Depression is a significant problem, which is often related to stressful life events. Individual responses to life stress can vary depending on vulnerability factors, such as ability to regulate emotions. Studies have demonstrated that emotion regulation involves executive functioning abilities. Executive functioning is not only associated with cognition, but also emotional and behavioral control. Difficulty with executive function is sometimes associated with depression. Though there is an established relationship in the literature between life stress and depression, the moderating effects of executive functioning on the relationship between life stress and depression remains unknown. This study will use multiple linear regression to test whether executive functioning moderates the influence of life stress on depression. / text

Thesis advisor: Karen Rosen / Thesis advisor: Daniel Bowles / Transgender individuals in the twenty-first century face stigmatization across the globe. Discrimination contributes to the development of early life stress (ELS), and this may lead to depression, anxiety, and social and developmental problems as individuals enter adulthood. Suicide rates in transgender populations in Western countries peak above 41%, compared to 4.6% in the general population (Haas, Rodgers, & Herman, 2014). Though medical and social efforts to treat suicide in the community are being developed, existing measures have been unable to effect significant change regarding these disproportionately-high suicide rates. Some parts of the world are drawing ahead of others in this respect. As one of the most gay-friendly countries in the world (Rand, 2013), for example, Germany is making progress medically and legally, including recently having introduced a third gender option into legal documents and opened new discussions on depathologizing transgender identity in medical care. Germany has been able to build on its early history as the first country to publicly tolerate and provide healthcare to transgender individuals. This has fostered transgender activism from the postwar period to today and may contribute to lowered suicide rates among transgender Germans. This thesis aims to use Germany’s early history of transgender rights to contextualize the state of the transgender population there today. Using an analysis of existing literature, it looks at the effects of stigmatization on suicide rates in the transgender population. Positive and negative aspects of Germany’s LGBTQ+ and transgender culture are evaluated for their impact on neurological development and the perpetuation of suicidal behavior. The thesis concludes with proposals for improved social, legal, and medical practices regarding transgender health in Germany, with a particular focus on the development of cultural understanding of transgender identity. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2018. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2018. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Psychology. / Discipline: German Studies.

The aim of this research is to study the life stress and stress coping strategies of graduate students of College of Science and College of Engineering at National Sun Yat-sen University. The instrument applied in this study is ¡§The questionnaire of life stress and coping strategy of graduate students¡¨. The subjects are full-time graduate students of College of Science and College of Engineering at National Sun Yat-sen University. Six hundred and fifty questionnaires were sent out and 598 are valid. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson product-moment correlation. According to the statistic result, the conclusions are: 1.The life stress of the students is moderate in which the role expectation is the highest and learning stress is the lowest. 2.Grade level and financial support have significant effect on graduate students¡¦ life stress. a. The whole life stress of first year graduate students is significantly higher than second year ones. b. Students who support themselves by working as a tutor are most financial stressed. Different financial supports have significant effect on career development stress. 3.The frequency of using coping strategies is moderate in which ¡§emotion adaptation¡¨ is used most and ¡§delay-avoidance¡¨ is used least. 4.There is significant difference in the use of coping strategies between students of different genders and financial supports. a.Male students used ¡§emotion adaptation¡¨ strategies significantly more than female students did. b.Students who depended on ¡§other resources¡¨ as financial support are more likely to use ¡§emotional adaptation¡¨ as main coping strategies. Students who depend on ¡§tutor¡¨ as financial support used ¡§problem solving¡¨ strategies most. Different financial supports affect ¡¨social support¡¨ usage significantly. 5.There is significant correlation between life stress and coping strategies.

Negative life stress and maternal inhibitory control are both critical ingredients involved in the shaping and maintaining of the quality of parenting behaviors. This study explored both how the experience of stressful life events and inhibitory control relate to two particular types of parenting behaviors: harsh/controlling and autonomy-supportive. Given that these two types of parenting have broad implications for children’s developmental trajectories, it is important to further enhance our understanding of the etiological factors that both shape and maintain parenting practices. Utilizing a high-risk sample (i.e. low SES, high presence of documented child maltreatment) of mothers with pre-school aged children, this study did not support the relationship between the experience of stressful life events, maternal inhibitory control and quality of parenting. However, post hoc analyses of life stress using a measure of objective SES did yield a significant link between stress and the presence of autonomy-supportive parenting. This study expands the current understanding of how stress and inhibitory control relate to parenting behaviors. Implications of this study for practice and research are discussed.

