Stress is a common mental health problem that bothers all people despite their age, geographical location, gender, or race. Nowadays, more than 70% of people admit that they experience stress regularly (American Institute of Stress). However, my awareness of statistics is not the main problem. The comparison of what I know about stress and what my parents know shows that our youth differs. At this moment, I do want to clarify what outcomes are waiting for me. In this essay, my task is to understand why the experience of stress varies through generations regarding such factors as statistics, the level of knowledge, and personal attitudes.
I believe that statistics can be a helpful tool to comprehend why people of my age experience more stress than our parents did at our age. In the United States, the stress level among young adults has increased up to 30% in last 30 years (Sifferlin). People experience stress because of different reasons, including their problems at work, financial concerns, family issues, or love affairs. Today, it is easy to find a cause and admit that a person suffers from stress. Stress leads to heart problems and mental health disorders (Ross 15). Stress is a reason for and an outcome of millions of problems and diseases. Stress is everywhere. Still, the question is why stress was so insignificant and invisible when our parents were young.
The point is that it is not difficult for me to find a number of definitions of “stress”. In several seconds, I can read that “stress is how the brain and body respond to any demand” (“5 Things You Should Know about Stress”) or that stress may be chronic, acute, episodic, or posttraumatic (American Psychological Association). In less than five minutes, I can find several effective treatment plans and offers from psychologists and other supporters. Stress is not even a problem, but a product that can be used to earn money and control people. I am not sure that my parents or grandparents had similar knowledge about stress and its causes when they were my age. Even more, I have a thought that they were not exposed to stress the same way I am today. Therefore, the level of knowledge about stress is another explanation of stress level differences between generations.
Finally, an understanding and perception of stress depend on personal attitudes a lot. Modern teenagers and young adults are usually shaped by various social, political, and even economic events because of social media, current technologies, and 24/7 connection with the world (Divecha). People of my age make themselves open and vulnerable to different sources of stress without even thinking about why we do it and what future we can create. Our parents and grandparents had their own problems and challenges, but most of them came from the outside, and the task was to deal with them. Our generation experiences more stress compared to our grandparents because we create it first and then start thinking how to cope with it.
In general, I understand that it is hard to avoid stress today. Our parents and grandparents were lucky to experience a small portion of stressful situations when they were younger. Today’s young adults are so involved in technological progress, unlimited opportunities, globalization, and international relations that they cannot even notice how dangerous stress can be for them. It is high time to take a lesson from the past and re-evaluate stress in human life.
Works Cited
“5 Things You Should Know about Stress.” National Institute of Mental Health, 2017. Web.
American Institute of Stress. “What Is Stress?” AIS, 2017. Web.
American Psychological Association. “Stress.” APA, 2018. Web.
Stress is an inevitable aspect of life that has a complex physiological mechanism. People respond differently to painful or threatening events. These responses determine whether they experience stress or not. The type of response determines the level of stress one experiences, which is usually determined by factors such as personality and hardiness. There are two types of stress that people experience: beneficial and destructive stress (Bickerstaff 34). Stress is beneficial only if it pushes people to achieve their goals while it is harmful if it prevents them from achieving their goals and living quality lives. Understanding the physiological mechanism as well as the various sources of stressors is important for the proper management of stress.
Approaches to stress
Stress is defined as any deviation from physical and mental equilibrium, which results in the release of hormones in the body that initiate a fight or flight response (Bickerstaff 38). A psychologist known as Bartlett defined stress as a response to a stimulus that arises from an interaction between an organism and the environment in which it lives (Bickerstaff 39). There are three types of stress, namely acute (short-term), episodic, and chronic (long-term) stress.
Acute stress arises from the current demands of life as well as anticipated pressures of the near future (Bickerstaff 39). Acute stress is exciting and beneficial in small doses but harmful in large doses. Common symptoms of acute stress include emotional distress, muscular problems, and stomach problems such as heartburn and flatulence (Bickerstaff 40). Episodic stress occurs among people who suffer frequent bouts of acute stress, mainly due to the effects of overwhelming daily tasks and responsibilities (Bickerstaff 41).
It is common among people who live disorganized lives. Common symptoms include persistent headaches, migraines, heart diseases, and hypertension (Bickerstaff 43). Chronic stress arises from challenges that are difficult to resolve, such as poverty, chronic illnesses, and unhappy marriages, and it affects the mind and body (Miller and Shelly 67).
The physiological explanation of stress
Stress involves a complex process of communication and interactions between neurons and somatic cells, as well as the participation of various body systems. When a person encounters a stressor, the neurons in the hypothalamus secrete two main hormones. The first hormone, corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH), initiates the secretion of corticosteroids that play a key role in the stress response (Randall par. 3).
The second hormone, vasopressin, increases the rate of water absorption and initiates contraction of blood vessels (Randall par. 3). The contraction of blood vessels is harmful because it increases blood pressure. Both hormones (CRH and vasopressin) activate the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands. A stress signal initiates communicate between the amygdala and the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus connects various body organs through the autonomic nervous system (ANS).
The ANS comprises the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. Activation of the sympathetic nervous system by the hypothalamus leads to the release of epinephrine (adrenaline) by adrenal glands. Adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulates the adrenal glands to release cortisol that keeps the body alert in case an individual continues to experience the effects of a stressor (Randall par. 6)
Environmental explanation of stress
With regard to stress, environment refers to any condition, situation, or event that initiates a stress response in an individual. For example, strong lights, death, loss of a job, divorce, and chronic illness can all create an environment that heightens the stress levels experienced by an individual (Hartland 53). The type of stress experienced depends on the severity of the event or situation. For example, if a loved one suffers from a terminal disease such as cancer, the levels of stress experienced are high and destructive. The environment determines how beneficial or destructive stress is to people based on their ability to deal with the events that occur in their lives.
The four major types of stressors include micro stressors, life events, cataclysmic stressors, and ambient stressors (Hartland 54). Microstressors include short-lived everyday occurrences such as being stuck in a traffic jam, receiving destructive criticism from a superior, or losing something valuable (Hartland 55). Cataclysmic stressors include floods, tornadoes, and war.
Role of individual differences in relation to stress
A researcher known as Hans Selye explained that people react to stress by passing through three stages of coping, namely alarm reaction, resistance, and exhaustion. In the first stage, the body prepares itself to either fight or flee from the danger (Hartland 67). In the second stage, the body builds resistance to the stressor, and in the third stage, the body wears out in case the stress response lasts for a considerable period.
The researcher stated that the physiology of stress comprises two main components that include responses to stress and a pathological state due to the effects of unrelieved stress (Miller and Shelly 82). In a study involving rats, he discovered that stress has the same effect regardless of whether a person receives good or bad news. He referred to negative stress as distress and positive stress as eustress (Hartland 69). He also described the HPA axis and the various glandular states that occur during responses to stress.
