1. Outline 1. Stress – definition 2. 3 components of stress Frustration Conflict Pressure 3. 4 important factors Nature of the stress Perception of the stress Stress tolerance External resources

2. Outline 5. Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome 6. Stress and Anxiety Incidence Assessment 7. Test Anxiety

3. Stress - definitions Stress A response to situations that involve demands, constraints, or opportunities

4. Stress - definitions Stress Stressor Anything which requires a person to adapt to changing conditions

5. Stress - definitions Stress Stressor Coping strategy The strategy adopted to manage the stress and the stressor

6. Stress - definitions Stress Stressor Coping strategy Eustress Stress produced as part of positive life experiences Eu- same beginning as the words Eutopia and evangelist

7. Stress - definitions Stress Stressor Coping strategy Eustress Dystress (distress) Stress produced as part of negative life experiences

8. 3 Components of Stress Frustration When attainment of goal is blocked Or when goal itself is missing

9. 3 Components of Stress Frustration Conflict Conflict – forced choice between two or more important goals Approach – avoidance Approach – approach Avoidance – avoidance

10. 3 Components of Stress Frustration Conflict Pressure Pressure – a constraint that works to shape your behavior in a certain way Can be internally- imposed or externally- imposed

11. Stress – 4 important factors Nature of the stress Severity Duration Imminence Other simultaneous stressors

12. Stress – 4 important factors Nature of the stress Perception of the stressor Is minor setback seen as serious challenge? Is serious challenge seen as minor setback?

13. Stress – 4 important factors Nature of the stress Perception of the stressor Stress-tolerance Two people could have similar perceptions of a stressor, but respond very differently to it Biologically-based, but can be learned to some extent

14. Stress – 4 important factors Nature of the stress Perception of the stressor Stress-tolerance External resources E.g., money, social support Chandrasena et al. (1991) – study of suicide cases: no immigrants in sample had acquired a social support network after arriving in Canada

15. Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome Hans Selye – Canadian endocrinologist Born in Hungary, studied in Prague and at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore McGill 1932-1976 Founded Canadian Institute of Stress 1979

16. Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome Selye first suggested that humans have a general reaction to stressors His GAS model indicates three stages of response to stress: Alarm Resistance Exhaustion

17. Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome Alarm Recruits energy and attention Stops non-essential processes Improves perception within a narrow focus Produces analgesia Inhibits growth & the immune system

18. Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome Alarm Resistance The body attempts to return to normal

19. Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome Alarm Resistance Exhaustion Resources depleted Cognitive function compromised Person tires easily Blood pressure increases, producing heart disease and stroke Immune system depressed

20. Anxiety Anxiety – an emotional state caused by stress Anxiety disorders: a set of internalizing disorders with physical & mental effects (e.g., rumination) Marked by worry, apprehension, tension Physical effects include bodily tension, elevated heart rate, sweaty palms

21. Anxiety Fight-or-flight response evolved to deal with emergencies – but a person should not be in that state over a long period of time. Negative mood, worry about future being unpredictable & uncontrollable Chronic over-arousal, tendency to avoid anxiety-provoking situations

22. Anxiety - Incidence Common disorder – e.g., in U.S., 23 million affected each year – costs US $42.3 billion/year Most common type of disorder for women (30%) Second most common type of disorder for men (19%) Co-morbidity common with other depression, other anxiety disorders

23. Anxiety Six primary types of anxiety disorder: Phobic Disorders (Specific and Social) Panic Disorder (with and w/o Agoraphobia) Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Acute Stress Disorder (ASD)

24. Some common specific phobias PhobiaTarget AcrophobiaHeights AlgophobiaPain AstraphobiaThunderstorms & lightning ClaustrophobiaEnclosed places HydrophobiaWater MonophobiaBeing alone MysophobiaContamination or germs NyctophobiaDarkness OchlophobiaCrowds PathophobiaDisease PyrophobiaFire ZoophobiaAnimals, or some particular animal

25. Generalized Anxiety Disorder Excessive anxiety and worry occurring more days than not for a period of at least 6 months, about a number of events or activities The individual finds it difficult to control the worry

26. Generalized Anxiety Disorder 3 of these 6 symptoms: Restless, keyed up, on edge Easily fatigued Difficulty concentrating Irritability Muscle tension Sleep disturbance

27. Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory State: anxiety level varies from one situation to another Trait: enduring personality characteristic STAI – 40 items (20 state, 20 trait); responses on 4 point scale indicate agreement with each item Groups or individuals; no time limit and takes about 15 minutes; 5-6 th grade reading level

28. Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Good reliability for Trait:.73 to.86 (Test-retest) Low reliability for State – which is expected Good concurrent validity – STAI-Trait correlates well with other measures of anxiety Good discriminant validity – e.g., STAI-State gave different scores within subjects tested before and after successful major surgery

29. Beck Anxiety Inventory 21-item, self-report, paper and pencil Reliability = Alpha.92 Validity = good on content, criterion, and construct Check for anxiety Support findings on a broader measure like the MMPI-2 (BAI is a more specific, so more sensitive, test)

30. Test Anxiety Mandler & Sarason (1952) Test anxiety is an emotional state in response to being tested (either formally or informally) Eysenck’s theory worry uses up Working Memory, leaving little capacity left for task performance

31. Mandler & Sarason (1952) Task relevant responses – aimed at accomplishing task at hand Positive response to test situation Task irrelevant responses – thinking about things other than task at hand Negative response to test situation

32. Test Anxiety Questionnaire Mandler & Sarason (1952) TAQ assesses pre- disposition to think or act in ways that interfere with completion of a task Highly reliable Some evidence for validity Focus on situation – TAQ measures state anxiety

33. Test Anxiety Scale (Sarason, 1958) Focus on person – measures trait anxiety Less text-anxious people increase effort & attention toward test challenge More test-anxious people focus inwardly, think about their insufficiency, interpret neutral stimuli in a negative way.