Although a vast literature attests to the belief that psychosocial disturbance is an important component of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID), the relation of life stress, psychological distress and personality to the development of these disorders is poorly understood. The broad objective of this thesis is to provide data on relations between psychosocial factors and FGID, especially irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional dyspepsia (FD), in representative outpatient samples. Issues not previously addressed are examined in a series of studies. The first two studies are concerned with relations between psychosocial factors, extraintestinal (somatic) symptoms and the number and type of FGID syndromes present at consultation and, in IBS patients, the prospective relation of psychosocial factors to changes in symptom intensity over 16 months. The last three studies relate psychosocial factors to gastrointestinal (GI) transit, motor, and sensory function in FGID, abnormalities in these parameters representing the putative origin of symptoms in FGID. In total, 350 patients participated, representing a 95% participation rate. Important features of the methodology include the use of a recently standardised symptom-based classification system for FGID, an objective and reliable interview-based life stress instrument (The Life Events and Difficulties Schedule), and sophisticated and sensitive technologies to assess GI transit, motor and sensory function. Novel measures, which conceptually take into account the chronic, fluctuating and recurrent course of IBS and FD syndromes, and the tendency of these syndromes to coexist, are also included. Thus, measures of symptom outcome assess the number of syndromes present, while the symptom intensity variable reflects the severity and frequency of both FD and IBS symptoms, if both are present. Similarly, with respect to altered transit, and motor and sensory function, physiological outcome variables reflect not only the presence of an abnormality but the number of regions affected, and the type and number of abnormalities present. Cross-sectional findings showed for the first time that psychosocial disturbance is associated with FGID symptomatology in a quantitative manner, that chronic life stress threat is central to this process and this stress-related process is a prominent feature of a particular group of syndromes (ie IBS/FD) defined primarily by the presence of pain and discomfort. A combination of psychological, social and biological factors combined to predict the number of FGID syndromes present at entry into the study. Prominent among them was an angry, reactive and anxious (neurotic) personality, chronic life stress threat, increased coping, poor emotional support and increased age. In addition to a greater number of FD/IBS syndromes, individuals with an anger-reactive response style had experienced more intense pain and discomfort, and displayed more complete sensorimotor disturbance. Longitudinal data demonstrated (also for the first time) the strength, consistency and unequivocal direction of the relation of chronic threat to symptom intensity over time. Almost all of the within subject variance in symptom intensity levels (assessed on 3 occasions over a 16 month period) was explained by the severity of chronic threat during the previous 6 months or more. For 76% of IBS patients, the presence vs the absence of one or more highly threatening chronic stressors predicted with considerable precision, the long-term clinical outcome. Thus, no patient exposed to even one such stressor improved clinically (ie by at least 50%) over the follow-up period, while in contrast, all patients who improved clinically did so in the absence of such a stressor. For 24% of patients, however, failure to improve clinically could not be explained by any psychological, social (including life stress) or demographic factor included in this study. Key risk indicators of a poor outcome at 16 months were identified - chronic life stress threat, the severity of baseline GI symptomatology, and female gender. Life stress is important because it alone determined the magnitude and direction of change in symptom intensity over time, while the severity of baseline GI symptomatology revealed the extent of improvement required to achieve a recovery, and female gender predicted the presence of a larger number of FD/IBS syndromes in women long-term. Widespread hypomotility, which was almost exclusive to women in this study, represents one factor that may inhibit improvement (or rate of improvement) for women over time. Finally, these findings have identified a psychophysiological subgroup, with underlying psychosocial, motor (and perhaps also sensory) dysfunctions that are more specific for women than men, and which does not seem to be distinctive of any particular FGID subgroup.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2006. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 71-87).