Holmes and Rahe were researchers who developed a questionnaire for identifying stressful events in life. They referred to it as the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS). The two researchers identified 43 major stressful life events and graded them based on the trauma they caused (McLeod par. 2). The main limitation of SRRS is that it does not take individual differences into consideration because it is based on the assumption that stressors affect people in the same way. This limitation motivated Kanner and his colleagues to develop a Hassles Scale to augment the research. They included 117 items in their scale in order to address individual differences (McLeod par. 4).
Kanner and his colleagues conducted a study to find out whether daily hassles were more stressful than major life events. The results of the study revealed that daily hassles are more accurate predictors of occurrences such as anxiety and depression than the SRRS (McLeod par. 7). They found out that people exhibit different stress responses. For example, cognitive stress responses include worry, indecision, and memory problems (Miller and Shelly 87). Physical stress responses include body aches, flatulence, diarrhea, and nausea.
People react to stress in different ways depending on their personalities. In that regard, two famous researchers Friedman and Rosenman grouped people into two main groups: Type A and Type B. A person with Type A personality is highly competitive, longs for recognition, and pursues development and advancement. In addition, he/she is goal-oriented, and as a result, works rapidly in order to finish tasks on time (Sims 48).
People in this personality group are usually physically and mentally active. People with Type A personality are likely to experience high stress levels because of their weak coping mechanisms. People with personality Type B have low levels of personal drive, passion, desire for goal achievement, and motivation. People in this group are less competitive, calm, relaxed, and respond better to stress than people with Type A personality because of their strong coping mechanisms (Sims 49).
Another researcher, Susan Kobasa, conducted a study to evaluate the concept of hardiness in people. He concluded that a hardy personality exhibits certain qualities that include control, commitment, and challenge (Sims 51). Hardy people are committed to find solutions to problems that face them and are persistent in their search for solution. In addition, they view change as a challenge that is to be overcome. Hardy people respond to stress better than non-hardy people because they believe that the environment is under their control (Sims 54).
Workplace scenario
I had an experience with the positive and negative effects of stress at work. An employee was diagnosed with chronic stress after a long period of suffering. As a new employee, he was focused, highly productive, and hard working because of his numerous family and professional responsibilities. The pressure (eustress) they exerted on him motivated him to work hard for long hours. As a result, he was named the employee of the month for two consecutive times.
However, as the pressure of the responsibilities escalated, his condition worsened and the stress led to depression. He began losing focus, his productivity decreased, he became irritable, and always argued with supervisors and colleagues. He received two warnings from the human resource department before a professional diagnosis that confirmed that he was suffering from chronic stress.
Conclusion
Stress is a non-specific response of the body that results from an internal or external demand made upon it. There are three types of stress namely acute, episodic, and chronic stress. In any moment, stress can be either positive (eustress) or negative (distress). People react differently to stress based on their personality. For instance, people who are passionate, competitive, and highly driven are affected more by stress because of their poor coping mechanisms. In contrast, people who are less driven, non-competitive, and relaxed are affected less by stress because of their better coping mechanism. Understanding the physiology of stresses is important in the proper management of stress.
Works Cited
Bickerstaff, Linda. Stress. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, 2007. Print.
Hartland, Dilys. Understanding Stress. New York: Caxton Editions, 2000. Print.
McLeod, Saul. Stressful of Life Events. 2010. Web.
Miller, Allen, and Susan Shelly. Living with stress. New York: Infobase Publishing, 2010. Print.
Randall, Michael. The Physiology of Stress: Cortisol and the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis. 2011. Web.
Experiences that children undergo in their families determine how they grow and develop in society. Chai et al. (2016) assert that violence in families is a source of stress that triggers trauma among children and predisposes them to diverse psychological problems. Given that parenting plays a central role in shaping the growth and development of children, the wellbeing of mothers determines the nature of parenting (Anyikwa, 2016). The existence of IPV is families have a marked influence on parents, parenting behavior, and children’s trauma. In their study, Ferdos and Rahman (2017) found out that sexual and physical violence are common types of IPV among pregnant women, which increases maternal stress and reduce the birth weight of children. In essence, IPV threatens the lives of mothers and children. According to Silval, Limall, and LudermirIII (2017), children from family backgrounds with IPV tend to acquire and develop psychological aggression. Thus, a study on the effect of IPV on maternal stress and trauma is necessary to enhance the understanding of gender-based violence in families.
In a family set-up, numerous factors mediate the effect of IPV on maternal stress and sibling trauma. Rotheram-Borus (2016) explains that the intensity of IPV has a statistically significant association with the magnitude of depression symptoms in women. Tsai, Tomlinson, Comulada, and Rotheram-Borus (2016) argue that the frequency of IPV is directly proportional to the emergence of maternal stress and sibling trauma. Families that experience intense and frequent IPV get high levels of maternal stress and sibling trauma. Howell, Barnes, Millerb, and Graham-Bermann (2016) maintain that IPV has an increasing effect of trauma on adolescents, toddlers, infants, and newborns. Therefore, based on the background information, the study hypothesizes that IPV is a predictor of maternal stress and sibling trauma. The findings support the hypothesis for they demonstrate that IPV is a strong predictor of maternal stress and sibling trauma.
Method
The study sampled mothers from families with violence (n = 47) and families without violence (n = 45) (Tailor, Stewart-Tufescu, & Piotrowski, 2015). The families had more than two children aged between 5 and 18 years with the ability to speak English fluently. Research Ethics Board of the university approved the study and recommended continued therapy of the participants. Following ethical approval, the study sought written informed consent from parents and oral permission from children. Maternal stress, sibling trauma, and parenting behavior are dependent variables of the study that were assessed using established research instruments.
Childhood exposure was determined by asking parents to rate the extent of exposure to intimate partner violence. Physical Aggression was used to measure violent behaviors that mothers and children experienced in their respective families. Trauma symptoms exhibited by children were assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist-PTSD, which comprised of 20-items relating to post-traumatic stress disorder (Tailor, Stewart-Tufescu, & Piotrowski, 2015). The Parenting Stress Index, a scale with 19 items, was employed in evaluating the level of maternal stress. The interactions mothers and children were assessed through an observational procedure, which provided qualitative data.
Results
In the analysis of data to provide meaningful results, the study employed a t-test, chi-square test, correlation test, and hierarchical multiple regression analysis. T-test demonstrated that mothers with the experience of IPV had a higher level of maternal stress than mothers without, t(79) = 2.32, p = 0.023. Chi-square t-test showed that low education level, (χ2 (1) = 4.43, p = 0.035) and poverty (χ2 (1) = 5.22, p = 0.022) associated with the experience of intimate partner violence (Tailor, Stewart-Tufescu, & Piotrowski, 2015). Correlation analysis revealed that maternal stress has a strong relationship with negative parenting behavior, r(33) = 0.73, p = 0.000. Regression analysis indicated that maternal stress accounts for 45% of the variation in sibling trauma symptoms, R2 = 0.45, p = 0.023.s
Discussion
Researchers explain the results by linking to various themes and studies regarding intimate partner violence. Using the social structural theory in elucidating maternal stress, researchers argue that IPV creates maternal stress by forming a stressful environment. Subsequently, mothers with stress offer negative parenting behavior, which imposes trauma symptoms in children. Although differential treatment of children exists in families, maternal stress amplifies it. To enhance the validity of the study, future studies should consider using qualitative data and measuring the intensity and frequency of IPV.
