Psychology: Stress - questions and answers

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Tracy Thomas 12MW

Psychology – Mrs Carroll

Stress

a) Outline 2 factors, which can modify the effects of stressors.

Stressors are events that throw the body out of balance and force it to respond triggering the stress response. Stress management is the attempt to cope with the effects of the stressor through the reduction of the stress response. This can be done physically, i.e. through the use of biofeedback or anti-anxiety drugs, or psychologically, i.e. through stress inoculation or hardiness training.

b) Describe the procedures and findings of one study into the effects of stress on the immune system.

Keicolt-Glaser et al aimed to establish a link between stress and reduced immune function.

They took 75 self-selected first year medical students and conducted a natural experiment involving varying levels of stress inflicted by exams. Using a repeated measures design, they took blood samples from each participant – once a month before exams and again on the day of their final exams. This demonstrated low and high stress levels. The presence of lymphocytes in the blood, responsible for immune functioning, was measured with a high number representing better immune function. Also on each occasion the participants were given a questionnaire measuring their psychological state.

Keicolt-Glaser et al found that lymphocyte activity lowered between low stress and high stress situations therefore showing a reduced immune function. The questionnaire results showed that immune function was particularly lowered in those who said they were experiencing psychiatric symptoms, loneliness or stressful life events.

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c) ‘To be effective, stress management techniques must target both the physical and the psychological aspects of stress.’

Consider the effectiveness of physical approaches to stress management.

Stress management is an attempt to cope with the stress response through reduction or elimination. It is based on changing the individuals perceived ability to cope with the stressful situation or reducing the physiological stress response (‘fight or flight’ response); this can be physiologically or psychologically based.

Physiological approaches include biofeedback and anti-anxiety drugs.

Biofeedback is technique in learning how to control involuntary muscles or voluntary muscles that cannot ...

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