This study explores the tremendous pressure Japanese students must endure in the pursuit of academic achievement. It identifies the sources of student's pressure and discusses the cultural, social, and economic conditions that influence a fiercely competitive educational system. The focus of this study is the impact of academic pressures on Japanese students. / Japanese education is a single-minded drive for achievement that results in what many refer to as examination hell. The university entrance examination is at the root of the pressures that are placed on students and is the primary mechanism responsible for driving competition. The life-long ramifications of students performance on this examination are far reaching. As a result, the pressures that are exerted upon students to achieve are overwhelming. Mothers, teachers, peers, and society contribute to the pressures that are placed on students to achieve, while many children continue to fall victim to emotional, psychological, and physical harm. / The study provides richly descriptive narrative accounts of student's experiences, thoughts and feelings seen from a student's perspective. The study gives voice to Japanese students and invites them to tell it like it is.

Interpersonal relationships are among the most important contributors to health and well-being. This dissertation investigates how and why relationships confer such benefits and proposes that relationships function as dynamic regulatory systems that enable people to cope effectively with challenging situations and pursue important goals. Across five Chapters, this work reveals the role of relationships in scaffolding effective individual self-regulation, dyadic coregulation (how partners dynamically modulate each other’s responses and regulate as a unit), and developmental regulation (adaptation to age-related challenges across the lifespan), particularly in the context of social support interactions. Chapter 1 introduces past research on the importance of social relationships, summarizes the rationale for focusing on social support interactions as a key context in which interpersonal regulation occurs, and presents an overview of the research and methods discussed in this dissertation. Chapter 2 investigates the role of social support in promoting effective self-regulation by conceptualizing, validating, and testing a new theoretical construct, Regulatory Effectiveness of Social Support (RES). RES proposes that recipients benefit from social support to the extent that it addresses their motivations to understand and manage their situation. In eight studies and a meta-analysis, this chapter reveals that receiving social support higher on RES predicts downstream outcomes that are important for effective self-regulation. Chapter 3 examines how social support interactions give rise to dyadic coregulation—dynamic coupling of partners’ physiological states. Results from this chapter demonstrate that social support interactions may be a context in which such coregulation is especially likely to occur, in order to help partners return to an equilibrium of responding, and underscore the importance of considering how dyads regulate as a single, interdependent unit. Chapter 4 presents preliminary evidence for how coregulation among older couples might influence developmental regulation. This chapter shows how between-dyad differences in coregulation processes in turn predict individual self-regulation processes in the face of a stressor. Chapter 5 synthesizes findings across chapters and highlights new avenues for future research. Overall, these findings suggests important self- and coregulatory implications of social support interactions, which may be a crucial mechanism through which interpersonal relationships influence health and well-being over time.

No description available.