Questions/Answers
Write an “overview” or a summary of the article. Indicate your assessment of what the study is about and the major findings of the study.
Since mothers have a significant influence on the welfare of their children, the experience of IPV has negative effects because they contribute to the occurrence of trauma symptoms and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this view, the study examined the effects of IPV by comparing sibling trauma, maternal stress, and parenting behavior between mothers with (n = 47) and those without (n = 45) the experience of IPV. The major findings are that families with IPV had higher levels of child trauma symptoms and maternal stress than families without IPV.
According to the introduction, what information was already known about the topic (look for references to previous research)? Did the author(s) describe the problem being studied? Did they present sufficient background literature to allow you to understand the problem better?
The introduction shows that previous studies had established that IPV has negative effects on children and adolescents for it causes social, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional problems. Subsequent studies demonstrated that the experience of IPV increases maternal stress and predicts the occurrence of trauma symptoms and PTSD in children. As the research problem, the authors contend that previous studies did not consider differential parental treatment of children based on their birth order. In describing the research problem, the authors presented adequate background information.
What variables were studied? What were the hypotheses concerning these variables?
The dependent variables of the study are parenting behavior, maternal stress, and sibling trauma symptoms, whereas the independent variables are family groups with and without IPV experience. The first hypothesis is that IPV-families have higher levels of parenting behavior, maternal stress, and sibling trauma symptoms than families without IPV. The second hypothesis holds that parenting behavior, maternal stress, and sibling trauma symptoms are predictors of trauma in children from IPV-families. The third hypothesis is that maternal stress has a more significant influence on sibling trauma symptoms among younger siblings when compared to older siblings.
What were the operational definitions of the variables studied (e.g., how was each variable or procedure specifically defined so that it could be studied)?
Parenting behavior was measured by observing the nature and quality of mother-child interactions. The study assessed maternal stress using the parenting stress index, which is an established scale with 19 items, while sibling trauma symptoms were evaluated using the check behavior checklist-PTSD scale with 20 items. The existence of IPV was gauged using a subscale of the Conflicts Tactics Scale (the Physical Aggression).
Who were the participants in this study? Were there any special participant characteristics?
The participants in the study were mothers and children. The special characteristics of the mothers are that those in IPV-family should provide a self-report of IPV experience, while a minimum of two children should come from the same family and their ages ought to be between 5 and 18 years.
What were the procedures used to test the hypotheses? Were the procedures in the method section detailed enough so that you could complete the study on your own?
The chi-square test, correlation test, t-test, and regression analysis were procedures used in testing the hypotheses. The procedures used are detailed and sufficient for one to replicate the study.
Was the experimental or non-experimental method used? Were there attempts to control any extraneous variables?
The study employed a non-experimental method because it did not control variables of interest. Extraneous variables were controlled during the recruitment of participants for researchers ensured that two children aged between 5 and 18 came from the same family, communicated fluently in English, and had the experience of IPV.
What were the major results of the study? Were the results consistent with the hypotheses?
The major results of the study are that maternal stress and sibling trauma symptoms are higher in families with IPV than those without. Moreover, maternal stress and sibling trauma symptoms are moderate predictors in older siblings and strong predictors in children. These results are consistent with the three hypotheses of the study.
Please describe exactly how the authors list their statistical findings (e.g. t=3.26, p<.01). This information is located in your journal article.
The authors listed statistical findings of the t-test, chi-square test, correlation test, and regression test by showing test statistics, degrees of freedom, and the p-value. For instance, in the t-test, the authors showed that maternal stress is statistically significantly higher among mothers with IPV experience than among those without the experience, t(79) = 2.32, p = 0.023. The chi-square test shows that there is association between IPV and lower education level (χ2 (1) = 4.43, p = 0.035) and poverty (χ2(1) = 5.22, p = 0.022). Correlation test demonstrated that there is a moderate relationship between maternal stress and negative parenting behaviors (r (33) = 0.73, p =0.000) and positive parenting behaviors (r (33) = 0.59, p = 0.000) directed to younger siblings and older siblings. Regression analysis showed statistical significance of the regression model (F(4,23) = 7.67, p = 0.000) and established that maternal stress explains 45% of the variation in sibling trauma symptoms, R2 =0.45, p = 0.23.
How do the results relate to the other studies cited in the introduction?
The findings relate to previous studies because it demonstrates that mothers who have IPV history have higher levels of maternal stress and predispose their children to trauma symptoms.
How did the researcher interpret the results? Can you think of alternative interpretations?
The researchers interpreted the results of the study by linking to findings of the previous studies and contextualizing their occurrence. I consider that the researcher interpreted the results well for I cannot provide an alternative interpretation.
Did the author give suggestions for future research or applications?
The authors noted the limitation of their study and suggested future research to employ qualitative or mixed-methods design and the determination of the severity and frequency of IPV.
What would you do if you wished to find out more about this research topic?
To find additional information about the research on this topic, I would read references listed in this article and research on the current studies from recently published articles.
References
Anyikwa, A. (2016). A trauma-informed approach to survivors of intimate partner violence. Journal of Evidence-Informed Social Work, 13(5), 484-49. Web.
Chai, J., Fink, G., Kaaya, S., Danaei, G., Fawzi, W., Ezzati, M., … Fawzi, M. (2016). Association between intimate partner violence and poor child growth: Results from 42 demographic and health surveys. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 94(1), 331-339. Web.
Ferdos, J., & Rahman, M. (2017). Maternal experience of intimate partner violence and low birth weight of children: A hospital-based study in Bangladesh. PLoS ONE, 12(10), 1-13. Web.
Howell, K., Barnes, S., Millerb, L., & Graham-Bermann, S. (2016). Developmental variations in the impact of IPV exposure during childhood. Journal of Injury and Violence Research, 8(1), 43-57. Web.
Silval, J., Limall, M., & LudermirIII, A. (2017). Intimate partner violence and maternal educational practice. Revista de Saude Publica, 51(34), 1-11. Web.
Tailor, K., Stewart-Tufescu, A., & Piotrowski, C. (2015). Children exposed to intimate partner violence: Influences of parenting, family distress, and siblings. Journal of Family Psychology, 29(1), 29-38. Web.
Tsai, C., Tomlinson, M., Comulada, S., Rotheram-Borus, J. (2016). Intimate partner violence and depression symptom severity among South African women during pregnancy and postpartum: Population-based prospective cohort study. PLoS Medicine, 13(1), 1-22. Web.
