Psychology A2 - Causes of Stress - Johansson

Within Causes of Stress there are three schools of thought which are accompanied by different studies. The first of these studies, conducted by Johansson, attributes stress to work.

Johansson 1978 - Measurement of Stress Response due to Work 

Aim - To measure the psychological (mental) and physiological (biological) responses to stress in two categories of employees.

Participants - All participants worked in a Swedish Sawmill. 

Risk Level	Number	Job Type
High Risk	14	Complex job which required focus and knowledge of raw materials.  Responsible for the whole teams wages.  Had to work at a set pace which was governed by the production line.
Low Risk (Control)	10	Consisted of maintenance workers and cleaners.

Let's pretend this guy is Swedish... 

Methodology - No independent variable was manipulated due to the quasi nature of the study, making it an independent design. 

Data Collection - Data was collected through self-report and physiological tests. 

The self-report included self-rating scales which tested mood and alertness as well as caffeine and nicotine consumption.

Physiological data was collected 4 times a day through urine samples which tested for adrenaline, which is a hormonal response to stress. Body temperature was also recorded through-out the day. 

Results - Physiological data (urine) showed that, even before work, the high risk group had twice the level of adrenaline that the low risk group had. This continued to rise throughout the day. 

The high risk group self-reported a “rushed” feeling and high levels of irritation. They also rated their wellbeing as far lower than the control group. 

Conclusion - The repetitive, machine paced work of the high risk group contributed to their stress levels. 

Good Luck! 

Psychology G543 - Stress Overview

The Health and Clinical Psychology section of the G544 paper covers 4 topic areas: 

- Heathy Living 

- Stress

- Dysfunctional Behaviour 

- Disorders 

My school do not look at Healthy Living, focusing only on the latter 3 which will be covered in detail in further blog posts.

First, let's have a look at the topic of STRESS.

Stress 

What is stress?

Stress is defined as a psychological and physiological response to stressors. 

What are some physiological symptoms of stress?

We respond physically to stress by producing adrenaline which prepares our bodies for fight or flight. This includes: 

- Increased heart rate and respiration - This is so that more blood can be carried to the brain, helping us to think more clearly and react more quickly. 

- Perspiration (sweating)

- Closing down non-essential bodily functions

- Dialating pupils - In order to make vision clearer

At a time like this, I've not doubt that you've been feeling the stress, however one of the most important psychological questions (and the first part of the stress topic) is what causes stress? 

The three studies OCR has cited for causes of stress are: 

- Johansson - This study looks at the repetition and responsibility of work as a cause stress. 

- Kanner - Kanner compares two methods of stress scale, Hassles & Uplifts and Life Events, to see which causes more stress. 

- Geer and Maisel - This study looks at lack of control as a cause of stress. 

Another question asked by psychologists is what is the best way of measuring stress? As stress is a feeling and so it is subjective, it is sometimes difficult to accurately measure how stressed a person is feeling. 

The three studies OCR has cited for measuring stress are: 

- Physiological Measure - Geer and Maisel - The use of Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) to measure conductivity of sweat caused by stress.

- Self Report Measures - Holmes and Rahe - The use of rating scales such as the Social Readjustment Rating Scale to measure how life events cause stress. 

- Combined Measures - Johansson - The use of both urine samples to test for adrenaline levels, and self-report measures such as caffeine and nicotine consumption and emotional wellbeing. 

Lastly, and possibly most importantly, psychologists want to know how people can reduce the stress they feel. This not only enhances wellbeing but also saves society the cost of health care and lost productivity! 

The three studies OCR has cited for managing stress are: 

- Cognitive - Meichenbaum - This approach seeks to correct faulty thinking patterns through the use of Stress Innoculation Therapy. 

- Behavioural - Budzynski - This approach uses biofeedback, a system which gives visible or audible feedback on the state of our body, in order to try and cure tension headaches. 

- Social - Waxler Morrison - This study investigates whether social networks, which reduce stress, improve the survival rate of breast-cancer sufferers. 

Good Luck!

Psychology G543 - Overview of Heath and Forensic Studies

MindMaps are fabulous because they help you break down what looks like a lot of indigestible information into simple sections which are easier to remember! 

The G543 paper has roughly 50 studies to remember, which can seem overwhelming, but fret not! When broken down into simple sections and sub-sections, patterns emerge that make revision much easier! 

Both of these MindMaps were made on a free programme called MindNode Lite which can be downloaded from the App Store - I've found it a complete life saver when it comes to revision! 

(Right Click and Open Image In New Tab gives a good quality printable-size version)

G543 Forensic Psychology MindMap 

G543 Health and Clinical Psychology MindMap 

Good Luck!