Previous studies suggest that the major source of pressure for inmates or drug rehabilitants is from prison or drug abuser treatment center. The objectives of this research is thus to understand the impacts of life stress, self-esteem and social support to drug rehabilitants¡¦ life adaptation in drug abuser treatment center, and be able to provide practical suggestions to treatment center in order to advance the effectiveness of drug abuse treatment. This study employs quantitative research method, and uses survey questionnaire to collect data from 260 drug rehabilitants in the Kaohsiung Drug Abuser Treatment Center. 230 drug rehabilitants completed their questionnaires. The major findings include the followings. According to one-way analysis of variance, drug rehabilitants with different socio-demographic backgrounds yield dissimilar results toward life stress, self-esteem and social support. In terms of life stress, the younger the abuser is the more life stress he/she would have. In terms of self-esteem, the older the abuser is the better self-affirmation he/she would possess. In terms of social support, the younger the offender is the less social support he/she would have. In our regression model, all three variables including life stress, self-esteem and social support reach significant level with social support most heavily weighted factor in explaining drug rehabilitants¡¦ life adaptation in drug abuser treatment center. Based upon the aforementioned findings, it is believed that the treatment center should give up the dogmas of conventional rehabilitation treatment, and adopt a more pluralistic approach in order to reduce life stress, promote self-esteem and increase social support for drug rehabilitants. The effectiveness of drug rehabilitation treatment can thus be improved.

The purposes of this study were (a) to assess the life stress, coping strategies and mental health of master¡¦s students in Taiwan (b) to compare the three factors for master¡¦s students with different backgrounds (c) to explore the correlation among the three factors (d) to find out how students¡¦ background information, life stress and coping strategies predict their mental health. ¡§Master¡¦s students¡¦ life stress, coping strategies and mental health questionnaire¡¨ was applied in the study. The subjects were 2,515 master¡¦s students in Taiwan. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson product-moment correlation, and stepwise regression analysis. Besides, interviews were used to verify results of the quantity analysis. According to the results, conclusions were as follows: 1.The life stress of master¡¦s students was moderate, and ¡§study stress¡¨ was the highest life stress. Besides, the life stress related to various identification, marital status, academy, and age. 2.The frequency of coping strategies of master¡¦s students was between ¡§sometimes¡¨ and ¡§often¡¨, and most students used ¡§solving problems¡¨ strategy to deal with stressful problems and situations. Besides, the coping strategies related to various gender, academy, university type, area. 3.There are forty percent master¡¦s students with bad mental health, and ¡§anxiety and worrying¡¨ was the worst part of students¡¦ mental health. Besides, the mental health related to various gender, marital status, academy, grade, and age. 4.There were significant correlation among master¡¦s students¡¦ life stress, coping strategies, and mental health. 5.The background information, life stress and coping strategies of master¡¦s students could predict their mental health effectively.

Research has documented the age of first onset of depression is commonly in adolescence and young adulthood and that prepubertal onsets are occurring at an increasing rate. Thus, targeting interventions prior to this period of increased risk would maximize the opportunity to reduce the incidence of depression. To date, however, the limited research that has been done on protective factors has lacked some consensus and generalizability. This study focused on investigating potential individual and family protective factors and their roles in the development of depressive symptoms in early adolescent girls. More specifically, optimism was investigated as a possible mediator of the relationship between attributional style and depression. Furthermore, attributional style and family environment were hypothesized to moderate the effect of stress on depressive symptomatology. The participants of this study were 120 girls that were part of a school based cognitive behavioral group treatment study for girls with depression aged 9-14. Based on the ratings of symptoms by the girls and their caregivers, on a semi-structured diagnostic interview, two groups were identified: 1) girls that met the diagnostic criteria for a depressive disorder (n= 81), and 2) those that did not (control group; n= 39). Both samples also completed self-report measures of attributional style and family environment (i.e., cohesion, communication, and sociability), in addition to a projective measure which was coded for dispositional optimism. The results of this study suggested higher levels of optimism and more positive attributional styles independently predicted lower levels of depressive symptom severity; however, optimism did not impact the relationship between attributional style and depression. The results also demonstrated that girls who reported their families engage in more social/recreational activities had lower levels of depressive symptoms. Finally, increased life stress was not associated with increased levels of depression. The study's limitations, implications of the results, and recommendations for future research were discussed. / text