Stress can be defined as a state of mental deprivation as a result of an adverse or demanding situation (Cotton, 2013). In most cases, stress is associated with unreasonable demands that wear and tear a person’s mental and physical wellbeing. Stress causes emotional and physical effects. If not managed early enough, stress can lead to psychological or medical complications. Severe stress leads to depression, anxiety, and cognitive disorders. Other than physical and emotional effects, stress can lead to relationship problems, poor work performance, suicide, criminal activities, and loss of work. Stress management refers to the techniques that are employed to control or reduce the tension that occurs as a result of stress. It aims at improving the emotional and physical wellbeing of stressed individuals. The individual stress management program is a commonly used method for stress management (Sawatzky et al. 2012).
Problem statement
Psychiatrists have over the years developed therapeutic treatment regimens, in an attempt to manage stress. A number of people have managed to overcome the stress and live a stress-free life, after participating in these treatment regimens. However, the number of stress recurrence and its effects are devastating. Little has been done to manage stress and eliminate its recurrence and effects.
Objective
The research project will focus on producing outcomes that will enable psychiatrists and counselors to design stress management therapies that improve the quality of life for their clients. In addition, the project findings will assist employees to develop strategies that minimize employee stress in the workplace.
Report overview
This project will explore the various societal definitions of stress. At the same time, it will evaluate the significance of stress in society. It will analyze the causes and effects of stress. The common stress phenomena such as stress-inducing thoughts, behaviors, and procrastination will be discussed further. In addition, the paper will seek to explore the traditional stress management programs. The traditional stress management programs will be compared to contemporary programs to evaluate critical similarities and differences.
Working conceptual framework
Stress will be explored by applying various behavioral theories in modern context and meaning. Previous research findings hold that stress is a product of certain historical happenings (Cotton, 2013). This will enhance the understanding of stress management in different contexts. The research will extensively rely on the stress of traditional literature from scholarly articles, to evaluate similarities and differences in the approaches used to manage stress. For instance, the Lazarus and transactional models of stress will be used to provide the definition of stress and the environmental factors that cause it.
Research methodology
Research Design
Interviews will be used to collect data on the causes and effects of stress. Moreover, the interviews will be used to collect data on stress management. Structured questionnaires will be used to conduct face-to-face interviews with the sampled respondents. The interviews will be exploratory in nature, to enable the researcher to gain the required information without losing the focus of the project objectives. The interviews will be personalized, to make it easy for the interviewee to share his or her emotional ideas, opinions, and expectations. Two enumerators will facilitate the data collection exercise.
Sample
The selection of the project sample will be random. The sample size will consist of workers, supervisors, counselors, and psychiatrists. It will be a representation of the institutional population, where the research will be conducted.
Interview questions
The interview questions will seek to find the relationship between stress, and the external or internal factors. For instance, stress and personality questions will be used to evaluate the relationship between stress and a person’s skill set, or passion. The respondents will also be required to respond to workplace stress questions. Thirdly, the interview questions will establish the relationship between stress and organizational inefficiencies. At the same time, respondents will be asked to identify the organizational factors that can be used to cope with, or manage stress. The questions below will be administered.
How do you associate stress and your personal life?
What stresses you in the workplace?
How do you overcome your work-related stress?
Do you think organizational inefficiencies are a cause of stress?
What can be improved to reduce job stress?
What relevant stress management information are you aware of?
Is the information sufficient for stress management?
Data analysis
The data collected will be analyzed through multiple regression analysis, to establish the correlation between the research variables. The analyzed data will be interpreted and presented in a well-written research report.
Limitations of the interviews
According to Mitchell & Jolley (2010), structured interviews have a number of shortcomings. First, they limit the scope of respondent responses. This implies that the respondent’s freedom to respond to the questions widely is limited. Secondly, a lot of time will be required to collect and analyze the respondent’s views, opinions, and perspectives. At the same time, the responses may be confusing to record for the enumerators.
Plan and Timetable
The following timetable represents the schedule of activities that will be undertaken during the implementation of the research project. This plan and timetable will act as a guide for the facilitation of the project. However, the timetable will be adjusted with time to match the changes in the implementation of the project.
Project plan
Activity
Expected date of completion
Preparation of the proposal
Evaluation of the project scope
Proposal acceptance
Completion of a literature review
Preparation of the research instrument
Data collection
Data compilation
Data analysis
Data interpretation and presentation
Preparation of draft report
Draft report approval
Preparation of the final research report
References
Cotton, D. H. (2013). Stress management: an integrated approach to therapy. New York: Routledge.
Mitchell, M. L., & Jolley, J. M. (2010). Research design explained. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Sawatzky, R. G., Ratner, P. A., Richardson, C. G., Washburn, C., Sudmant, W., & Mirwaldt, P. (2012). Stress and depression in students: the mediating role of stress management self-efficacy. Nursing Research, 61(1), 13-21.
The video depicts a clear case of persistent sexual harassment of an employee by her boss. Sexual harassment is an illegal activity and aside from the violation of individual rights is associated with a wide array of psychological, behavioral, and social negative effects. From a Weberian perspective, however, a separate list of organizational consequences can be identified.
First, the motivation behind the harassment needs to be determined. In all instances, except the first one, the boss is exhibiting the dominant position, speaking authoritatively and paying little attention to the signs of the employee’s discomfort. Such display is not characteristic for behavior caused by romantic attraction and suggests that the manifestation of power is at least one of the leading causes.
This is consistent with the current understanding of the phenomenon: the majority of incidents of sexual harassment are driven by the power abuse (McLaughlin, Uggen, & Blackstone 2012). According to Weber, power is ‘the probability that one actor within a social relationship will be in a position to carry out his/her own will despite resistance, regardless of the basis on which this probability rests’ (Kronman 1983, p. 38). Again, this is consistent with what is known about the sexual harassment.
Obviously, such manifestation of power is unacceptable for most of the organizational theories, including Weberian. First, it introduces ambiguity and uncertainty into a bureaucratic structure. According to the classical organizational theory, this leads to the disruption of the organizational system, which is highly anticipated in this case as well: the violation of workplace ethics will put an employee under constant stress and compromise the productivity and efficiency of the working process.
In addition, such actions clearly contradict the role assigned to the managers by Weber (control and organization of workers): aside from being outside the scope of said activities, the authority of the boss gets irreparably disrupted by his behavior, leading to the loss of trust and presenting each of his orders as possibly biased by the power abuse.
A separate attention should be paid to a suggestion of a promotion voiced by the boss on Friday. Similarly to the disruption of authority, it undermines the integrity of the hierarchical organization. This effect will likely be observable across the company, as other employees will change their view regarding the promotion mechanisms. In other words, the productivity will not be regarded as a factor responsible for the professional growth. Combined with the effects of stress experienced by the staff members and the overall decline of commitment usually associated with sexual harassment (Nielsen & Einarsen 2012), it is likely that the company will experience a range of organizational throwbacks, not to mention the loss of employees.
