title: Student Stress Reaction Styles': The Effects Of Stress Appraisal, Control Perceptions And Personality

authors: de France, Mary Anna

subjects: stress reaction styles

abstract: Academic study can present many stressful situations. An adaptive coping style is one of the essential factors for university students to cope effectively with stressors in their lives, allowing for an effective level of performance while protecting from stress related side effects. Previous research has identified the relationship between stressful life events and the onset of illness. This current study extends on previous research and identifies dispositional factors and stressors specific to social interactions and educational settings and their resulting impact on student coping. This study explored the somewhat controversial concept of 'coping styles' by investigating a comprehensive model of coping that included two stressors (workload related demands and a social interaction), stressor appraisal, dispositional resources, the situational resources of perceived control and perceived levels of coping effectiveness. 
An online questionnaire was completed by 257 participants from seven major universities around New Zealand. Problem-solving coping was positively correlated with perceived levels of coping effectiveness while avoidance coping was negatively correlated with coping effectiveness. The traits of neuroticism and conscientiousness appeared to predispose individuals to cope in predictable ways across situations when confronting adversity, lending support for the notion of coping styles. Results of the moderated regression analyses found that neuroticism and conscientiousness were significant moderators between stressor appraisal and coping behaviours used. The major implications from this research are that educational institutes need to offer on campus services that can support and educate students regarding their tendencies to engage in maladaptive and adaptive coping behaviours and under what circumstances trigger the use of maladaptive coping behaviours. Assistance could be tailored specifically to each individual and their likely coping responses chosen, by including a measure of personality. In the final chapter, conclusions are discussed with regard to implications of this research to educational institutes, students and the need for future research.

text: Student Stress Reaction Styles': The Effects Of Stress Appraisal, Control Perceptions And Personality Academic study can present many stressful situations. An adaptive coping style is one of the essential factors for university students to cope effectively with stressors in their lives, allowing for an effective level of performance while protecting from stress related side effects. Previous research has identified the relationship between stressful life events and the onset of illness. This current study extends on previous research and identifies dispositional factors and stressors specific to social interactions and educational settings and their resulting impact on student coping. This study explored the somewhat controversial concept of 'coping styles' by investigating a comprehensive model of coping that included two stressors (workload related demands and a social interaction), stressor appraisal, dispositional resources, the situational resources of perceived control and perceived levels of coping effectiveness. 
An online questionnaire was completed by 257 participants from seven major universities around New Zealand. Problem-solving coping was positively correlated with perceived levels of coping effectiveness while avoidance coping was negatively correlated with coping effectiveness. The traits of neuroticism and conscientiousness appeared to predispose individuals to cope in predictable ways across situations when confronting adversity, lending support for the notion of coping styles. Results of the moderated regression analyses found that neuroticism and conscientiousness were significant moderators between stressor appraisal and coping behaviours used. The major implications from this research are that educational institutes need to offer on campus services that can support and educate students regarding their tendencies to engage in maladaptive and adaptive coping behaviours and under what circumstances trigger the use of maladaptive coping behaviours. Assistance could be tailored specifically to each individual and their likely coping responses chosen, by including a measure of personality. In the final chapter, conclusions are discussed with regard to implications of this research to educational institutes, students and the need for future research.

year: 2009

title: Developing a recovery ethos for psychiatric  services in New Zealand

authors: Smith, Mark Andrew

subjects: Philosophy

abstract: This thesis is about developing a recovery ethos for psychiatric services in New Zealand. The argument of the thesis is that  currently a procedural ethos is dominant in psychiatric services in New Zealand, based on eclectic ways of facilitating recovery. Recovery from mental illness, is based on the criteria of symptom reduction and functioning and can be further refined to   have a client and professional perspective. Rather than using an eclectic approach to facilitating recovery the thesis argues for a pluralistic approach, where the virtues, the relationship with professionals, client narrative and the psychiatric community become central to decision making, rather than principle based procedures.
  The thesis is an argued, applied philosophical thesis in terms of methodology. The scope of the thesis is psychiatric services and the focus is broadly ethical decision making. There are three main divisions to the thesis. Part 1 is concerned with clarification of the main terms used in the thesis. This involves exploring the  historical background to the concept of recovery, clarifying the concept of recovery itself and providing an argument for giving greater prominence to the term mental illness over the term mental disorder. Part 2  identifies the main problem of the thesis, namely the procedural ethos, and the problems it is causing clients suffering from mental illness in facilitating their recovery. Part 3  shows what is involved in developing a recovery ethos for psychiatric services in New Zealand.

text: Developing a recovery ethos for psychiatric  services in New Zealand This thesis is about developing a recovery ethos for psychiatric services in New Zealand. The argument of the thesis is that  currently a procedural ethos is dominant in psychiatric services in New Zealand, based on eclectic ways of facilitating recovery. Recovery from mental illness, is based on the criteria of symptom reduction and functioning and can be further refined to   have a client and professional perspective. Rather than using an eclectic approach to facilitating recovery the thesis argues for a pluralistic approach, where the virtues, the relationship with professionals, client narrative and the psychiatric community become central to decision making, rather than principle based procedures.
  The thesis is an argued, applied philosophical thesis in terms of methodology. The scope of the thesis is psychiatric services and the focus is broadly ethical decision making. There are three main divisions to the thesis. Part 1 is concerned with clarification of the main terms used in the thesis. This involves exploring the  historical background to the concept of recovery, clarifying the concept of recovery itself and providing an argument for giving greater prominence to the term mental illness over the term mental disorder. Part 2  identifies the main problem of the thesis, namely the procedural ethos, and the problems it is causing clients suffering from mental illness in facilitating their recovery. Part 3  shows what is involved in developing a recovery ethos for psychiatric services in New Zealand.

year: 2007

title: The adaptation of cognitive behavioural therapy for adult Maori clients with depression: A pilot study

authors: Bennett, Simon T.

subjects: Maori

abstract: A semistructured cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) programme for depression was adapted for use with Maori adult clients with depression. Adaptations were developed in consultation with an advisory group consisting of Maori clinical psychologists and kaumatua with experience working in mental health services. The programme was piloted with 2 participants who were clients of a Maori mental health service. The programme builds on a more traditional CBT treatment programme by integrating concepts such as whakatauki, whanaungatanga, whanau involvement, and whakapapa into the therapeutic context. Despite limitations the results demonstrate considerable promise. Depressive symptoms increased substantially in both cases and both clients reflected positively on the adaptations incorporated into therapy.

text: The adaptation of cognitive behavioural therapy for adult Maori clients with depression: A pilot study A semistructured cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) programme for depression was adapted for use with Maori adult clients with depression. Adaptations were developed in consultation with an advisory group consisting of Maori clinical psychologists and kaumatua with experience working in mental health services. The programme was piloted with 2 participants who were clients of a Maori mental health service. The programme builds on a more traditional CBT treatment programme by integrating concepts such as whakatauki, whanaungatanga, whanau involvement, and whakapapa into the therapeutic context. Despite limitations the results demonstrate considerable promise. Depressive symptoms increased substantially in both cases and both clients reflected positively on the adaptations incorporated into therapy.

year: 2008