Health Psychology Stress & Stressors (Part II)

The Stress of Emerging Adulthood

  • Milestones for Adulthood:

    • Completing school

    • Leaving home

    • Becoming financially independent

    • Marrying

    • Having a child

  • Emerging Adulthood:

    • Defined as a distinct transitional period between adolescence and full-fledged adulthood.

    • Characterized by the postponement of traditional adulthood roles.

    • Identified as a time filled with excitement and freedom, but also associated with significant stress.

    • Cultural Causes of Stress:

    • Increased need for education

    • High unemployment rates

    • Rejection in the workplace

    • Ongoing search for personal identity

  • Stress Factors during Emerging Adulthood:

    • Frequent relocations:

      • Approximately 30% of emerging adults move every year.

    • Career changes:

      • Individuals in their twenties typically change jobs an average of seven times.

    • Career progression:

      • 70% of emerging adults express feeling they have not made sufficient career progress.

    • Moving back in with parents:

      • Over 40% do so at least once during their twenties.

    • Romantic partnerships:

      • About 66% live with a romantic partner during this period.

  • Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) and Prenatal Stress:

    • Exposure to early life stress can lead to significant adverse outcomes in later stages of life.

    • Maternal stress during pregnancy is linked to various developmental issues in offspring.

    • Maternal childhood stress affects mother-child interactions negatively.

    • Childhood trauma has been associated with the onset of chronic diseases in adulthood.

Daily Hassles

  • Definition of Hassles:

    • Daily hassles are identified as a key source of stress for most individuals.

  • Impact of Hassles:

    • The significance of hassles depends on:

      • Frequency

      • Duration

      • Intensity

    • Individual reactions are influenced by:

      • Personality traits

      • Coping styles

      • Context of the situation

    • Persistent and recurrent hassles are powerful predictors of health-related issues, often outweighing the impact of major life events or the frequency of daily uplifts.

Work-Related Stress

  • Prevalence of Work-Related Stress:

    • Almost every individual experiences some form of work-related stress.

  • Consequences of Perceived Work Stress:

    • High perception of work stress correlates with an increased risk of emotional and mental health issues including mood disorders and anxiety disorders.

  • Factors Influencing Job Stress:

    • Older workers may experience heightened job stress due to various factors, including social-evaluative threats and stereotype threats.

    • Work-related stress is recognized as one of the most preventable health hazards, indicating opportunities for effective stress management.

Combining Work and Family

  • Work Overload:

    • A direct relationship exists between work overload and increased levels of stress, poorer health habits, and a higher frequency of accidents leading to health complications.

  • Role Overload:

    • Refers to the challenges faced while juggling multiple roles concurrently.

  • Hypotheses:

    • Scarcity Hypothesis: Suggests that limited resources lead to increased stress.

    • Enhancement Hypothesis: Proposes that fulfilling multiple roles can have positive effects, enhancing well-being.

Burnout

  • Definition of Burnout:

    • A job-related state of physical and psychological exhaustion, often resulting from chronic workplace stress.

  • Jobs Prone to Burnout:

    • Occupations that entail significant responsibilities for other individuals tend to be associated with higher levels of burnout. Examples include:

    • Health care workers

    • Dentists

    • Paramedics and firefighters

    • Air traffic controllers

  • Key Insight:

    • Burnout is not an unavoidable consequence of employment, suggesting that interventions may be possible.

Other Sources of Job-Related Stress

  • Factors Contributing to Job Stress:

    • Role Ambiguity: Unclear job expectations leading to stress.

    • Role Conflict: Incompatibility between multiple roles or expectations.

    • Stereotype Threat: Anxiety stemming from the fear of confirming negative stereotypes.

    • Shift Work: Disruption of biological rhythms due to non-standard work hours.

    • Job Loss: A significant source of stress due to loss of income and identity.

    • Perceived Lack of Fairness and Inadequate Career Advancement: Contributing factors to workplace stress.

Social Interactions and Stress

  • Role of Social Interactions:

    • Social interactions can function as buffers against work-related stress, offering support and alleviating pressure.

  • Social Stress:

    • Linked to overburdened caregivers, leading to:

      • Depression

      • Lower levels of life satisfaction

      • Reduced immune response, illustrated by lower T cell counts.

      • Overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which can further affect health.