Principles And Practice Of Stress Management

The Scenario provided

Describe about the Principles and Practice of Stress Management.

Appraisal of a particular task is like making an assessment on the quality of a task with reference to the task objective or task requirement. More often, appraisal of a task usually touches on key concerns like the evidences, provided during the procedure of the subject, level of the evidence offered and finally matters on both strengths and weaknesses (Barlow, 2007). At some point an appraisal may offer evidence that is not satisfying and that is why it is important that the level of the evidence offered is attached to various justifications of the task.

With reference to the question rubric, this particular task will make an appraisal with reference to the case provided. It will assess or rather appraise both the papers end make a final stand on the most suitable paper to fit the situation in context. The final stand will also be aligned with a number of justifications that will offer a provision that in deed the adopted paper suits the need of the task.

The Scenario provided

The scenario provided is on one Mariana who is a first year student pursuing health sciences in an Australian University. The personality in question is described as a lady who is not married but has a daughter whose age is estimated to be 18 months. Due to her situation of being a single mother, she is encountered with worries of not being able to mix with other students (Beehr & Newman, 2008). This is also supported by a number of key evidences which are mainly based on priorities.

Her priority may not be the same like other students whom she is undertaking her studies with. At the childbirth of the daughter, Mariana is depicted to have suffered difficulties in giving birth and the daughter is presently suffering from Asthma (Certo, 2015). In the occasion that Mariana comes to school, her daughter has to be in the attendance of local child care centre. The case in context or rather the scenario presented ends with the mentioning of Mariana’s condition. She is suffering from both diabetes and rare blood disorders. A situation  that also needs more than medical examination, but she has to live in her status since she gets limited support from her family, a situation that has subjected her to live in a small unit which is a bus ride from the university vicinity.

Appraising the Quality of Paper 1

Appraising the Quality of Paper 1

The personalities presented in paper 1 are Von Haertel, Stumpp, Hey and Ebner- Priemer. Their paper mainly presents information on reduced emotional stress reactivity to a situation that can be of real life academic examination stressor in students (Cohen & McKay, 2014). The examination was through aerobic exercise training that took place in the 20^th week.

Objective of the paper

The main objective of the paper in context as mentioned previously was to examine if the 20^th week aerobic exercise intervention can improve emotional stress reactivity during a real life stress. The method that was employed was on bringing sixty one inactive students who were randomly assigned to a waiting control and an aerobic exercise intervention group (Cohen, Kessler & Gordon, 2007).

Both the inter-individual data in real life situation and diaries were brought into use. The participants with regards to the paper are argued to have made reports of their moods as well as their perceived stress (Gordon, Slade & Schmitt, 2006). This was done in a time span of every two days in their daily routines of pre and post intervention. 

The outcome of the subject showed important emotional stress reactivity that was evident in both groups during the entire period in which the assessment was conducted (Folkman, 2004). It was also noted amongst participants in the aerobic exercise intervention group, lower emotional stress reactivity. This was in comparison with their control counterparts at the end of the time that was estimated for the training to end.

The paper in context concluded with a conference that Aerobic Exercise Intervention has got beneficial effects on emotional stress reactivity during an academic examination which is extremely stressful real life situation for students. The subject in context was also mentioned to be a promising strategy against the negative health effects of already accumulated emotional stress reactivity (Kim, Yang & Schroeppel, 2013).

Evidences that the paper provided can be applicable to Mariana’s situation regarding stress reduction and mood improvement

The evidence provided in paper one is obtained from the main objective of the paper in discussion. The objective is based on how the exercise that was conducted can improve emotional stress reactivity. Remember, the situation under which Mariana was subjected to was not favorable and therefore stood a chance of suffering from cases that are stress related.

