They concluded that an LCU score of 150 in the past 6 months increased illness risk by 30% and if the LCU score is 300 there is a 50% increased chance of illness. However, because Rahe et al gathered their initial information via questionnaire, the findings may not be as valid because the soldiers may have given socially desirable answers. Also, the findings of Rahe et al’s study may not be so valid anymore as the study was completed in the 1970s, which was 40 years ago – meaning the study may lack historical validity. Kanner et al Kanner’s study was done to investigate the association between daily hassles/uplifts and symptoms of stress. Also to compare the outcome with the use of SRRS as a predictor of stress symptoms.
The immune system can fail us in two ways-either by becoming under-vigilant, letting infections enters the body, or over-vigilant, so that it is the immune system itself, rather than an infectious agent that causes illness. Kiecolt Glaser et al (1984) conducted an experiment to see the effects of stress on the immune system. This was by taking blood samples of 75 medical students one month before and during their examination period. They then compared the two blood samples and found decreased leucocyte activity in the sample taken during high levels of stress (during their exams). They found high T cell activity prior to exams but low activity during exams.
Writing Assignment: Stages of Stress Response Write a 300- to 500-word essay. Think of an example of a stressful incident or series of events in your life or someone that you know. Relate these events to the three stages of the stress response. Be specific in explaining the physical effect the stress was having in each stage. Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe University of Washington School of Medicine, develop a scale which is used by many psychologists and therapists to determine your level of stress, based on the most stressful life events that you have had, during the past year.
This was a surprise to me because I have always associated RSV with the infant population. According to Pruitt, ‘This contagious infection is more common in older adults than infants – and potentially just as deadly’ (Pruitt 62). He cites that a recent study has estimated that 14,000 older and high-risk adults die each year from RSV. These high risks include patients with COPD, heart failure, asthma and diabetes (62). Peaking in January and February, Respiratory syncytial virus is the virus causing most common colds, when it is limited to the upper respiratory tract.
Results showed that 41% of the students suffered from depressive symptoms and there was a positive correlation between scores on the hassles scale and the incidence of depressive symptoms. This suggests that the transition from school to university brings about a lot of daily hassled and they can be classed as a significant risk factor for depression. Another research was conducted by Guilan et al, Guilan et al found that those who had a stressful work day reported higher levels of stress at the end of the day, this shows that the effect of daily hassles tend to accumulate throughout the day. A research by Gervais shows how daily uplifts neutralise the effects of daily hassles and has an overall positive effect as a result. Nurses were made to keep diaries in which they had to record all daily hassles and uplifts experienced at work.
Examine the reasons for, and the consequences of, the fall in the death rate since 1900 (24 marks) In the UK, the overall number of deaths has stayed fairly stable since 1900. However there has been some fluctuations, for example the number of deaths increased during the world wars. However, ignoring the two major increases, the death rate has fallen since 1900. Firstly, according to Thomas Mckeown (1972), improved nutrition is a main reason for the fall in the death rate. He argues that better nutrition increases resistance to infection and increases the survival chances of those who did get infected.
Cheryl McCollin vs. The Judge Rotenberg Center The Judge Rotenberg Center (in Massachusetts) is geared towards disruptive and self-destructive children. For over twenty years the Center has used extensive tactics such as the electroshock therapy to questionability produce a positive change in the children. In October 2002, Andre McCollin (who had previous mental conditions) was tied up and shocked thirty-one times over seven hours. The method of so-called therapy landed Andre McCollin in the hospital in a nonresponsive state for three days.
Outline & Evaluate research studies into the effects of stress on the immune system (12 marks) In 1984 Kiecolt-Glaser did a research into pupils doing exams study. The aim of the research was to see whether examination stress had an effect on the functioning of the pupil’s immune system. To figure this out Kiecolt used 75 medical students. Because she only used medical students it lacks population validity because you can’t generalize sample to other people. This is because the students she used may have a different immune system to other people.
One research that looked into the stressful impacts of life changes was conducted by Holmes and Rahe (1967) who developed the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) for identifying major stressful life events; the scale measures the degree of adjustment needed every time a life event happens. They asked 394 people to rate 43 different life changes and score them and the stressful life events were awarded a Life Change Unit (LCU) averaging out how traumatic it was felt to be by a large sample of participants. For example death of a spouse was considering extremely traumatic and given a stress value of 100 compared to a holiday like Christmas which was given stress value of 12. By adding up the total LCUs accumulated over the past year, we are able to identify what this means. A score of 0-149 is considered a relatively low amount of life change and therefore a low susceptibility to stress related illnesses.
Examine the reasons for, and the consequences of, the fall in the death rate since 1900 (24 marks) In the UK, the overall number of deaths has stayed fairly stable since 1900. However there has been some fluctuations, for example the number of deaths increased during the world wars. However, ignoring the two major increases, the death rate has fallen since 1900. Firstly, according to Thomas Mckeown (1972), improved nutrition is a main reason for the fall in the death rate. He argues that better nutrition increases resistance to infection and increases the survival chances of those who did get infected.