a non-cardiac population, and if these relationships are mediated by coping and social support. In a cross-sectional study, 304 participants (110 males, mean age 22.1 years) completed measures of Type D, physical symptoms, coping, perceived stress and social support. Results showed that Type D, the interaction of negative affectivity and social inhibition (NA?×?SI), was positively correlated with physical symptoms, perceived stress, and avoidant coping, and negatively correlated with social support, problem-focused coping and emotion-focused coping. A series of bootstrapped multiple mediator tests showed that social support and avoidant coping fully mediated the relationship between Type D and physical symptoms. Furthermore, social support and emotion-focused coping partially mediated the relationship between Type D and perceived stress. These findings demonstrate for the first time that Type D personality is associated with physical symptoms in a non-cardiac population. Social support and coping style represent mechanisms that can, in part, explain the relationship between Type D and physical symptoms, and Type D and perceived stress.     

Batting on a sticky wicket: Identifying sources of stress and associated coping strategies for professional cricket batsmen

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to examine the sources of stress and associated coping strategies as reported by professional cricket batters.MethodsNine male professional cricket batters completed a semi-structured interview to examine their stress sources and associated coping strategies. A combination of inductive and deductive content analyses provided a detailed data analysis for the two areas of investigation.ResultsThe interviews revealed a total of 25 general dimensions for the sources of stress and 23 general dimensions for the coping strategies.ConclusionsDespite the overlap between stress sources and coping strategies to previous literature, practitioners need to be aware of the specific demands of the sport in which they are working. Future research suggestions are made regarding the study of stress and coping in sport.     

Attentional bias for threat: Evidence for delayed disengagement from emotional faces

This study examined cognitive aspects of coping with stress, how these related to religiosity, and how they related to outcomes (positive mood and distress). Participants (n=126) were of Protestant or Jewish background, and had all experienced recent major stress. They were assessed on measures of religiosity, religious coping, perception of the consequences of the stressful event, attributions for its occurrence, and distress, intrusive unpleasant thoughts, and positive affect. Religiosity affected ways of thinking about the stressful situation, namely: Belief that G-d is enabling the individual to bear their troubles (religious/spiritual support), belief that it was all for the best, and (more weakly) belief that all is ultimately controlled by G-d. Religiosity affected neither the proportion of positive consequences perceived as outcomes of the event, nor the causal attributions examined. Religious background (Protestant vs. Jewish) had negligible effects on the cognitions measures. Causal pathway analysis suggested that religion-related cognitions might directly affect positive affect, but not distress. Problems of design and interpretation are discussed. The study suggests some cognitively mediated means by which religion may have comforting effects.     

Moderating Effects of Religious/Spiritual Coping in the Relation Between Perceived Stress and Psychological Well-Being

Although the relationship between stress and depressive symptoms is well documented, less is known about the role of coping strategies, in particular strategies for coping via religious or spiritual means. To investigate the relationships among these factors, data was collected with questionnaires completed by 127 MSW students at a northeastern university in 2003. Significant Stress×Religious/Spiritual Coping buffer interactions were found in the relationship between stress and depression. EQS 6.1 and hierarchical moderated regression analysis showed that religious/spiritual coping reduced the impact of stress on depression. Implications for practice are discussed.     

Stressbew?ltigung

Training for coping with stress as the core instrument of prevention of stress-related disorders at the individual level is characterized within the framework of prominent theoretical concepts of stress and derived from these. Response-focused, situation-focused and relational definitions of stress as well as the main results of stress research are described. The cognitive-transactional stress theory and the concept of coping are then outlined in their main features and control of stressor exposition, problem-focused coping, cognitive reappraisal, emotion-focused coping and mobilization of social support are characterized as main targets and modes of intervention in coping skills group programs. General aspects of such programs, selected findings on effectiveness and methodological considerations regarding the evaluation are then depicted. It is concluded that training of individual coping skills should be supplemented by preventive intervention at the institutional or organizational level.     

应对研究的成果、问题与解决办法

应激和应对问题 ,由于同人的心理适应和健康密切相关 ,目前在国外已经成为心理学所有领域中研究最多的一个重要课题。然而 ,该课题的研究 ,特别是关于应对方式及其效果评价的研究 ,存在着较突出的问题。通过对国内 4种最主要的有关学术期刊的检索发现 ,同国外相比 ,国内的应激和应对的研究在数量和质量上均有较明显的差距。文章结合国内外有关研究的现状 ,分析、说明了在应对研究中存在的 5个主要问题 :(1)忽略防御机制的有效评估和在心理适应中的作用 ;(2 )应对方式的评定方法不当 ;(3)在对于应激的影响和应对后果的估价中存在着片面性和策略上的错误 ;(4)应对研究的设计同关于应激和应对的“过程”理论不一致 ;(5 )应对研究同临床实践之间存在着较明显的脱节。作者探讨并提出了对于这些问题的可能的解决办法。     

Optimism and Traumatic Stress: The Importance of Social Support and Coping1

This study examined the effects of optimism following traumatic stress and pathways through which optimism may act. Rescue and recovery workers at the crash site of US Air Flight 427 (n= 159) were studied 2, 6, 9, and 12 months after the crash to examine optimistic outlook, social support, coping, and stress. As predicted, a more optimistic disposition was associated with less self‐reported distress, less use of avoidant and wishful‐thinking coping strategies, greater use of problem‐focused and seeking‐social‐support coping, and greater availability of social support. Contrary to expectations, coping did not account for the relationships observed between optimism and stress responding. Social support explained some of the effects of optimism on coping and stress, but these mediational effects varied over time. Findings suggest that optimism affects stress and coping directly and indirectly by affecting how much social support is available.     

The correlation between coping with stress and blood pressure reaction]

This study explored the relationship between individual strategies of coping and blood pressure responses during and after mental stress. Blood pressure behavior was measured noninvasively and continuously before, during and after a mental stress situation in 27 normotensive subjects. Coping strategies were assessed with the Stressverarbeitungsfragebogen (SVF; coping with stress inventory). Two extreme groups were formed on the basis of the scores in the SVF. Results were: (a) Individuals who used coping strategies characterized by controlling the situation directly and constructively, in contrast to probands not using these strategies, exhibited lower blood pressure during the stress situation and a faster return to baseline levels after cessation of stress. (b) Subjects using a coping behavior characterized by the use of defense mechanisms such as suppression and denial, also showed lower blood pressure during stress but a significantly delayed return to baseline levels of blood pressure after stress was concluded.     

Less Adaptive or More Maladaptive? A Meta‐analytic Investigation of Procrastination and Coping

Despite the theoretical and empirical accounts of trait procrastination as reflecting avoidance of aversive tasks as a means of mood repair, research documenting its links to coping is scarce and inconsistent. There is also little if any research to date examining whether coping strategies might explain the procrastination–stress relationship. The current research aimed to address these issues by integrating current research on procrastination and coping with our own data into a first meta‐analysis of the associations of procrastination with adaptive and maladaptive coping and then testing the potential role of coping for understanding the procrastination–stress relationship. In Study 1, a literature search yielded five published papers and three theses, which were supplemented by seven unpublished data sets comprising 15 samples (N = 4357). Meta‐analyses revealed that procrastination was positively associated with maladaptive coping (average r = .31) and negatively associated with adaptive coping (average r = ?.24). In Study 2, a meta‐analysis of the indirect effects through coping across four samples revealed that the average indirect effects for maladaptive but not adaptive coping explained the link between procrastination and stress. These findings expand the nomological network of procrastination and highlight the role of maladaptive coping for understanding procrastinators' stress. Copyright © 2015 European Association of Personality Psychology