Although a vast literature attests to the belief that psychosocial disturbance is an important component of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID), the relation of life stress, psychological distress and personality to the development of these disorders is poorly understood. The broad objective of this thesis is to provide data on relations between psychosocial factors and FGID, especially irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional dyspepsia (FD), in representative outpatient samples. Issues not previously addressed are examined in a series of studies. The first two studies are concerned with relations between psychosocial factors, extraintestinal (somatic) symptoms and the number and type of FGID syndromes present at consultation and, in IBS patients, the prospective relation of psychosocial factors to changes in symptom intensity over 16 months. The last three studies relate psychosocial factors to gastrointestinal (GI) transit, motor, and sensory function in FGID, abnormalities in these parameters representing the putative origin of symptoms in FGID. In total, 350 patients participated, representing a 95% participation rate. Important features of the methodology include the use of a recently standardised symptom-based classification system for FGID, an objective and reliable interview-based life stress instrument (The Life Events and Difficulties Schedule), and sophisticated and sensitive technologies to assess GI transit, motor and sensory function. Novel measures, which conceptually take into account the chronic, fluctuating and recurrent course of IBS and FD syndromes, and the tendency of these syndromes to coexist, are also included. Thus, measures of symptom outcome assess the number of syndromes present, while the symptom intensity variable reflects the severity and frequency of both FD and IBS symptoms, if both are present. Similarly, with respect to altered transit, and motor and sensory function, physiological outcome variables reflect not only the presence of an abnormality but the number of regions affected, and the type and number of abnormalities present. Cross-sectional findings showed for the first time that psychosocial disturbance is associated with FGID symptomatology in a quantitative manner, that chronic life stress threat is central to this process and this stress-related process is a prominent feature of a particular group of syndromes (ie IBS/FD) defined primarily by the presence of pain and discomfort. A combination of psychological, social and biological factors combined to predict the number of FGID syndromes present at entry into the study. Prominent among them was an angry, reactive and anxious (neurotic) personality, chronic life stress threat, increased coping, poor emotional support and increased age. In addition to a greater number of FD/IBS syndromes, individuals with an anger-reactive response style had experienced more intense pain and discomfort, and displayed more complete sensorimotor disturbance. Longitudinal data demonstrated (also for the first time) the strength, consistency and unequivocal direction of the relation of chronic threat to symptom intensity over time. Almost all of the within subject variance in symptom intensity levels (assessed on 3 occasions over a 16 month period) was explained by the severity of chronic threat during the previous 6 months or more. For 76% of IBS patients, the presence vs the absence of one or more highly threatening chronic stressors predicted with considerable precision, the long-term clinical outcome. Thus, no patient exposed to even one such stressor improved clinically (ie by at least 50%) over the follow-up period, while in contrast, all patients who improved clinically did so in the absence of such a stressor. For 24% of patients, however, failure to improve clinically could not be explained by any psychological, social (including life stress) or demographic factor included in this study. Key risk indicators of a poor outcome at 16 months were identified - chronic life stress threat, the severity of baseline GI symptomatology, and female gender. Life stress is important because it alone determined the magnitude and direction of change in symptom intensity over time, while the severity of baseline GI symptomatology revealed the extent of improvement required to achieve a recovery, and female gender predicted the presence of a larger number of FD/IBS syndromes in women long-term. Widespread hypomotility, which was almost exclusive to women in this study, represents one factor that may inhibit improvement (or rate of improvement) for women over time. Finally, these findings have identified a psychophysiological subgroup, with underlying psychosocial, motor (and perhaps also sensory) dysfunctions that are more specific for women than men, and which does not seem to be distinctive of any particular FGID subgroup.