Positive Life Events and Adolescent Emotional Distress: In Search of Protective-Interactive Processes

2002 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 645-668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Golan Shahar ◽  
Beatriz Priel
Keyword(s):  
Life Events ◽  
Emotional Distress ◽  
Positive Life Events

scholarly journals Stressful life events are not associated with the development of dementia

2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Sundström ◽  
Michael Rönnlund ◽  
Rolf Adolfsson ◽  
Lars-Göran Nilsson
Keyword(s):  
Life Events ◽  
Stressful Life Events ◽  
Negative Life Events ◽  
Emotional Adjustment ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Stressful Life ◽  
Emotional Impact ◽  
Population Based Study ◽  
Positive Life Events

ABSTRACTBackground:The impact of stressful life events as a risk factor of dementia diseases is inconclusive. We sought to determine whether stressful negative life events are associated with incidental dementia in a population-based study with long-term follow-up. We also tested the hypothesis that the occurrence of positive life events could mitigate or overcome the possible adverse effects of negative life events on dementia conversion.Methods:The study involved 2,462 dementia-free participants aged 55 years and older. Information on life events was ascertained at baseline from a comprehensive Life Event Inventory, which included 56 questions about specific life events. For each life event, the emotional impact (both positive and negative) and emotional adjustment were asked for.Results:During follow-up, 423 participants developed dementia; of these, 240 developed Alzheimer's disease (AD). Cox regression analysis showed no association between the total number of negative life events and the incidence of dementia when adjusted solely for age and gender (hazard ratio = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.92–1.02), or with multiple adjustments for a range of covariates (hazard ratio = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.91–1.01). Similarly, neither emotional impact nor emotional adjustment to these life events was associated with incident dementia. A separate analysis of AD did not alter the results.Conclusions:The result of this population-based study finds no association between negative or positive life events and dementia. Accordingly, our results reject the hypothesis that stressful life events trigger the onset of dementia diseases.

Life Events, Cardiovascular Reactivity, and Risk Behavior in Adolescent Boys

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 96 (6) ◽  
pp. 1101-1105
Author(s):  
Sai-Woon Liang ◽  
John M. Jemerin ◽  
Jeanne M. Tschann ◽  
Charles E. Irwin ◽  
Diane W. Wara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Risk Behavior ◽  
Arterial Blood Pressure ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Cardiovascular Reactivity ◽  
Mean Arterial Blood Pressure ◽  
Cardiovascular Responses ◽  
Adolescent Boys ◽  
Positive Life Events ◽  
Arterial Blood

Background. Risk behavior contributes to injuries, one of the most important sources of morbidity and mortality in adolescents. Although research has shown that environmental stress makes adolescents more likely to engage in risk behavior and to sustain injuries, the magnitude of these associations has been small. Little is known about the role of individual differences in psychobiologic reactivity to stress in moderating the impact of stressful events. In this study, we examined associations among environmental stressors, cardiovascular reactivity to stress, and the level of risk behavior in adolescent boys. Methods. Twenty-four 14- to 16-year-old boys underwent a laboratory protocol designed to measure responses to psychologically and physically stressful tasks. Changes in heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure were measured serially at standard points in the protocol, and levels of positive and negative life events and recent risk behavior were measured using self-report questionnaires. Results. Neither life events nor cardiovascular reactivity were independently associated with risk behavior. Positive life events and mean arterial blood pressure reactivity significantly interacted, however, in predicting risk behavior (R2 increment = .25). Boys with high reactivity who reported numerous positive life events engaged in markedly less risk behavior than their peers. Conclusion. We conclude that adolescents with exaggerated cardiovascular responses to laboratory stressors are associated with less risk behavior in a setting of positive life circumstances. This result suggests that reactivity may exert protective, rather than harmful, influences in some environments.

