Based on pretreatment levels of anxiety, 21 involuntarily confined forensic psychiatric patients were assigned to one of three experimental conditions: stress management training, stress discussion, or no treatment control. Measures of anxiety, physical health, mood, adherence to "irrational beliefs" hypothesized by Ellis (1962) to be related to dysphoric emotions, and a measure of hospital ward adjustment were collected before and after treatment. Subjects originally assigned to the waiting list control group later received exposure to either the stress management training condition or the stress discussion condition. Measures of nonspecific treatment effects generally showed that both group treatments generated equivalent treatment credibilities. The self-report measures of mood and physical health demonstrated that exposure to the stress management training condition resulted in pre to posttreatment improvement, while exposure to the stress discussion condition did not. Also, subjects exposed to the stress management training condition decreased their endorsement of "irrational beliefs," while subjects exposed to stress discussion condition did not. Neither condition resulted in reduced pre to posttreatment changes in state or trait anxiety or improved ward adjustment. It was concluded overall that the stress management training procedure was a moderately effective stress reduction technique for forensic psychiatric patients. Directions for future research are presented as interpretive limitations of the present results. / Ph. D.

Role strain, coping, and adaptational outcomes were examined for a sample of 205 eighth grade adolescents. Differences by gender and family type on amount of role strain, use of coping strategies, and levels of emotional stress and well-being in family and peer roles were identified. Results indicate gender differences in degree of strain experienced in the family role and in use of Social Support and Ventilation as coping strategies. Female adolescents report significantly greater strain than males in family roles. Females, in comparison to males, use Social Support to a significantly greater degree and Ventilation significantly less often as a coping response. Differences by family type were found for the use of Family Support as a coping strategy. Adolescents in single-parent families utilize Family Support as a coping strategy significantly less often than adolescents in two-parent families. Results are discussed and directions for future research are recommended. / Master of Science

This study examines the treatment effects and preventive potential of Social Support and Cognitive Restructuring interventions for stress management. A group of 56 highly stressed college undergraduates was selected from a screened population of students who self-referred for difficulty in coping with the general stress of university life. The former subjects were randomly assigned to one of four groups: Social Support; Cognitive Restructuring; Social Support/Cognitive Restructuring (combined treatment); and No Treatment Control. Subjects in each of the three treatment groups attended a total of 5 treatment sessions conducted over a one-month period. Control subjects only completed the dependent measures at the designated intervals. A multiple measurement strategy was employed. Few statistically significant between-group differences were found at post-treatment. The preventive potential of the treatments was examined via a post-treatment Probe assessment, held a few days prior to the final examination period. Results again indicated no differences between the three treatments, and few differences between the treatment groups and Control. The data indicated that the preventive effect of the treatments had a wider impact than did the treatment effect. Difficulties in implementation and interpretation of the present study are discussed, as well as directions for future research in this area. / Ph. D.

Specific measures and procedures for reducing stress in women from dual-earner families were developed and evaluated. Preliminary research indicated that time management instruction and social support were two promising approaches for impacting upon stress levels in working wives. Fifty-six married women working in classified employee positions at a local university were assigned to one of four conditions in which they received either extensive time management instruction with a large degree of group support (Combination condition), extensive instruction with minimal group support (High Instruction condition), minimal instruction with a large degree of support (High Support condition), or neither intervention (a waiting-list control). Major variables of interest included amount of time reported in two targeted priority activities, changes in self-efficacy for specified time management-related tasks, amount of support received both within and outside of the group setting, and changes in global stress measures. Reliability on time spent in targeted activities was assessed via phone interviews with participants' spouses and participants themselves. Women in both conditions receiving extensive instruction reported significantly greater increases in such activities in comparison with High Support participants. Changes in time spent in targeted activities were maintained 3 months after the program ended. Both conditions receiving extensive instruction also reported a greater amount of self-efficacy at posttest than the two conditions receiving minimal or no instruction. In contrast, no significant differences among conditions were found on either of the two global stress measures. While there was evidence for the integrity of the group support manipulation, actual changes in group contacts were small for all conditions. Possible reasons for this were explored. In light of the strong inverse correlation found between outside support and stress, in-depth investigation of methods for helping individuals create functional supports as well as better utilize supports already available to them was suggested. The utility of emphasizing specificity of both interventions and measures in developing stress management programs for targeted populations was discussed. / Ph. D.

