Psychosocial Stress

Contributors

Preface

Part One Dominant Themes in Research on Psychosocial Stress

1. Role Strains and Personal Stress

Introduction

The Intellectual Past of Present Interest in Roles

The Concept of Role Strain: Specification and Extensions

Role Strains and the Self

Conclusions

References

2. Dimensions of Life Events That Influence Psychological Distress: An Evaluation and Synthesis of the Literature

Introduction

Measurement and Other Methodological Problems

Dimensions of Life Events Most Predictive of Psychological Disturbance

Life Event Processes: Theoretical Implications

References

3. Direct, Indirect, and Moderating Effects of Social Support on Psychological Distress and Associated Conditions

Introduction

Evidence for the Relevance of Social Support

A Program of Research on Social Support

Theoretical Considerations

Summary and Conclusions

References

4. Individual Coping Efforts: Moderators of the Relationship between Life Stress and Mental Health Outcomes

Introduction

Conceptual Issues

Determinants of Coping Usage

The Effectiveness of Coping

Future Directions

References

Part Two Toward a Theoretical Synthesis

5. Psychological Distress in Sociological Context: Toward a General Theory of Psychosocial Stress

Introduction

Psychosocial Stress

The Social Basis of Psychosocial Stress

Discussion

References

Part Three Methodological Issues

6. Methodological Issues in the Study of Psychosocial Stress

Introduction

Normal Population Surveys

Surveys of Crisis Victims

Prospective Case-Control Studies

Retrospective Case-Control Studies

Evaluating Causal Priority

Decomposing Modifier Effects

Conclusions

References

Index