In my opinion, the situation is complicated by the fact that the figure with the most power is the facilitator of the behavior, and thus cannot be solved from within. However, external support can be sought to provide legal, informational, and social help. While there is no guarantee that the intervention will result in a better workplace environment, it is clear that leaving the matters unaddressed will lead to an organizational disaster.
Reference List
Nielsen, M & Einarsen, S 2012, ‘Prospective relationships between workplace sexual harassment and psychological distress’, Occupational Medicine, vol. 62, no. 3, pp. 226-228.
Kronman, A 1983, Max Weber, Stanford University Press, Stanford.
McLaughlin, H, Uggen, C, & Blackstone, A 2012, ‘Sexual harassment, workplace authority, and the paradox of power’, American sociological review, vol. 77, no. 4, pp. 625-647.
Stress can be defined as a brain’s response to a demand for the adaptive capacities of an individual (Olpin & Hesson, 2014). The ability to handle it determines the outcome of the influence of a particular stressor. According to the Yerkes-Dodson principle, a small amount of stress is beneficial for performance and well-being; however, the prolonged influence of the level of stress that surpasses one’s coping ability might translate into the reduction of motivation and health problems (Olpin & Hesson, 2014).
Therefore, stress can be divided into four categories: good, bad, acute, and chronic. Good or eustress is usually caused by an event that is perceived as positive by a person experiencing it. On the other hand, bad stress or distress is associated with the negative influence of stressors that overcomes an individual’s coping capacity. Acute stress is episodic in its nature and is characterized by the extreme arousal of the nervous system as a result of a situation initiating a stress response (Olpin & Hesson, 2014). The most common sources of stress for college students: time management, personal expectations, family expectations and family life, academic demands, finances, employment, relationships, mental and physical health issues, information overload, and living arrangements, among others (Olpin & Hesson, 2014).
In order to reduce distress, it is important to develop a comprehensive plan that will be best suited to an individual’s life choices and needs. The assessment of stress levels should be the initial point of determining the correct strategy for dealing with it. Numerous tools and resources could be used to this end; however, it is recommended to use a couple of them simultaneously to obtain more precise results (Olpin & Hesson, 2014).
Stress causes the state of psychological hyperarousal, followed by an intense physiological response. A good example of involuntary reaction to a threat is a fight-or-flight response that helps a human organism to cope with a perceived physical danger (Olpin & Hesson, 2014). The fight-or-flight response is associated with the activation of the sympathetic nervous system that shifts the homeostasis and activates behavioral mechanisms conducive to survival (Olpin & Hesson, 2014).
Adrenal glands initiate the secretion of stress hormones that enhance speed and power, thus making the emergency action more effective. Unlike, fight-or-flight response, chronic stress is able to significantly disrupt homeostasis and result in numerous health problems. Medium-term chronic stress is usually associated with headaches, sleep disorders, and muscle pain, among others (Olpin & Hesson, 2014). It also disrupts the normal functioning of the immune system, thereby making it less responsive to various infections.
Long stress, on the other hand, is even more dangerous because it can result in higher chances of heart disease. The lingering of cortisol associated with prolonged stress disrupts the secretion of lymphocytes and interleukins, thus severely impairing the immune system (Olpin & Hesson, 2014). Cognitive appraisal plays a key role in the process of cognitive reconstruction that can help to reframe the perception of a particular stressor. Therefore, it essential to acquire a knowledge of cognitive techniques that help to overcome distorted thinking and change the internal dialogue to be more positive.
Rational emotive behavior therapy is known to be an efficient tool for overcoming unhealthy emotional patterns. It is believed that mindfulness and meditation can also significantly reduce the perception of stress (Olpin & Hesson, 2014).
Assessments
In order to measure the level of my stress, I decided to use the following assessment tools: Assess Your Stress, Perceived Stress Scale, Assessment of Symptoms of Stress, and Inventory of College Students’ Recent Life Experiences (Olpin & Hesson, 2014). I started by measuring the physiological indicators of stress that can show how my body reacts to it in the physical dimension. To this end, I used the Assess Your Stress method and discovered that my resting heart rate, pulse, and respiration rate are somewhat higher than average. Stress-o-Meter also showed that my perception of stress is higher than desired (Olpin & Hesson, 2014).
The Assessment of Symptoms of Stress revealed that I experience symptoms associated with distress such as headaches, uncontrolled frustration, and difficulty going to sleep more often than I would like. It is clear that I have to learn how to get rid of those negative stress factors. The next instrument I used was the Perceived Stress Scale. I wanted to understand how I react to different situations, and if my perception of certain events significantly contributes to my level of stress.
My PSS score was 21, which fell in the moderate-stress category. To have a better grasp of the specific situations that contribute to the increase of my stress level in the most significant way, I used Inventory of College Students’ Recent Life Experiences (Olpin & Hesson, 2014). I scored 92 on the ICSRLE scale, which indicated a significant level of exposure to various sources of hassles (Olpin & Hesson, 2014).
Discussion
I was surprised by the results of the stress level self-assessment. The described above tools helped me to recognize the pattern of occurrence of particular stress symptoms that call for the much-needed change of my behavior. I decided to monitor my stress level regularly by using the Stress Level Checklist. The data from ICSRLE measure helped me to understand that not having enough time to meet my obligations is a source of significant distress for me; therefore, I need to make behavioral changes in order to significantly reduce the negative impact of this hassle.
Particularly, I will have to speak with my friends and relatives and explain to them that my academic commitments prevent me from devoting too much time to them. I also realized that I have to overcome sleep problems caused by the pressing need to meet the demands of a busy schedule. The measurement of physiological indicators of stress confirmed that quality of my sleep, along with other factors, plays an important role in my ability to handle stress.
Therefore, in order to reduce the chances of the physical and mental breakdown occurrence, I decided to reduce the time I spend on extracurricular activities to minimize sleep deprivation. The Inventory of College Students’ Recent Life Experiences helped me to understand that the feeling that my contributions had been overlooked was an important part of my life. I felt that I had to address this issue in order to increase my level of satisfaction and reduce stress.
Interview
I chose to interview my best friend, Stephanie. She is a highly intelligent person with an interest in psychology and close attention to details. I knew that her advice and support would help me to unleash my potential for excellence and self-development. Two days ago, I called Stephanie and asked for her help. We decided to conduct the interview in our favorite café near the city center. It lasted for fifty minutes during which we discussed the results of my self-assessment.
I wanted to find out whether she agrees with my ranking on the Stress-o-Meter scale or she thinks that my perception of stress was somewhat distorted. Moreover, I needed her advice on possible solutions for the hassles that worried me the most during the last month.
