Discuss the relationship between stress and illness
Discuss the relationship between stress and illness
Stress can be defined in many different ways but one of the major definitions accepted in psychological circles is the dynamic interaction between the person and their environment.
The transactional model of stress states that stress arises when the person perceives that s/he is unable to cope adequately with the demands being made on them or cope adequately with threats to their well-being (Lazarus, 1981), when coping is of importance to them (Cox, 1987) and when they are anxious or depressed about it (Cox & Ferguson, 1991).
A great deal of research has been done on the effects of stress on mental and physical well-being and has consistently shown that prolonged stress has a negative effect on the body and can lead to illness. For example:
One of the first researchers to make this link was Selye (1956) who, based on his experimental research with animals into the relationship between prolonged stress and illness, produced a theory known as the general adaptation syndrome (also known as GAS).
GAS proposes that the effects of stress involve the following 3 stages:
The first stage, alarm is where the stressor is detected and the body prepares to deal with the potential problems.
The second stage, resistance is a stage in which the body attempts to deal with the stressor it has faced. If this stressor continues, it could lead to detrimental effects on the body which is the third stage of exhaustion.
The third stage, exhaustion, is where the negative effects of prolonged stress on the body increase rapidly and, if the stress is not removed or dealt with, could lead to physiological and psychological deficiencies such as depression and anxiety and physical illness which can lead to damage to vital organs (such as the heart and kidneys) and, ultimately, death.
The relationship between stress and illness has also bee found to be true in humans, for example:
Schliefer et al. (1983) looked at the functioning of the immune system in the husbands of women who died from ...
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The third stage, exhaustion, is where the negative effects of prolonged stress on the body increase rapidly and, if the stress is not removed or dealt with, could lead to physiological and psychological deficiencies such as depression and anxiety and physical illness which can lead to damage to vital organs (such as the heart and kidneys) and, ultimately, death.
The relationship between stress and illness has also bee found to be true in humans, for example:
Schliefer et al. (1983) looked at the functioning of the immune system in the husbands of women who died from breast cancer. The husbands' immune system functioned less well after their wives had died than before, showing the impact of bereavement on the immune system.
Kiecolt-Glaser et al's (1987) study investigated the effects of prolonged stress on the immune system by looking at how quickly wounds heal in long-term carers of Alzheimer's sufferers and those who don't have to do long-term care. 26 participants were gained by advertisements in newspapers. Findings showed three things: 1) complete wound healing took significantly longer in the carers than the controls in that it took an average of 9 days (24%) longer in the carers. 2) cytokine levels were lower in the carers than the control group (this means that their immune systems were working less effectively than when not stressed). 3) on the perceived stress scale, the carers did actually indicate that they were feeling more stressed. The researchers concluded that the findings support the view that chronic stress depresses the functioning of the immune system and that this, in turn, makes the sufferer more prone to ill health.
Research has shown that one significant source of stress is the workplace. Furthermore research has shown that work related stress can result in serious consequences for the both employees - including ill health and low job satisfaction - and employers - such as high rates of absenteeism and the financial burden on employers associated with this. For example:
Cobb and Rose (1973) studied the medical records for air traffic controllers and second-class airmen were studied. The air traffic controllers had higher blood pressure compared with the airmen. There was found a relationship between high blood pressure and the amount of air traffic the controllers handled. There was matching for age, as blood pressure increases with age.
Researchers have identified that one source of stress in modern life, including the workplace, is daily hassles.
Guppy and Weatherstone (1997) found that stress in the workplace is related to specific conditions of work, physical and psychosocial factors and the worker's awareness that they are having difficulty in coping with important aspects of their job. Aspinwall and Taylor (1997), like Guppy and Weatherstone, also found that workplace stress is accompanied by attempts to cope with the situation but they found that it is also accompanied by changes in the employee's cognition, behaviour and physiological functioning which can lead to physical and psychological illness.
Research into stress and illness has also revealed that one of the major sources of stress is daily hassles, for example: DeLongis et al (1982) carried out a 12 month study on the relationship between daily hassles and illness using 100 American adults aged between the ages of 45-64. The researchers used four questionnaires:
. The Hassles Scale which measured the frequency and intensity of events that hassled them in past month in the following areas: work, family, social activities, environment, practical considerations, finances, and health.
2. The Uplifts Scale which measured the frequency and intensity of uplifting events in the following areas: work, family, social activities, environment, practical considerations, finances, and health.
3. The Recent Life Events Questionnaire which measured the life events participants experienced throughout the year.
4. The Health Status Questionnaire which measured the participants' overall health status, total number of physical symptoms reported, and reported energy level.
The findings revealed a small but significant positive correlation between life events and physical and a stronger positive correlation between the frequency and intensity of hassles and physical illness.
Kanner et al's (1987) research also found a significant positive correlation between daily hassles and negative psychological effects such as anxiety, depression, and distress and a significant negative correlation between daily hassles and self-worth.
Luthar and Zigler (1991) have carried out research which has suggested that daily hassles may provide a better predictor of illness than major life events (e.g. death of a spouse, divorce). They suggest that this is because knowledge of major life changes tells us very little about the day-to-day events that can lead to stress and therefore probable illness.
Technology in the workplace has also been shown to be a source of stress, for example: The
Kensington Stress and Technology Group (1999) surveyed 501 American adults in full-time, traditional and home-based office workers. The findings showed that nearly 46% of the workers said that their level of work stress had increased in the past year and more specifically 47% said that this was specifically because of the demands of technology such as voice and e-mail demands, computer crashes, etc. Therefore according to the Survey, technology is a double-edged sword that enhances workplace productivity at the cost of increasing stress on workers.
In conclusion most research appears to suggest that there is a strong relationship between stress and illness.