Sensitivity to the Average and Summative Impact of Multiple Events: When “More is More” and When “More is Less”

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-93
Author(s):  
John J. Seta ◽  
Catherine E. Seta
Keyword(s):  
Life Events ◽  
Basic Question ◽  
Negative Events ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Positive Life Events ◽  
Full Picture ◽  
S Model ◽  
Affective Impact ◽  
Detrimental Impact ◽  
Alternative Theories

How people respond to positive and negative events is a basic question in psychology. Most theoretical accounts assume that the detrimental impact of negative life events is cumulative, resulting in a “more is more” effect. A similar assumption of “more is more” is typically used to predict the influence of multiple positive life events, people’s reactions to evaluative stimuli (e.g., an audience), and their judgments of consumer goods. In this article, we present a model that suggests that these conclusions do not capture the full picture of how people respond to multiple positive or negative events. More specifically, the averaging/summation (A/S) model does not predict that the underpinnings of individuals’ responses to positive or negative events always reflect summative affective impact. Rather, individuals’ responses often reflect the average value of events, as well as their summative value. We review research supporting the model’s predictions and discuss alternative theories and interpretations, such as the conservation of resource model, the peak–end rule, mental accounting, distraction, and assimilation/contrast. In addition, we suggest new avenues for research.

scholarly journals Racism, racial life events and mental ill health

2001 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 343-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dinesh Bhugra ◽  
Oyedeji Ayonrinde
Keyword(s):  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Common Mental Disorders ◽  
The Body ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Positive Life Events ◽  
Minority Ethnic Groups ◽  
Different Cultures ◽  
The Impact

The association of life events with the onset of various psychiatric disorders is well-known. The body of evidence has highlighted the impact of negative or positive life events on the genesis of common mental disorders, especially depression. These findings have been replicated across different cultures, although the impact of different life events varies between cultures. In addition, the roles of chronic difficulties (defined in Life events and psychiatric disorders, below) and resulting ongoing chronic stress have been shown to contribute to vulnerability to certain mental illnesses. However, data on the impact of life events, especially those perceived as racial, on members of minority ethnic groups are rather sparse. The questions that need to be addressed concern the perception of life events as racial, the role of pervasive and perceived institutional and individual racism, and chronic difficulties.

Associations Between Negative and Positive Life Events and the Course of Depression

2016 ◽  
Vol 204 (3) ◽  
pp. 175-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon C. Blonski ◽  
Henk Jan Conradi ◽  
Albertina J. Oldehinkel ◽  
Elisabeth Henriette Bos ◽  
Peter de Jonge
Keyword(s):  
Life Events ◽  
Positive Life Events ◽  
Course Of Depression

Life events, social problems and physical health status as predictors of emotional distress in men and women in a community setting

1991 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 505-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christa Zimmermann-Tansella ◽  
Stefano Donini ◽  
Marcello Lattanzi ◽  
Orazio Siciliani ◽  
Cesare Turrina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Status ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Emotional Distress ◽  
Social Problems ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Sociodemographic Characteristics ◽  
Physical Health Status ◽  
Men And Women

SYNOPSISThe main aim of this study was to construct logistic models of emotional distress (defined as a GHQ-30 score of 6 or greater) in a community sample of 226 men and 225 women. The independent variables included were: sociodemographic characteristics, physical health status, social problems and undesirable life events. Univariate comparisons showed that in both sexes undesirable life events and social problems were associated with emotional distress; in men the presence of physical symptoms and widowed, separated or divorced status also showed such an association. Separate logistic regression models for men and women confirmed the importance of undesirable life events and social problems as predictors for emotional distress. In women there was also a significant interaction effect between the two variables on emotional distress. Sociodemographic characteristics and physical health status did not exert a statistically significant effect in these models.

A Life Review Interview Guide: A Structured Systems Approach to Information Gathering

1998 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael H. Beechem ◽  
Cybil Anthony ◽  
James Kurtz
Keyword(s):  
Life Events ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Life Review ◽  
Information Gathering ◽  
Structured Systems ◽  
Positive Life Events ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Interview Guide ◽  
Unresolved Loss

This clinical project introduces a guide to provide the interviewer with a methodological systems approach for information gathering in the life review process. The guide is structured in such a way as to elicit positive life events for the purpose of enhancing a sense of well-being as well as to elicit negative life events to encourage the client to address unresolved loss-grief issues. In effect, the Life Review Interview Guide serves to promote high self-esteem and to assist the interviewee through the grieving process. In addition, the Guide assisted the student-interviewer in formulating and selecting a wide range of questions.

Schizophrenia: Reaction to Positive Life Events

2016 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 561-570 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary V. Seeman
Keyword(s):  
Life Events ◽  
Positive Life Events
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