Stress and Daily Hassles

Hypothalamus ---> releases CRF --> Pituitary gland ----> releases ACTH ---> Adrenal cortex ---> releases corticosteriods ----> Stress response (fight or flight)

Hypothalamus ---> Activates the sympathectic divsion of the ANS ---> Activates the adrenal medulla ---> Releases stress hormones ----> Increases heart rate and blood pressure ----> Stress response (fight ot flight)

Aim: To find out if theres a relantionship between daily hassles and mental health during initial transition of uni Procedure: 233 students filled out a questionanire based on the Beck Depression Inventory and Hassles Scale Findings: Found 41% of students suffered from depressive symptoms Conclusion: Daily hassles during the first year could be cnosidered a significant risk factor for depression Evaluation: Popluation validity - only studied educated students of a certain age Self-report - could lie on the questionnaire

Frequency - They constantly repeat themselves Arisal from pre-existing chronic stress - They can link themselves to a pre-existing stress e.g. shopping on your own after a divorce

Gervais 2005 Asked nurses to keep a dairy of daiy hassles and uplifts at work Asked them to rate their performace at work He found uplifts counter hassles increasing productivity Kanner et al Correlational study Found correlation between Hassle scores and health, stress and depression DeLongis et al 1982 Found a large correlation between daily hassles and illness but only a very weak connection between daily uplifts and health

Causality - Cannot say daily hassles cause illness but can say its probable and there's some sort of link Cultural differences - Different cultural groups would support each other in different ways and they may have different daily hassles