Introduction: There is a large literature across disciplines aimed at understanding the causes of the depression gap, defined as an excess of depression among women compared with men. Based on the totality of evidence to date, social stress appears to be an important explanation for the depression gap. Social stress theory highlights women’s disadvantaged social position relative to men, positioning gender differences in socio-economic opportunities as social stressors, while also acknowledging how gender socialization teaches women to respond to stressors in depressogenic ways from an early age. This dissertation applied social stress theory to better understand the social causes of the depression gap with three related aims. Aim 1 summarized the evidence for variation or stability in the depression gap in recent decades, through a systematic review and meta-regression of depression gap studies over time and by age. Aim 2 examined the evidence for a changing depression gap across birth cohorts, and tested the extent to which any changes over time were mediated by changing gender differences in education, employment, and housework rates, three indicators of broader trends in gendered social position through the 21st Century. Aim 3 examined whether women in the workforce with competing domestic labor roles were at increased risk of depression, and whether pro-family workplace benefits buffered the effects of competing roles. Methods: In aim 1, depression gap estimates were extracted through a systematic review of published literature (from 1982-present). Analytic datasets were comprised of 76 diagnostic-based estimates and 68 symptom-based estimates. For each dataset, meta-regression models estimated time and age variation in the depression gap, as well as the interaction between time and age group, to estimate the variation in the gap over time by age. Data from the National Longitudinal Surveys were utilized for aims 2 and 3. Depression was measured with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD), and the depression gap was defined as differences in mean CESD scores for women vs. men. The aim 2 sample included 13,666 respondents interviewed from 1992-2014. Hierarchical mixed models estimated the magnitude of the gender depression gap over time, and its relationship with 10-year birth cohort (range: 1957-1994) and whether any variation was mediated by gender differences in: those with a college degree or more, those who were employed full-time, and the average number of hours spent doing housework per week. The sample in aim 3 was limited to employed women ages 17-57 (n=3993). Generalized estimating equations estimated the relationship between competing roles and depression, and the interaction between competing roles and pro-family employee benefits on depression. Interaction results were compared to models estimating the effect of non-family-related benefits on the relationship between competing roles and depression. Results: In aim 1, there was no evidence of change in the depression gap over time. Compared with the reference group (i.e., respondents ages 60+), the age effect was appreciable among the youngest age group (age 10-19) (RR=1.44; 95% CI=1.19, 1.74), but did not differ for any other age groups. The age by time interaction was elevated for youngest age group (RR=1.27; 95% CI=1.0, 1.61), suggesting that, compared to the oldest age group, the diagnostic depression gap had increased among the youngest ages from 1982 to 2017. There was no evidence of time changes among any other age group. Results were similar for symptom-based studies. In aim 2, there was a linear decrease in the depression gap by 0.18 points across birth cohort (95% CI= -0.26, -0.10). The results of the mediation analysis estimated that an increasing ratio of college degree attainment mediated 39% of the gender depression gap across cohorts (95% CI= 0.18, 0.78). There was no evidence of mediation due to changing employment or housework ratios. In aim 3, there was evidence that women in competing roles reported a 0.56-point higher CESD score (95% CI= 0.15, 0.97), compared with women not in competing roles. The interaction between pro-family benefits and competing roles was associated with CESD scores (B=-0.44, p=0.023). More specifically, among women without access to pro-family benefits, those in competing roles reported a 6.1 point higher CESD score (95% CI=1.14, 11.1), compared with those not in competing roles, however, among women with access to these benefits, there was no association between competing roles and CESD scores (difference=0.44; 95% CI=-0.2, 1.0). Results were similar for non-family-related benefits. Women in competing roles without non-family-related benefits reported a 3.59 point higher CESD score than those not in competing roles (95% CI=1.24, 5.95) while among women with access to these benefits, there was no association between competing roles and CESD symptoms. Conclusion: This dissertation provided evidence to partially support the hypothesis that the depression gap is changing over time and is meaningfully related to the social environment, through which gender roles, responsibilities, and opportunities available to women and men are defined and reinforced. The results of these studies suggest that the depression gap may be expanding and contracting over time for different age groups. Understanding the social causes of the depression gap is important to reduce the present and future burden of the depression gap, and to understand the fundamental processes through which depression disparities may be perpetuate or attenuated in adolescence and beyond.

According to large nationally-representative epidemiologic surveys, Black individuals in the U.S. experience a lesser or equal prevalence of DSM diagnosed major depression, relative to White individuals, despite experiencing greater exposure to major life stressors, a known cause of major depression. This finding, often referred to as the Black-White Depression Paradox, has been the subject of many studies; however, the drivers of the phenomenon remain unknown. The objective of this dissertation is to advance understanding of the explanatory mechanisms that produce the paradox, through critical examination of existing evidence and empirical assessment of untested hypotheses. This dissertation is divided into five chapters, the first of which is an introduction to the dissertation. The second chapter is a critical review of extant evidence for existing hypothesized explanatory mechanisms for the depression paradox. Chapters 3 and 4 are both empirical analyses using data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III. Chapter 3 tests two possible causal structures for the relationships between race, life stressor exposure, and depression that would be consistent with observed racial patterns of depression, an effect modification causal structure that would suggest that the paradox is caused by racial patterns in life stressor coping, and an inconsistent mediation causal structure, which would suggest that the paradox is produced by Black individuals having a reduced baseline risk of depression, independent of their life stressor exposure. Chapter 4 subsequently assesses whether religiosity could produce the paradox by being an explanatory mechanism for the causal structure best supported in Chapter 3. The dissertation ends with Chapter 5, which summarizes the results of the dissertation, and situates the findings within the broader psychiatric epidemiologic literature. The critical review found that many hypothesized mechanisms had been posited, but none of the mechanisms that had been sufficiently empirically tested had robust, compelling evidence. However, one hypothesized mechanism in particular, religiosity, has been posited frequently as a potential explanation for the paradox, has compelling indirect support, but has yet to be sufficiently empirically tested. Chapter 3 failed to find support for an effect modification causal structure for the relationships between race, life stressor exposure, and depression. However, the findings did support an inconsistent mediation causal structure, whereby the effect of Black race not mediated by life stressor exposure was protective of depression, and was stronger than the deleterious effect mediated by life stressor exposure. This finding suggests that the pathways to depression that are salient for the paradox are those operating independent of life stressor exposure. However, Chapter 4 failed to find support for religiosity operating as a mediating mechanism for this salient, life-stressor independent pathway. Results of these studies suggest the need to develop and empirically test novel hypothesized explanatory mechanisms for the paradox, specifically mechanisms that would explain a lower baseline risk of depression for Black individuals, independent of their life stressor exposure.

