Normative transitions in the life cycle challenge the adaptation resources of individuals. This article gives an overview on changes in the transition to parenthood, especially changes in marital satisfaction and experienced strain. This overview focuses on empirical findings of the last fifteen years. Changes in the above mentioned areas are moderated by variables like expectancy processes concerning the division of tasks and roles as well as the experience of injustice in the intimate relationship. The contribution of stress and coping theory to the analysis of this transitional period is discussed as well.
Surgery is a major stressor for any patient.
This stress can adversely affect the course of anesthesia, surgery, and recovery. Psychological preparation, especially through information or relaxation procedures, could prove to be an effective means of reducing this stress. However, research in this area has been characterized by inconsistent results. In addition, interactions of patient characteristics and the specific content of a preparation on the success of an intervention have been rarely analyzed. In the first phase of the study participants performed a lexical decision task that involved threat-related and neutral words.