The first instance of Mariana’s stress was on the fact that she was a student and at the same time a single mother of an 18 months daughter (Lazarus, 2015). The daughter was also depicted as one who was suffering from asthma and the mother on the other hand having ailment on diabetes and rare blood disorders. The main aim of this objective is to subject the stressful situation of Mariana to the education sector as provided in the detailed analysis of Aerobic Exercise Interventions. Her mind is likely to be diverted, and her stress may not come from her real life situation, that even includes reduction of stress from the situation of her child. This is likely to raise her mood.

Objective of the paper

The extent of evidence provided with the view of the subject may be fairly applicable in the situation of Mariana, and there is likelihood that she may have temporary relief in her real life stress situation (Moracco & McFadden, 2012).

Strength of the evidence provided in appraising the paper

The strength of the evidence provided is on the beneficial part of the paper in context, of which it is mentioned that the Aerobic Exercise Intervention shows some characteristics of a promising strategy against stress.

Weaknesses with respect to the subject

The main weakness with respect to the context is that there are chances that personality in discussion may suffer double stressful state. This is because, in the occurrence that the paper in discussion is not applicable in reducing Mariana’s stress, she may both have stress from the academic zone as well as that of her real life as detailed in the scenario that has been conclusively discussed.

Appraisal of Paper 2

The personalities presented to be the authors of this paper include Kim, Yang and finally Scroeppel. The paper is mainly about a pilot study that offers an examination on the effects of Kouk Sun Do on students who are in the university with regards to anxiety symptoms. The paper is therefore basically about stress and health and most of its content has also shown many similarities with the journal of the international society for the investigations of stress (Murphy, 2014). Moving into finer details of the study, it is documented that the study was conducted among 30 university student who had reported cases on anxiety symptoms.

They were allocated at random to either the waiting list that was for the control group or treatment group. A total estimate of 18, of whom 11 were in the waiting list control group completed both the two usual tests. That is pre- test and post test. The rest of the participant is depicted to have dropped out before the intervention stage (Olff, Langeland & Gersons, 2005).

 The pilot test in context is covered to have been conducted at a frequency of at least three times per week in a period of four weeks. There was a measurement which was then taken mainly on areas that deals in trait anxiety, depressive symptoms and finally general self efficacy in coping with stress. At the final stage, open ended questions were used in data collection and the result is provided in the result section of the paper in context.

Result of the subject

Result with respect to the appraisal of paper 2

One of the groups which were the first 11 or rather the treatment group showed a significance reduced trait in both anxiety and symptoms of depression compared to the control group across time. In the end, there was a provision that was made by the qualitative data which provided that self induced relaxation effects may lead to reduced anxiety.

The main objective of this particular paper as already been mentioned is on the effects of Kouk Sun Do which is basically a mind body exercise on a mental health of the university students. Being that, Mariana is also a university student, the paper accommodates her because even her situation is part of mental health.

Evidence with regards to both appraisal of the paper and applicability of the of it to Mariana’s situation in reducing stress and improving mood

The main evidence with regards to the context is on the view that the paper is directed towards achieving a breakthrough in matters of stress. The paper has addressed this from a dimension of conducting what was known as the pilot study (Smith et al, 2005). The outcome of the study as provided in the result sub topic was that self induced relaxation effects of the Kouk Sun Do may offer a reduction in anxiety. Anxiety in most cases results due to extreme cases in matters of stress just like in the scenario that we are presented with of Mariana.

Level of evidence

The level of this evidence is of a higher chance able to offer reduction in matters of anxiety which has always been discussed by a number of key scholars in the field of medicine as one of the outcomes of matters that are related to stress though not in all circumstances.

Strengths of the evidence

The strength of the subject is that unlike other cases, this paper is very direct in terms of what it is dealing with, and it has been noted that it lays much focus on matters of anxiety. It is this that it seeks ways on how it can be reduced as already covered in the paper in discussion.

Weaknesses of the evidence

The main weakness of this paper is that, it focuses much on anxiety relief as opposed to stress. In the outcome that was covered and as severally been mentioned in the previous paragraph, the end result was that self induced relaxation effects of the subject may offer reduction to matters pertaining anxiety. This shows that the paper may not offer applicability to Mariana’s situation.

Evidences that the paper provided can be applicable to Mariana’s situation regarding stress reduction and mood improvement

The most relevant paper to Mariana regarding stress reduction and improvement of mood

The most appropriate or relevant paper with regards to the subject is that of paper 1. This is the paper that is likely to offer reduction to Mariana’s stress and even improve her mood.

The main justification for the above is that, it provides for academic stress to offer relief in Mariana’s real life situation. Mariana is likely to lay focus on academic stress and challenges and this may make her forget of her real life stress (Von et al, 2015). Remember, it was mentioned that she even had a problem of mixing with other students; it is only this paper that will enable her mix freely with her colleagues. The second paper is dismissed on ground that, it does not directly touch on matters that are stress related but rather anxiety and therefore may be difficult to provide the required solution.

Conclusion

As mentioned in the introductory paragraph, the meaning of appraisal of paper is to appreciate the quality of that particular paper through the assessment of several areas. The task in question has therefore, for a greater extent appraise the two papers with respect to Mariana’s condition and has finally come up with a final paper that is most applicable to Mariana. For example, in this case, paper 1 has been adopted because according to the assessment conducted, it is the most applicable to Mariana’s situation. This task has therefore handled the matters addressed in the question rubric and all the requirements that were brought with regards to the task.

References

Barlow, D. H. (2007). Principles and practice of stress management. P. M. Lehrer, R. L. Woolfolk, & W. E. Sime (Eds.). Guilford Press.

Beehr, T. A., & Newman, J. E. (2008). Job stress, employee health, and organizational effectiveness: A facet analysis, model, and literature review1. Personnel psychology, 31(4), 665-699.

Certo, S. (2015). Supervision: Concepts and skill-building. McGraw-Hill Higher Education.

Cohen, S., & McKay, G. (2014). Social support, stress and the buffering hypothesis: A                theoretical analysis. Handbook of psychology and health, 4, 253-267.

Cohen, S., Kessler, R. C., & Gordon, L. U. (2007). Measuring stress: A guide for health and social scientists. Oxford University Press on Demand.

Folkman, S. (2004). Personal control and stress and coping processes: a theoretical analysis.                      Journal of personality and social psychology, 46(4), 839.

Gordon, M. E., Slade, L. A., & Schmitt, N. (2006). The “science of the sophomore” revisited: From conjecture to empiricism. Academy of management review, 11(1), 191-207.

Kim, J., Yang, H., & Schroeppel, S. (2013). A Pilot Study Examining the Effects of Kouk Sun Do on University Students with Anxiety Symptoms. Stress & Health: Journal Of The International Society For The Investigation Of Stress, 29(2), 99-107. Retrieved from https://ezproxy.acu.edu.au/login?url=https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/smi.2431

Lazarus, R. S. (2015). Psychological stress in the workplace. Occupational stress: A handbook, 1, 3-14.

Moracco, J. C., & McFadden, H. (2012). The counselor's role in reducing teacher stress. The Personnel and Guidance Journal, 60(9), 549-552.

Murphy, L. R. (2014). Occupational stress management: A review and appraisal. Journal of occupational psychology, 57(1), 1-15.

Olff, M., Langeland, W., & Gersons, B. P. (2005). Effects of appraisal and coping on the neuroendocrine response to extreme stress. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 29(3), 457-467.

Smith, J. E., Richardson, J., Hoffman, C., & Pilkington, K. (2005). Mindfulness?Based Stress Reduction as supportive therapy in cancer care: systematic review. Journal of advanced nursing, 52(3), 315-327.

Von Haaren, B., Haertel, S., Stumpp, J., Hey, S., & Ebner-Priemer, U. (2015). Reduced emotional stress reactivity to a real-life academic examination stressor in students participating in a 20-week aerobic exercise training: A randomised controlled trial using Ambulatory Assessment. Psychology Of Sport & Exercise, 20, 67-75.