Stephanie immediately recognized my problems. After all, she is also a student and knows all too well that educational environment can be quite stressful. Stephanie recommended me to start a stress journal where I could keep track of all stressors that cause the biggest problem for my emotional life. She insisted that it will help me to recognize patterns and common themes in my daily activities thereby adding the systematic approach to the task of stress management.
Stephanie understood that not having enough time to meet my obligations was a source of great worry to me. Her advice for dealing with this particular hassle was to reach out to my family and friends and have a frank conversation with them about this issue. She also said that introduction of regular exercise into my daily life was a great way to get a distraction from my daily worries. Moreover, she argued that I should not spend more than thirty minutes per day in a gym to feel better.
Stephanie even recommended me some music that will help me to work out more effectively. Furthermore, she said that I should not make a conscious effort to concentrate on my thoughts and feelings during the exercise; instead, I have to try and think about the physical experience itself. It was Stephanie’s contention that being mindful during a workout helps to escape the cycle of worrisome thoughts and enjoy the experience of being physically active. She told me that it is a powerful stress management technique that she uses regularly during her aerobic classes. Her final advice was to try and make time for fun and relaxation. Stephanie stated in no uncertain terms that it will help me to better cope with numerous demands of student’s life. She argued that leisure time helps body to relax and fight stress.
Key Insights
The key lessons I derived from the interview is that I should develop more optimistic outlook. It coincides with what I learned from course materials. People who have the ability to achieve emotional balance are more likely to enjoy high quality of life (Hales, 2013). It is related to the fact that having a control of psychological health is a key to the regulation of complex physiological responses to stress in one’s organism.
Moreover, it has been proven that such methods as cognitive restructuring and rational emotive therapy can be instrumental in changing one’s attitudes and as a result increasing their ability to cope with distress (Ratey & Hagerman, 2008). Moreover, having a positive mindset might significantly increase an individual’s chances for success in many enterprises (Mindset, 2010). I also received useful information about benefits of the physical exercises.
I found Stephanie’s advice about having a stress journal where I could keep track of all stressors that cause the biggest problem for my emotional life extremely important. My daily activities can reveal the pattern of stress triggers that cause me discomfort. Furthermore, having a daily stress diary for monitoring purpose might bring me better awareness about my cognitive habits (Olpin & Hesson, 2014).
Essential Takeaways
The most significant thing that I learned from the self-assessment experience and receiving friend’s feedback is that emotional health is largely a result of the choices I make every day. Thinking in a positive manner might influence the quality of my life significantly contributing to my ability to deal with various stressors. Another key lesson from the course is that I need to achieve some balance in my schedule to prevent stress from becoming chronic.
Even when it is not always possible to eliminate all stressors it is still important to strive to manage them (Seaward, 2012). Practicing relaxation techniques along with other coping methods might prove very helpful in the task of reducing amount of negative experiences associated with college life. I understood that exploring the change in the emotional dimension of one’s health is vitally important to maintaining homeostasis (Hoeger & Hoeger, 2008).
The information studied in this course helped me to realize that difficulties with sleep onset and maintenance that I experience on the regular basis stem from the heightened level of stress. Worrisome thoughts that I have during a day alter my brainwave activity and affect my ability to relax (Seaward, 2012). Therefore, it is essential to learn how to reduce my distress that makes me feel tense and prevents me from sleeping comfortably all night. I found both self-assessment and interview extremely helpful because I was able to significantly expand my knowledge about the relationship between my daily activities and emotional health.
References
Hales, D. (2013). An invitation to health. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
Hoeger, W., & Hoeger, S. (2008). Lifetime physical fitness and wellness. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Mindset. (2010). Mindset for Achievement. Web.
Olpin, M., & Hesson, M. (2014). Stress management for life (4th ed.). Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning.
Ratey, J., & Hagerman, E. (2008). Spark. New York, NY: Brown.
Seaward, B. (2012). Managing stress. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
The popularity of meditation as a way to alleviate stress soared in recent years. This is manifested by the emergence of different forms of meditation techniques. It is also known as a relaxation technique. Men and women all over the world are incorporating the said relaxation method into their daily routines. Nevertheless, others are leery of the said concept due to ignorance regarding the real nature and proper application of the same. It is imperative to take a closer look at this ancient relaxation technique because it promises to help in treating people with mental and physical disorders.
According to practitioners, meditation is a mental method that enables the individual to focus on a single item. The development of the said methodology was based on the idea that an ordinary human being suffers from mental clutter as the thought process is bombarded with numerous ideas and things that require immediate attention. The effective use of meditation causes the mind to ignore this so-called mental clutter. As a result, the mind enters a state of relaxation. Practitioners of this ancient art of relaxation focus on one item to achieve homeostasis or the natural balance between mind and body.
There are numerous ways to meditate. However, experts agree that the practitioner must have access to a quiet environment where he or she can practice the said method without disturbance. It is also important to choose a certain relaxed position. Finally, it is imperative to have a point of mental focus.
It is also crucial to remember that this technique is not an attempt to empty the mind because this is an impossible goal. The pursuit of the “empty mind” framework leads to frustration as he or she struggles to achieve homeostasis. It is best to focus only on one item. A mental device is needed to achieve this goal. Practitioners call this mental device a mantra. It is oftentimes expressed as a repetition of a word or a phrase – the object on which the brain focuses its attention to relax the mind and body.
Herbert Benson and his colleagues at Harvard discovered that stress-related diseases responded favorably to the application of the said ancient art of relaxation. Impressive results included improvement in the breathing patterns of the patients suffering from bronchial asthma, lower blood pressure for hypertensive patients, and the reduction in the symptoms of psychiatric disorders.
Psychologists also noted that people who incorporated meditation techniques into their routine reported improvements in job performance and job satisfaction. They also reported less fear and more positive mental health. It is interesting to point out that this type of relaxation method enabled many people to improve their short-term and long-term recall. Some of the practitioners also asserted that they were able to sleep better at night.
Meditation is simple and yet effective. Nevertheless, there is no way to fully understand how it works. The most important thing to remember is that it is a helpful tool that allows people to deal with stress and the ailments that are associated with anxious and stressful living. Those who succeeded in integrating meditation into their current lifestyle are affirming that there is nothing comparable to it when it comes to regaining balance, restoring energy, and bringing peace and tranquility to their lives.
The term “Stress” is not a new word to many people all over the world especially among adults and the young adults. It mostly a term familiar mostly with the working class in the society (Bano). Any working individual can attest to the fact that stress is, in one way or the other, a common ingredient in their working experiences on a daily basis.
So, just how does it get to have a grip on working individuals and how does this happen? To understand the occurrence of stress and come up with possible remedies to contain its effects, I will be looking at the condition in respect to the police force and its causes as well. In this research I will discuss the general effects of stress and probable ways of dealing with it with reference to the police.
Defining stress
Defining stress has not been an easy task considering it is a state of mind that has different occurrence structures. However, there are some conventional agreed standards set to give a guideline on how to detect whether or not an individual is suffering from stress. The definition of stress however in most cases is aligned to the notion that it is a form of a disorder (Vonk).
