1. The Journey Of Adulthood, 5/e Helen L. Bee & Barbara R. Bjorklund
Chapter 11 Stress and Resistance
The Journey of Adulthood 5/e by Bee & Bjorklund. Copyright © 2004 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

2. A Few Theories of Stress
•Stress: the physical or mental response to demands from the environment, the events that lead up to these demands, or the individual’s perception of the demands.
Response-Oriented Theories
Stimulus-Oriented Theories
Interactionist Theories
The Journey of Adulthood 5/e by Bee & Bjorklund. Copyright © 2004 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

3. A Few Theories of Stress
Response-Oriented Theories
• “flight or fight” is the prototypical response to stress.
• Selye general adaptation syndrome (GAS)
1. alarm: shock and countershock phases
2. resistance
3. exhaustion
The Journey of Adulthood 5/e by Bee & Bjorklund. Copyright © 2004 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

4. A Few Theories of Stress
Stimulus-Oriented Theories
• Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) consists of life-change events that require adaptation [See Table 11.1 in the text]
The Journey of Adulthood 5/e by Bee & Bjorklund. Copyright © 2004 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

5. A Few Theories of Stress
Interactionist Theories
• Focus on the person’s perception of an event
• Physiological GAS is mediated by the person’s appraisal of a situation.
The Journey of Adulthood 5/e by Bee & Bjorklund. Copyright © 2004 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

6. Effects of Stress on Adult Functioning
Physical Illness
• More stress is associated with increased physical illness (See figure 11.2).
Psychological Disorders
• Stress plays a role in the onset of depression and anxiety.
• Trauma is hardest on those who have prior emotional problems.
Possible Positive Effects of Stress
• Some theories suggest that stress is necessary for growth.
• Stress is part of life and it may have some positive effects.
The Journey of Adulthood 5/e by Bee & Bjorklund. Copyright © 2004 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

7. Individual Differences in Stress Experience and Response
Stress and Age
• Stress decreases across the adult years.
• Stress interacts with age to produce lower immune system functioning which leads to higher risk of disease and death.
• See discussion of impact of economic disappointment and illness and death.
Stress and Gender
• Men and women cope with stress differently.
Stress and Discrimination
• Racial and gender discrimination can be highly stressful.
The Journey of Adulthood 5/e by Bee & Bjorklund. Copyright © 2004 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

8. Resistance Resources Social Support Personal Control
• Social support is affect, affirmation, and aid received from others.
• Social support is associated with lower risk of disease, death, and depression.
• Social support has a buffering effect in the face of high stress.
• Social networks can also be source of stress.
Personal Control
• Sense of personal control also serves as a buffer against the impact of stress.
The Journey of Adulthood 5/e by Bee & Bjorklund. Copyright © 2004 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

9. Resistance Resources Coping Behaviors
• Coping encompasses all the things you might think, feel, and do in response to stressful events.
• problem-focused
• appraisal-focused
• emotion-focused coping
• Approach coping versus avoidance coping
• The best coping strategies vary across different types of stress.
The Journey of Adulthood 5/e by Bee & Bjorklund. Copyright © 2004 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

10. Specific Types of Stressful Events in Adulthood
Divorce
Parental Bereavement
Widowhood
The Journey of Adulthood 5/e by Bee & Bjorklund. Copyright © 2004 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

11. Specific Types of Stressful Events in Adulthood
Divorce
• Divorce is linked to increases in both physical and mental illnesses
• Older divorcing persons have a more difficult adjustment.
• For both men and women, social support contributes to adjustment following divorce.
The Journey of Adulthood 5/e by Bee & Bjorklund. Copyright © 2004 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

12. Specific Types of Stressful Events in Adulthood
Parental Bereavement
• Having a parent die is a normative event for middle adulthood.
• It is less stressful than other types of bereavement.
• It is more stressful for women than for men.
The Journey of Adulthood 5/e by Bee & Bjorklund. Copyright © 2004 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

13. Specific Types of Stressful Events in Adulthood
Widowhood
• Death of spouse triggers a string of life changes.
• Widows have increased rates of disease, death and depression.
• Negative effects are greater for younger widowed men and women.
• Some gender differences exist.
• Social support can serve as a buffer for stress associated with loss of spouse.
The Journey of Adulthood 5/e by Bee & Bjorklund. Copyright © 2004 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved.