Guilty Pleasure No More

Abstract. Despite the substantial attention paid to stress management in the extant coping literature, media use has been surprisingly overlooked as a strategy worthy of close examination. Although media scholars have suggested media use may be driven by a need to relax, related research has been sporadic and, until recently, disconnected from the larger conversation about stress management. The present research aimed to determine the relative value of media use within the broader range of coping strategies. Based on surveys of both students and breast cancer patients, media use emerged as one of the most frequently selected strategies for managing stress across a range of personality and individual difference variables. Further, heavier television consumers and those with higher perceived stress were also more likely to use media for coping purposes. Finally, those who choose media for stress management reported it to be an effective tool, although perhaps not as effective as other popular strategies. This research not only documents the centrality of media use in the corpus of stress management techniques, thus highlighting the value of academic inquiry into media-based coping, but it also offers evidence supporting the positive role media use can play in promoting psychological well-being.

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Medical students’ perceptions of stress factors affecting their academic performance, perceived stress and stress management techniques

International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health ◽

10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20181411 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 (5) ◽

pp. 1791 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Violet N. Pinto ◽

Sumit Wasnik ◽

Sumedha M. Joshi ◽

Deepa H. Velankar

Keyword(s):

Academic Performance ◽

Medical Students ◽

Stress Management ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Clinical Teaching ◽

Mother Tongue ◽

Stress Factors ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Management Techniques

Background: Medical students during their training period to become competent physicians are themselves vulnerable to various stresses which can affect their health and academic performance. The objectives of the study were to study MBBS students perceptions of stress factors affecting their academic performance; to assess the perceived stress in the students; to identify the stress management techniques used by the students.Methods: A cross-sectional was conducted on 169 MBBS students in a private medical college in Navi Mumbai after taking their consent. Data collection was by pretested, pre-coded, semi-structured self-administered questionnaire. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS Version 20.0 and relevant tests for data analysis.Results: The mean PSS score in the students was 26.96 (SD=6.332). Moderate stress and severe stress were present in 37.3% and 1.1% students respectively. Perceived stress was significantly associated with female sex, mother tongue; vastness of curriculum, dissatisfaction with clinical teaching, competition with peers and high parental expectations. More than 50% students felt that they were not able to adequately manage their stress. The most commonly used stress management techniques were social media usage and engaging in hobbies/sports.Conclusions: There is an urgent need for conducting screening programmes for stress in medical students and implementing measures which will equip them with skills to manage their stress.

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Effects of a Digital Mental Health Program on Perceived Stress in Adolescents Aged 13-17 Years: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.25545 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Eliane M Boucher ◽

Haley E Ward ◽

Julia L Stafford ◽

Acacia C Parks

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Stress Management ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Cognitive Processes ◽

Health Program ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Mental Health Program ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

School Based ◽

Management Techniques

BACKGROUND Stress is an important transdiagnostic risk factor in adolescence and predicts a host of physical and psychological problems in adolescence and adulthood. Adolescence is also a developmental stage in which people may be more sensitive or reactive to stress. Indeed, research has shown that adolescents report high levels of stress, particularly when enrolled in school. However, adolescents report engaging in few, if any, stress management techniques. Consequently, the development of effective programs to help address adolescent stress is particularly important. To date, most stress management programs for adolescents are delivered within schools, and the evidence for such programs is mixed. Furthermore, most of these programs rely on traditional stress management techniques rather than incorporating methods to address the underlying negative cognitive processes, such as rumination, that may contribute to or exacerbate the effects of perceived stress. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to test the short-term effects of a digital mental health program designed for adolescents aged 13-17 years on perceived stress and rumination. METHODS This is a randomized controlled trial in which adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17 years, with elevated levels of perceived stress and brooding, will be randomly assigned to complete 8 weeks of a digital mental health program (Happify for Teens) or to a corresponding wait-list control group. The study will take place over 3 months, including the 8-week intervention period and 1-month postintervention follow-up. The primary outcome, perceived stress, along with secondary and exploratory outcomes (ie, brooding, optimism, sleep disturbance, and loneliness) will be assessed via self-report at baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks to compare changes in these outcomes across conditions. RESULTS Recruitment is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2021, with a target sample size of 800 participants (400 per condition). Participants will begin the study as they are recruited and will finish in waves, with the first wave of data expected 8 weeks after recruitment begins and the final wave of data expected by the end of the third quarter of 2021. CONCLUSIONS Although school-based stress management programs for adolescents are common, research suggests that they may be limited in their reach and more effective for school-based stress than other types of stress. This trial will be one of the first attempts to examine the potential benefits of a digital mental health program on adolescents to address stress along with negative cognitive processes such as rumination. If successful, this would help introduce a more scalable alternative to school-based programs that offers adolescents greater privacy while also providing insight into novel ways to target adolescent mental health more generally. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04567888; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04567888 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT PRR1-10.2196/25545