On t.p.: Master in Social Work (Welfare Programme Management) / Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study attempts to gain insight into the nature of psychosocial stress experienced by correctional officials. In order to achieve this, a literature study was undertaken regarding the nature of psychosocial stress from an ecological perspective as well as strategies that the occupational social worker, management and central government can employ to address stress experienced by correctional officials. Secondly, an empirical study was undertaken and information on the research topic was obtained from correctional officials that worked on the sections inside prisons and who worked directly with inmates. The study indicated that low motivation amongst colleagues, insufficient salaries and bad collegial co-operation were factors that had a major influence on psychosocial stress experienced by correctional officials. Factors such as family responsibilities as opposed to work responsibilities; drug-or alcohol abuse as well as physical constraints have less of an impact on psychosocial stress. It was furthermore found that the need for confidentiality, guidance in stress management and emotional support enjoys a high priority with correctional officials regarding social worker intervention. Issues such as the need that the social worker should form part of a multi-disciplinary team or that he/she should mobilise their colleagues and supervisors for support enjoyed a lesser preference with correctional officials. With regard to the role of management it was found that correctional officials require that management should primarily provide more promotional opportunities and should develop a more satisfactory merit system. Dissatisfaction with the Department of Correctional Services' Employee Assistance Programme and the present shift system were less of a concern to correctional officials. It was concluded that that stressors experienced by correctional officials are varied and include feelings of anger, depression and a general dissatisfaction with managerial styles and certain departmental actions and procedures. It was also very evident that many correctional officials felt that they do not have an appropriate avenue to deal with their stress. If this situation prevails, it was concluded that it will exacerbate correctional officials' poor social functioning. With regard to social worker intervention it was concluded that the vast majority of correctional officials are in dire need of social work intervention to assist them in effectively dealing with stress. It was further concluded that the Department of Correctional Services does not have sufficient structures in place to support correctional officials during stressful periods. Management has a vital role to play in supporting correctional officials when coping with psychosocial stress. If the present situation remains unattended to by management it may impede correctional officials' ability to deal with stress. Recommendations by respondents also indicated a low level of involvement by management in the practical stressors which correctional officials may face. It was also concluded that present attempts by management to deal with psychosocial stress effectively through the induction of an Employee Assistance Programme and the longstanding grievance procedure, have severe practical limitations. Recommendations were made to the social worker, management and central government regarding effectively addressing psychosocial stress experienced by correctional officials working on sections and who are primarily responsible for the guarding of inmates. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie studie is ondersoek ingestel na die aard van psigo-sosiale stres wat deur korrektiewe beamptes ervaar word. Ten einde hierin te slaag,is eerstens 'n literatuurstudie onderneem ten opsigte van die aard van psigo-sosiale stres vanuit 'n ekologiese perspektief. Daar is ook gekyk na strategieë wat die bedryfsmaatskaplike werker, bestuur sowel as die sentrale regering kan aanwend om psigo-sosiale stres wat deur korrektiewe beamptes ervaar word aan te spreek. Daarna is 'n empieriese studie onderneem deur vraelyste aan korrektiewe beamptes te stuur wat direk op seksies binne in gevangenis met gevangenes werksamig is. Die navorsing het aangedui dat lae motivering onder kollegas,onvoldoende salarisse en swak kollegiale samewerking die grootste bydraende faktor is tot psigososialestres wat deur korrektiewe beamptes ervaar word. Faktore soos alkohol- of dwelmmisbruik en liggaamlike gebreke oefen In mindere invloed uit op psigososiale stres wat deur korrektiewe beamptes ervaar word. Met betrekking tot die behoefte aan maatskaplike intervensie is daar bevind dat vertroullkheld, leiding in stres hantering en emosionele steun die hoogste prioriteit by korrektiewe beamptes geniet. Faktore soos die behoefte dat die maatskaplike werker deel moet vorm van 'n multi-dissiplinêre span of dat hy/sy die korrektiewe beampte se kollegas en supervisors moet mobiliseer vir ondersteuning, het 'n mindere prioriteit by korrektiewe beamptes geniet. Met betrekking tot die rol van bestuur, is daar gevind dat korrektiewe beamptes meer bevorderings geleenthede en 'n verbeterde meriete stelsel van bestuur verwag. Ontevredenheid met die Departement van Korrektiewe Dienste se werknemer bystandsprogram (WBP) en die huidige skofstelsel was 'n laer prioriteit vir korrektiewe beamptes. Die gevolgtrekking is gemaak dat stressors wat ervaar word deur korrektiewe beamptes uiteenlopend van aard is en dit sluit in gevoelens van depressie, woede sowel as 'n algemene ontevredenheid met bestuurstyle en sekere departementele aksies en prosedures. Dit was ook baie duidelik dat baie korrektiewe beamptes nie 'n geskikte hulpmiddel het om hulle in staat te stelom psigososiale stres effektief te hanteer nie. Indien die huidige situasie bly voortbestaan, kan korrektiewe beamptes se swak maatskaplike funksionering verder belemmer word. Met betrekking tot maatskaplike werk intervensie ,is gevind dat die oorgrote meerderheid van korrektiewe beamptes 'n noodsaaklike behoefte daartoe het dat die maatskaplike werker hulle moet ondersteun om psigososiale-stres effektief te hanteer. Voorts is die gevolgtrekking gemaak dat die Departement van Korrektiewe I Dienste nie oor toereikende strukture beskik om die korrektiewe beampte te ondersteun tydens stresvolle tydperke nie. Bestuur het 'n noodsaaklike rol in die ondersteuning van die korrektiewe beampte in sy/haar hantering van psigososiale stres. Indien die huidige situasie nie voldoende deur bestuur aangespreek word nie, kan dit die korrektiewe beampte se vermoë om psigososiale-stres te hanteer verder strem. Aanbevelings deur respondente het ook 'n lae vlak van betrokkenheid deur bestuur aangedui by die praktiese stressors wat korrektiewe beamptes mag ervaar. Die gevolgtrekking is ook gemaak dat huidige pogings deur bestuur om psigososiale stres aan te spreek deur middel van 'n werknemer bystandsprogram en die reeds gevestigde griewe prosedure, grootskaalse beperkings het. Aanbevelings is aan maatskaplike werkers,bestuur en die sentrale regering gemaak oor hoe om psigososiale stres wat deur korrektiewe beamptes werksaam op seksies binne in gevangenisse en wat primêr vir die bewaking van gevangenes verantwoordelik is, aan te spreek.