No description available.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Salovey and Mayer have formulated the theory of Emotional Intelligence in 1990. Since then, the term and concept have been widely used to describe the ability to identify and regulate one's own emotions (personal self-management) as well as that of others (relationship skills). This ability is said to be a crucial element in the make-up of company executives today, distinguishing those who are successful from struggling followers. Because of its apparent importance, many industrial psychologists have spent numerous hours developing tests and questionnaires to be applied within the field. The idea is to identify the underlying shortfalls and then design the appropriate corrective strategies that will improve the competencies of managers. In doing so, great benefits are envisaged for the specific company. The proposed neurobiological mechanisms operative in emotional intelligence hinges strongly on the function of the limbic system of the brain. The hippocampus is one limbic region that is central to functions such as mood and emotion. Therefore the optimal working of this brain structure is essential if a person's emotional intelligence is to increase. The workplace of today is a highly stressful environment. International competition for market share, pressures on price and quality, mobility of labour force, are but some of the global factors that are primarily responsible for the extreme stress levels experienced by many employees in leadership positions. One of the body's physiological responses to stress is the release of the hormone cortisol. This cortisol catalyses biochemical reactions that initiate coping mechanisms (e.g. maintenance of blood glucose levels) for the stress. Cortisol also binds to receptors in the brain, one structure being the hippocampus. The purpose hereof has interested scientists for years. Clinical studies have recently shown that high levels of cortisol are deleterious for the brain. Patients suffering from Post -Traumatic Stress Syndrome or Depression showed elevated cortisol levels that were associated with a significant decrease in hippocampal volume. It has been postulated that this defect in hippocampal structure contributes to the behavioural abnormalities observed in these patients. The information contained in this document therefore provides scientific evidence to show that to have programmes aimed at developing the emotional intelligence of people without addressing issues around stressful working environments, is a futile exercise. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Salovey en Meyer het die teorie van Emosionele Intelligensie in 1990 geformuleer. Sedertien word die term en konsep wêreldwyd gebruik om die vermoeë te beskryf van iemand wat sy eie emosies (persoonlike selfbestuur) en die van ander (verhoudingsvaardighede) te kan identifiseer en reguleer. Hierdie vermoeë maak 'n kritieke deel uit van die mondering van top bestuurders in 'n firma en onderskei die suksesvolles van die volgelinge. As gevolg van die oënskynlike belangrikheid van emosionele intelligensie, bestee talle industriële sielkundiges menige van hul tyd aan die ontwikkeling van toetse en vraeboë in hierdie veld. Die idee is om die onderliggende kortkominge uit te lig, die gepaste remediërende strategieë te bepaal, wat weer op hul beurt die bevoegdheid van bestuurders moet verbeter. Hierdie aksies kan geweldige voordele vir die firma inhou. Die voorgestelde neurobiologiese meganisme waarop emosionele intelligensie berus, gaan nou gepaard met die funksionering van die limbiese sisteem in die brein. Die hippokampus is een van die limbiese areas wat gemoeid is met gemoed en emosie by die mens. Daarom is die optimale werking van hierdie brein area essensieël vir die ontwikkeling van iemand se emosionele intelligensie. Die hedendaagse werksplek word gekenmerk deur die teenwoordigheid van hoë vlakke van stres. Internasionale kompetisie, druk op prys en kwaliteit, beweeglikheid van werkerskorps, is maar 'n paar van die globale faktore wat primêr verantwoordelik is vir die uitermate vlakke van stress ervaar deur werkers in leierskapsposisies. Vrystelling van die hormoon kortisol, is een van die liggaam se reaksies op stres. Kortisol kataliseer biochemiese reaksies (bv. die handhawing van bloed glukose vlakke) wat die liggaam in staat stel om te "cope" met die stres. Kortisol bind egter ook aan reseptore in die brein, veral in die hippokampus. Die doel hiervan het navorsers vir baie jare geïntereseer. Kliniese studies het onlangs getoon dat hoë vlakke van kortisol skadelik is vir die brein. Pasiënte wat presenteer met Post-traumatiese stres of Depressie, toon verhoogde vlakke van kortisol, wat geassosieër word met 'n beduidende verkleining in die volume van die hippokampus. Dit is dan ook gepostuleer dat hierdie strukturele brein defek aanleiding kan gee tot die gedragsafwykings wat in hierdie pasiënte voorkom. Die inligting vervat in hierdie dokument dui dus daarop dat programme wat bedoel is om emosionele intelligensie van werkers te ontwikkel, 'n sinnelose oefening is, indien die stresvolle omgewing waarin hierdie werkers moet opereer, nie korrek aangespreek word nie.

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Sciences

This empirical study assessed the perceived stressors in medical school environment and psychological outcomes in undergraduate medical students in a non - western sample. The sample consisted of African and Indian students in the Clinical group (N = 149) and a matched Control group, the Pre-clinical group (N = 158) bringing the total number of participants to 307. The research dealt with perceived stressors, coping mechanisms and outcomes in a medical school environment. Outcome was assessed using self-report instruments which examined stress symptoms and psychological distress. Both bivariate and multivariate correlational analyses were performed to investigate correlations and the predictive value of risk factors for psychological distress. The findings indicate that there are no significant differences in the perception of stressors in the medical school environment between the Pre-clinical and Clinical groups. Maladaptive coping strategies, perceived stressors and female gender have important roles to play in predicting psychological distress. High self-esteem and good social support for both groups, as well as optimism in the Clinical group protects against psychological distress. Strengths and limitations of this study as well as implications for intervention strategies among undergraduate medical students are also discussed. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2003.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.D.)--University of Adelaide, 1987. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 107-119).