Mostly, stress is seen as a disease and many people handle it as such. There have been to these effect developments in the medical arena where biologists have come up with medications which are meant to treat this condition (Health management partners). Stress is brought about by many factors hence the difficulties in coming up with a single definition. In the midst of all the disparities in defining the term stress, Richard Lazarus’ definition is most accepted definition.
According to him, stress is experienced when an individual is overwhelmed by the demands of life and is unable to mobilize social and personal resources at his or her disposal to meet these demands (Levitt and Gutin). Other definitions cite stress as a physical and psychological response to changes in the normal way of life (Wang, Callahan and Goldfine). This is a daily routine and happens all the time in the office, while driving, while playing or working-out at the gym, basically stress is all around us. Biologically, stress is a hormone.
Causes of stress
Going by the definitions given above, the causes of stress can not be attached to one particular event of life. Stress as pointed above is a condition that occur everyday and is caused by different situations depending on the response of the body at that particular moment. The biological explanation of the occurrence of stress is the most clear and accurate explanation to this condition.
Biologists point out that in the event that the body senses danger, there is normally a release of a chemical alarm as they call it (Health management partners). This is releases in the nervous system and as a result, stress hormones such as adrenaline, norepinephrine, and cortisol are freed into the body system (Jayson). This causes an increase in the heart rate and blood flow as well. This way, the blood vessels constrict and the results are that the blood sugar will go up to effect an emergency energy boost in the body.
This causes the normal body processes to halt. This is what in simple medical terms they refer to stress responses. Experts warn that continued stress response can lead to severe physical symptoms such as head aches, stomach conditions, high blood pressure, chest problems and sleeping difficulties (Health management partners).
Signs and symptoms of stress
There are many signs that can help determine whether or not an individual is suffering from stress. I would categories these signs and symptoms into cognitive, emotional, physical and behavioral symptoms (NYC Patrolmen’s Benevolent Assoc). The cognitive symptoms include inability to remember, inability to decide or make decision, having difficulties to concentrate, having pessimistic responses all the time, being anxious or unsure, too much worrying and fear (NYC Patrolmen’s Benevolent Assoc).
The emotional symptoms include withdrawn moods, being easily agitated, constant tension and fear, loneliness and isolating one’s self from the rest and constantly being unhappy. The physical symptoms as mentioned earlier include head and back aches, insomnia, dizziness muscle tension to mention but a few. Lastly, one’s behavior can tell whether one is experiencing physical or psychological responses due to certain events in life.
Doing things in the extreme is a clear way to determine ones status as far as stress is concerned. Eating too much or too little, sleeping too much or too little, being antisocial, continued procrastination of tasks, neglecting one’s responsibilities and hot temperedness speak a lot in confirmation of a stressed individual (NYC Patrolmen’s Benevolent Assoc).
Stress strain in the police force
From the above research, it is so clearly identified that stress mostly emanates from the anticipation of fear. Fear and anxiety are the most common and main causes of most stress related conditions. In the police force, the anxiety levels in the line of duty especially in areas of high criminal activities and high levels of insecurities are normally in an all time high. In the police force, proactive training should be administered to ward off stress considering the levels of risks they get exposed to in the line of duty.
Lack of reactive counseling in the forces can lead to ineffective performance. Police encounter with quite difficult situations as they carry out their very noble job to protect life and property. Dealing with such situations and making critical decisions is not easy and requires their sound mind to be effective. For example dealing with a rowdy crowd in a riot can be very challenging. Having people threatening your life and yet the law requires decent arrest and respect for human rights from the police is a paradox.
In their line of duty no one cares about the police’s human rights but being the custodians of the law, they are expected to follow the law to its perfection. This can be quite challenging and the difficulties abound are more to handle. In respect to this, I suggest that it is important to have police stress strain departments to assist in counseling the security personnel to help ward off stress.
Conclusion
Nonetheless, stress is an inevitable part of our lives. It is actually impossible to have a life deficient of stressful situations. The only way to live with this fact is to find ways and means to manage these situations. Counseling so far is doing a commendable job in trying to help people and more importantly the police to handle their stressful situation in a productive way (Sewell).
It is possible to handled stress in a productive approach in as much as it can also be disastrous if not handle with caution. Accepting the fact that stress is more of a human natural way of life is very helpful as it gives one a chance to try and find a solution for it after acknowledging it existence.
Works Cited
Bano, Bushara. “Job Stress among Police Personnel.” International Conference on Economics and Finance Research PEDR. 4. 11 (2011): 23-24. Print.
Health management partners. Understanding Stress: Signs, Symptoms, Causes, and Effects, cont. 2010. Web.
Jayson, David. Heart Rate Variability: An Indicator of Autonomic Function and Physiological Coherence. 2010. Web.
Levitt and Gutin “Multiple choice reaction time and movement time during physical Exertion.” Research Quarterly, 42. 2 (1971): 405-410. Print.
NYC Patrolmen’s Benevolent Assoc. Program for the Reduction of Stress for New York City Police Officers and their Families, Final Report. New York: NY, U.S. Department of Justice 2000. Print.
Sewell, James. “The Stress of Homicide Investigations.”Death Studies. 18.6 (1994): 565–582. Print.
Vonk, Kathleen. Police Performance under Stress, 2009. Web.
Wang, Jin, Douglas Callahan and Bernie Goldfine. “Choking Under Pressure in Competition and Psychological Intervention Approaches.” Strength & Conditioning Journal. 25. 5 (2003): 69-75. Print.
College students are very often not as prepared as they thought for the unique stresses of being a college student. College classes are harder to pass, require much more homework, feature more difficult exams, and cost a lot of money if you fail. Getting through college determines the success of the rest of your life at the same time that you want more than anything to get on with your life. With all of these ideas swirling around in your head, it is very easy to become overwhelmed with stress. There is a simple way to reduce your stress levels, though, if you are willing to put in a little effort.
Advice
First, buy a planner. These folders come in a wide variety of sizes and styles that give you day to day and month to month pages on which you can write down when assignments are due, dates of important exams, and other class events. Just writing them down in the planner means that you don’t have to try to keep track of them in your head, which reduces the stress of trying to remember everything. If you want to get relaxed, schedule in time to work on important papers in the weeks leading up to the due date so that it doesn’t come up at the last minute.
It’s OK to reschedule if your friends are throwing a killer party that night, but the important thing is that you’ve reminded yourself before it’s last-minute so you don’t have to panic to finish on time.
Next, keep your area clean. If your room is full of clutter all the time, your brain has a hard time relaxing and concentrating on the important stuff. It’s constantly distracted by the clutter and this makes it difficult to stretch out your thoughts and look at them more objectively. Clean work areas mean you can get straight to work when you only have a limited amount of time to complete an assignment and you can find your keyboard when a paper needs to be written. If it’s a large project you’re working on, having a clean room means you can spread it out in your available space and feel much more productive at the end of an hour. A few seconds before you leave the room and a few minutes either in the morning or at night straightening up your mess will help you sleep better and focus more without really seeming to take anything out of your day.
