1. HNC Social Care
Psychology for Care

2. What is stress? There are many definitions of stress.
Stress is an individuals response to a stimulus in the environment
Stress occurs when perceived demands on an individual exceed resources
Stress is an emotion
Stress is a condition of physiological and psychological arousal

3. Definitions
Stress-
“ A pattern of negative physiological states and psychological responses occurring in situations where people perceive threats to their well-being which they may be unable to meet” (Lazarus & Fockman, 1984)
“Stress is the individual’s response to an inappropriate level of pressure. It is the response to the pressure, not the pressure itself.’ (Arroba & James 1987)

4. Causes of Stress External causes:
Lifestyle-drinking/addictions/obesity/relationship
Work based problems
Environmental problems-noise/poverty/housing etc
Internal Causes:
Poor health
Low self esteem/low confidence
Age related changes e.g. adolescence/mid life crises

5. Stress While some stimulus or arousal is good
for us, excessive amounts can result in
physical
psychological
emotional
social
effects which are unpleasant in the short term and harmful in the long term

6. Physical effects Headaches Nausea Neck/back pain High blood pressure
Ulcers
Strokes

7. Psychological/Behavioural Effects
Confusion
Anxiety
Inability to concentrate
Depression
Overeating
Drug abuse
Aggression

8. The Holmes-Rahe Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS)
Based on their well known study in 1967 into the effects of life events and the subsequent follow-up studies, Dr.T. Holmes and Dr. R. Rahe created the SRRS
noted that patients often had experienced several life events in the months before becoming ill.
They developed a list, of 43 such life events
Some of the events are desirable, but appear because any change is stressful.
Each life event carries a score in life change units.

9. The Holmes-Rahe Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS)
These predictions are not definite.
What produces a change in physical or mental health status is an interaction of many factors such as how significant those life events are to you
your personal capacity to cope with change
the quality of your support system through family, work and friends.
Completing this inventory can give you some insight into the stressors that are potentially hazardous to your health and well-being

10. What do we mean by resilience?
Overcoming the odds – being successful despite exposure to high risk
Sustaining competence under pressure – adapting to high risk
Recovering from trauma – adjusting successfully to negative life events

11. Resilience
“Compared to non-resilient children, a resilient child can resist adversity, cope with uncertainty and recover more successfully from traumatic events” (Barnardo’s 2001)

12. Intrinsic Factors
Research suggests that in order to promote resilience, children need:
A secure base: a sense of belonging and security
Good self-esteem: an internal sense of worth and competence
A sense of self-efficacy: a sense of mastery and control, along with an accurate understanding of personal strengths and limitations

13. Extrinsic Factors
In addition to intrinsic factors there also needs to be:
At least one secure attachment relationship
Access to wider supports such as extended family and friends
Positive nursery, school and or community experiences

14. Resilience: normal development under difficult circumstances
Life events or circumstances which pose a threat to healthy development, e.g. racism, domestic violence, parental depression etc.
Factors which buffer the affects of adversity, e.g. a good school experience, secure attachment etc.
Adversity Protective
Factors
Vulnerability: Those characteristics of the child, their family and the wider community which might threaten or challenge healthy development, e.g. isolated parent, poor housing, lack of community support