This study examines stress and distress experienced by working age individuals in the urban environment. The goals of this research are twofold: (1) to test for a social gradient in stress and distress; and (2) to test for environmental effects on the reporting of stress and distress, specifically focussing on variations in stress and distress across neighbourhoods in Montreal. Montreal was selected as the focus of this study because it is a large metropolitan region with some of the highest income disparities in Canada. Individual-level logistic regression models and multilevel analyses of the 2000/01 Canadian Community Health Survey were applied to identify the determinants of stress and distress and to determine the degree of variation in stress (n = 1944) and distress (n = 1836) captured at the neighbourhood level. Results showed that a social gradient exists with distress in Montreal, but not stress, and that neighbourhoods have an effect on distress above and beyond individual characteristics.

No description available.

Literature has shown that Korean immigrants experience severe depressive symptoms due to the stresses associated with immigration. The purpose of this study is to extend current research on stress and depression to the Korean immigrant population in the United States. While most studies on Korean immigrants focus almost entirely on the unsettling nature of immigration, the current study focused on the role of stress-resistance variables (mediating factors) in the relationship between various sources of stress and depression among Korean immigrants. This study investigated the relationship between stressors and depression and the effects of such mediating variables as coping strategies, social support, personal resources (mastery and self-esteem), and religiosity on the stressors-depression relationship among the Korean population. The sample of this study consisted of 374 Korean immigrants who migrated to the United States at the age of 16 or older. Structural Equation Modeling was used to test the study hypotheses. Results found detrimental effects of stressors on the level of depression, as well as mediating effects of perceived social support and personal resources (selfesteem and mastery) on the relationship between stressors and depression. However, no mediating effects of coping strategies and religiosity on the relationship between stressors and depression were found. Implications for social work practice, research, theory, policy, and education are discussed.