Finally, give yourself time each day to relax and do something that makes you smile. Some people find spending ten minutes in meditation in the morning and at night is helpful. This involves sitting somewhere quiet and comfortable and concentrating on the breath, on getting oxygen to every part of the body. The advantage of this technique is that it can be used anytime stress levels threaten, such as when sitting down to class and discovering there is a pop quiz on the chapter you skipped. Other people find fun in exercise, either by going to the gym to work out or out to the Frisbee golf course to try their luck at hitting a tree. Exercise releases a chemical agent into the brain that contributes to a greater sense of well-being, which itself is an effective agent against stress.
Conclusion
Many college students feel overwhelmed by stress as they attempt to cope with the pressures of living an adult lifestyle while not yet ready to give up childhood completely. The pressure to succeed and get good grades is not helped by the greater demands of the college setting either. However, if you follow these three simple steps, getting mentally organized, getting physically organized, and remembering to have fun, you will be ahead of the curve in knowing how to handle those tough moments in life when things seem to be happening faster than you can predict.
Traumas are inevitable aspects of life that cause post-traumatic stress disorder and some other related problems. PTSD is dangerous not only for people who experienced traumas. It also influences healthcare professionals who work with individuals diagnosed with PTSD. The diversity of situations that make people exposed to violence, aggression, and stress demands professionalism, flexibility, and empathy from professionals who help these people manage stress (Hecker, Fetz, Ainamani, & Elbert, 2015; Schubert, Schmidt, & Rosner, 2016).
Constant involvement in traumatic situations negatively influences the professional quality of life and increases the risk of compassion fatigue, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress. Screening of professional quality of life and its analysis can be useful for the evaluation of a person’s condition and development of personal characteristics that can support compassion satisfaction and reduce the risk of burnout or secondary traumatic stress.
Self-Reflection on Pro-QOL Screening Scores
The scores of my Professional quality screening allowed me to evaluate my current condition as a professional. I believe that my compassion satisfaction is high. I am pleased with the opportunity to do my work responsibly and with determination. My cooperation with colleagues and our common efforts to help people make me feel worthy. Thus, I am satisfied with what I do, and my position is the one I need.
The screening assessed my burnout as average. Burnout is one of the components of Compassion Fatigue. Despite the fact that I enjoy my job, sometimes when it is not possible to provide the necessary help, the feeling of hopelessness appears. I still believe that our efforts are significant, but during periods of high workload, I become worried that I am not as efficient as I could have been.
As for the level of secondary traumatic distress, which is the second component of Compassion Fatigue, the screening showed it is low. It means that I am not likely to develop serious problems because of being exposed to other people’s traumas or stressful situations. It does not mean that I am not compassionate. Still, I can differentiate work issues with personal worries.
Personal Risks for Burnout, Compassion Fatigue, and Secondary Traumatic Stress
There are some personal risk factors that stimulate the development conditions of burnout, compassion fatigue, and secondary traumatic stress. They are related both to personal characteristics and daily activities of a person. For example, the research by Bride (2007) revealed the prevalence of secondary traumatic stress among social workers. They are involved in providing aid to people in critical situations, frequently victims of violence or natural disasters that are the causes of direct traumatic stress.
Being compassionate with people in need of help, they are also exposed to traumatic and stressful experiences. Professionals who develop secondary stress disorder as a result of their activity observe such symptoms as an intrusion (intrusive thoughts, disturbing dreams about patients); avoidance (avoidance of patients or other people, reduced activity level, detachment); and arousal (hypervigilance, problems with concentration, irritability) (Bride, 2007).
Another factor contributing to the development of burnout and secondary traumatic stress is empathy. Burnout is related to professionals such as social workers dealing with people in stress, is commonly conceptualized as “a gradual process that rarely occurs suddenly or with one event, but instead builds over time as healthy defenses are worn down from an onslaught of emotional demands, frustrating job setbacks, or difficult situations or individuals” (Wagaman, Geiger, Shockley, & Segal, 2015, p. 201).
It should also be mentioned that such characteristics as excessive determination to work can have negative consequences for professionals working with people who experienced trauma. If they dedicate too much time to their work, they are likely to be too involved in the problems of other people. It can lead to secondary traumatic stress. A characteristic that can cause compassion fatigue is and burnout is a lack of flexibility. People who cannot accommodate work conditions of different intensity are more likely to experience burnout.
Personal Characteristics Protecting from Burnout, Compassion Fatigue, and Secondary Traumatic Stress
The professionals who work with trauma survivors should possess certain personal characteristics and have special knowledge to prevent vicarious trauma (Trippany, Kress, & Wilcoxon, 2004). One of the characteristics that can be effective in the prevention or reduction of burnout or secondary traumatic stress is the ability to provide some self-care strategies (Wagaman et al., 2016). It is important that professionals were able to “address their own personal, familial, emotional, and spiritual needs while responding to the demands and needs placed on them by clients” (Wagaman et al., 2016, p. 203).
Thus, it can be concluded that such personal characteristics as consciousness can be helpful in preventing burnout or secondary traumatic stress because a person is conscious of differentiating work and personal issues. Moreover, flexibility is one of the significant characteristics that help to adjust to the changing work conditions and thus reduce stress.
In addition, it is important that the people who are at risk of secondary traumatic stress or observe the signs of burnout or compassion fatigue were able to recover and thus prevent the development of the mentioned conditions. For example, Kolk (2015) suggests several ways to heal from the trauma that can be applied by both victims and professionals. Thus, yoga as the way to learn to inhabit one’s body can be practiced or self-leadership techniques can be applied (Kilk, 2015). Still, every case of posttraumatic stress of secondary traumatic stress is particular and should be reviewed individually.
The research by Wagaman et al. (2016) suggests that empathy “may be a factor contributing to the maintenance of the well-being and longevity of social workers in the field” (p. 207). Its specific component such as the awareness of self and other means the ability to find difference between the others and oneself and preserve personal boundaries. Thus, it is necessary to train the professionals who work with who experienced traumas not only to provide them with necessary knowledge how to help the others, but to retain one’s well-being.
Conclusion
On the whole, the issue of burnout, compassion fatigue or secondary traumatic stress is frequent among the professionals who help the victims of violence, traumas, or other kinds of stress. Consequently, they also can need help in case they are not able to cope with the situation. To avoid or prevent burnout, compassion fatigue or secondary traumatic stress, it is advisable to take Professional quality of life screening to assess these aspects and define directions for further work in case some problems are detected. Moreover. It is important to eliminate personal characteristics that increase the risk of burnout, compassion fatigue or secondary traumatic stress and develop the characteristics that can protect professionals from the mentioned problems.