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A Mobile App for Reducing Perceived Stress in College Students

American Journal of Health Studies ◽

10.47779/ajhs.2016.163 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 31 (2) ◽

Author(s):

K. Jason Crandall ◽

Kathryn Steward ◽

Tara Warf

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Stress Management ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Management Program ◽

Mobile App ◽

Program Outcomes ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Management Techniques ◽

Stress Management Program ◽

Single Stress

Stress is a serious problem in college students. Novel on-campus stress management programs are needed to teach stress management techniques to help reduce students’ perceived stress. The purpose of this paper is to describe the design, implementation, and program outcomes of a mobile app (Bingocize®) that combines exercise, health education, and bingo into a single stress management program. Preliminary results showed the mobile app may be capable of reducing perceived stress and improving stress management knowledge. Randomized controlled trials are needed, but colleges and universities may consider using the app to affect their students’ overall health and academic performance.

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Clearing the Smoke Screen: Smoking, Alcohol Consumption, and Stress Management Techniques among Canadian Long-Term Care Workers

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17176027 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (17) ◽

pp. 6027

Author(s):

Iffath Unissa Syed

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Alcohol Consumption ◽

Stress Management ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Sleep Disturbances ◽

High Stress ◽

Well Being ◽

Term Care ◽

Care Workers ◽

Management Techniques

Background: Currently, there is abundant research indicating that smoking and alcohol consumption have significant impacts on morbidity and mortality, though little is known about these behaviors among Canadian health care workers. The objective of this study was to examine health and coping behaviors, such as smoking and alcohol consumption as well as stress management techniques, among health care workers consisting of gendered, racialized, and immigrant employees. Methods: Drawing on a single-case, mixed-methods study in Ontario, Canada, this paper presents under-researched data about smoking practices, alcohol consumption, and stress management techniques among health care workers in labor-intensive, high-stress, high-turnover environments. In particular, it identifies the various mechanisms for maintaining health and well-being. Results: The findings suggest that 7.7% of survey respondents reported smoking while 43.4% reported alcohol consumption, which were reported more frequently among immigrants than among non-immigrants. Participants also reported health-promoting activities in face-to-face interviews, such as mindful breathing techniques and drawing upon social support, while a few respondents reported alcohol consumption to specifically cope with sleep disturbances and job stress. Conclusions: Although smoking and alcohol consumption were both connected with coping strategies and leisure, they were predominant in immigrant groups compared to non-immigrant groups.

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Association of Stress Management Skills and Perceived Stress with Physical and Emotional Well-Being Among Advanced Prostrate Cancer Survivors Following Androgen Deprivation Treatment

Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings ◽

10.1007/s10880-012-9308-1 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

pp. 25-32 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Frank J. Penedo ◽

Catherine Benedict ◽

Eric S. Zhou ◽

Mikal Rasheed ◽

Lara Traeger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cancer Survivors ◽

Stress Management ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Well Being ◽

Androgen Deprivation ◽

Management Skills ◽

Prostrate Cancer

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Stress and Perfectionism in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Social Work Students

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups ◽

10.1044/2021_persp-20-00293 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

Ann R. Beck ◽

Diane L. Zosky ◽

Heidi Verticchio

Keyword(s):

Social Work ◽

Stress Management ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Management Practices ◽

