Measurement of Stress

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to the measurement of stress, types of stressors, and assessment methods.

Acute Stressors

Demands and pressures of the recent past and anticipated demands of the near future.

Chronic Stressors

Unrelenting demands and pressures for seemingly interminable periods of time.

Traumatic Life Events

Sudden, powerful events that severely tax the adaptive abilities of those exposed; may be acute or chronic.

Collective vs. Individual Traumas

Collective traumas happen to communities with widespread effects, while individual traumas occur to single individuals or small groups.

Self-Report Measures

Assess psychological stress through questionnaires or interviews; involves subjective assessment.

Physiological Measures

Utilize objective measurements such as blood pressure, heart rate, and stress hormone levels to assess stress.

Perceived Stress Scale

A self-report questionnaire that assesses how often individuals felt stressed in the past month.

Daily Hassles Scale

A self-report tool that measures minor stressors and daily hassles individuals experience.

Social Readjustment Rating Scale

Evaluates impact scores of various life events based on their stress-inducing potential.

Laboratory Stressors

Standardized stressors applied in a controlled environment to measure physiological responses.