Social Work Students ◽

Well Being ◽

Admission Process ◽

Clinical Educator ◽

Clinical Educators ◽

Stress Levels

Purpose To further inform faculty and clinical educators interested in facilitating the overall well-being of their students, areas causing stress for undergraduate (UGs) and graduate (Gs) students in communication sciences and disorders (CSD) and in social work (SWK) were explored. The perceived stress levels as well as levels and types of perfectionism demonstrated by students, as well as the methods used to manage stress, were also explored. Method A survey of 193 CSD students (105 UGs and 88 Gs) and 137 SWK students (104 UGs and 33 Gs) from the same institution was conducted. The survey asked respondents to list their top 3 stressors, as well as the stress management practices in which they engaged, and to complete the Perceived Stress Scale and the Almost Perfect Scale–Revised. Results CSD UGs were the only group who indicated that the graduate school admission process was a major stressor; other stressors listed by UGs in CSD and SWK were similar. CSD Gs were the only group who listed clinic as stressful, and SWK Gs listed finances as a more prominent stressor than did CSD Gs. Stress management practices were primarily similar. No differences existed between UGs and Gs on measures of perceived stress and perfectionism. More CSD respondents demonstrated healthy aspects of perfectionism than did SWK respondents. CSD respondents' stress levels were lower overall than those of SWK respondents. Conclusions Similarities and differences existed between CSD and SWK respondents regarding stressors, stress management practices, perceived stress levels, and perfectionism. This information can provide faculty and clinical educator with insight regarding our students' overall well-being.

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Changing stress levels through gaining information on stress

Curationis ◽

10.4102/curationis.v25i1.703 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

S.N. Madu ◽

E.S. De Jong

Keyword(s):

Stress Management ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Stress Level ◽

Total Sample ◽

Management Program ◽

Protective Services ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Stress Levels ◽

Management Techniques ◽

Keywords Stress

Objective: The aim of this research was to find out the effect of the Information Phase of a Stress Management Program (SMP) on the perceptions of participants about their stress levels. Method: A total sample of 100 workers (nursing staff, private business men and women, laboratory assistants, the protective services [foreman and security staff], as well as people in human resources departments) took part in this study. All the participants were from the Northern and Gauteng Provinces in South Africa. The Combined Hassles and Uplifts Scale (Folkman & Lazarus, 1989) was used as an instrument to measure the perceived stress level of participants in a SMP. Result: A significant reduction in stress levels was achieved among those who received the Information Phase of the SMP only, as well as those who received the whole stress management techniques. There was no significant difference between the amount of reduction in perceived stress-levels achieved among those that received the Information Phase of the SMP only, compared to that of those who received the whole techniques. Conclusion: The authors conclude that where the resources are limited, only the information phase of a SMP may be given to desiring clients. That should help to save time and money spent on participating in SMPs. This should however not discourage the use of the whole SPM, where affordable. Keywords: Stress Management Programs, Information Phase, Perception, Stress Level.

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Talk or Walk? Gait Speed over Self-Report in Association with Cognitive Speed in Healthy Older Adults

GeroPsych ◽

10.1024/1662-9647/a000202 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

pp. 41-52

Author(s):

Matthew C. Costello ◽

Shane J. Sizemore ◽

Kimberly E. O’Brien ◽

Lydia K. Manning

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Older Adult ◽

Gait Speed ◽

Well Being ◽

Self Report ◽

Subjective Report ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

Relative Value ◽

Cognitive Speed ◽

Age Range

Abstract. This study explores the relative value of both subjectively reported cognitive speed and gait speed in association with objectively derived cognitive speed. It also explores how these factors are affected by psychological and physical well-being. A group of 90 cognitively healthy older adults ( M = 73.38, SD = 8.06 years, range = 60–89 years) were tested in a three-task cognitive battery to determine objective cognitive speed as well as measures of gait speed, well-being, and subjective cognitive speed. Analyses indicated that gait speed was associated with objective cognitive speed to a greater degree than was subjective report, the latter being more closely related to well-being than to objective cognitive speed. These results were largely invariant across the 30-year age range of our older adult sample.

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