Precursors and possible effects of psychological stress.

The term stress can be used to refer to a generalised somatic response, involving hormonal activity, which renders an individual ready to react to a wide range of events. With continued stress there can result a wide range of pathological developments, including physical and psychological symptoms. This paper will review the social and psychological factors which appear to increase the stress response and will also examine some of the physical consequences of exposure to stress-inducing agents. Emphasis will be given to the possibilities that stress may result from common experiences of living in modern complex society. Individual differences need to be considered as moderators of stress, and also the means whereby people may be taught to cope with stress.

Rationalizing criminal behaviour: the influence of criminal sentiments on sociomoral development in violent offenders and nonoffenders.

Cognitive developmental theory suggests that mature-level sociomoral reasoning (Stages 3 and 4) can provide a protective factor, or buffer, against antisocial and violent criminal behavior. This study explored whether the influence of internalised criminal sentiments could undermine this buffer. The sample was high-risk men and women offenders (n = 99) convicted of serious violent index offences, and men and women nonoffender university students (n = 101). Moral reasoning was measured using the Sociomoral Reflection Measure-Short Form, whereas criminal sentiments were assessed using the Criminal Sentiments Scale. Based on moral reasoning development level the sample was classified into groups: mature- or immature-level moral reasoners. The results suggested that mature-level sociomoral development might not protect a person from identifying with criminal others, and that law violation could be rationalized regardless of sociomoral level. Gender differences were neither expected nor found. The applied implications of the findings are considered.

Type A coronary-prone behavior pattern, self-consciousness, and self-monitoring: a questionnaire study.

A correlational and factor analytic study of data from 233 undergraduate university students was designed to test the hypothesis that there are differences between Type A and Type B individuals in their predisposition to be self-aware. Both measures of Type A behavior did not correlate with measures of self-consciousness but did show small, statistically significant relationships with a measure of self-monitoring. This finding is discussed in the light of experimental data reported in the literature. A significant but small correlation found between the two measures of Type A behavior is discussed with reference to the use of short scales for Type A behavioral assessment.

Political perception among young Australians: affective versus cognitive appraisal.

We investigated the role of affect in the political perceptions of a sample of Australian university students (N = 185). Following the procedure of Abelson, Kinder, Peters, and Fiske (1982), we compared affective and cognitive appraisals of three Australian politicians (Bob Hawke, John Howard, and John Bjelke-Petersen) and examined their respective influence on favorability judgments. Affective appraisals were less consistent than cognitive appraisals, and affect was a significant predictor of favorability, with certain idiosyncratic exceptions. Bjelke-Petersen elicited comparatively consistent affective reactions. The affective reactions elicited by Hawke were inconsequential to favorability. Two dimensions of negative affect for Hawke revealed a differential impact of negative affect on favorability.

Selective Exposure as a Function of Dogmatism and Incentive.

It was hypothesized that Ss with high scores on Rokeach's Dogmatism Scale would be less willing than low scorers to read material incongruent with their beliefs but that instructions that their beliefs would be challenged would lead Ss to read incongruent material. Fifty-six college students, predominantly male, studying engineering, who had to participate in a liberal studies program, were presented with a questionnaire to elicit their beliefs. The 48 Ss who were opposed to the program were then given the opportunity to select articles to read, related to the program. Half of the Ss were told they would later be called to an interview to enlarge on their opinion. The results indicated that incentive did not have a significant influence on the discrepancy between opinion and the material selected, but high dogmatism Ss were significantly (p < .05) less likely to choose discrepant material than were low dogmatism Ss.

The responses of professional fire-fighters to disaster.

This paper reports the results of a survey of the physical and mental reactions of a group (N= 72) of members of the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) who were engaged in fighting the bushfires close to Adelaide, 16th-19th February 1983. A questionnaire, designed to elicit reports on both physical and mental reactions to exposure to the fire, as well as perceptions of several measures of social strain and social support, was administered to the firefighters when they came off duty. The results reported show the possible influence of role strain factors in predicting mental reactions, and also demonstrate what may be mediating effects of perceived social support. The paper also discusses methodological problems affecting this and other studies of the reactions of emergency service personnel to disaster.

Trial of an intervention to reduce chronic benzodiazepine use among residents of aged-care accommodation.

BACKGROUND: Many residents of aged-care accommodation are chronic users of benzodiazepines. This pattern of use contradicts current guidelines and may adversely affect residents. It was hypothesised that a lasting reduction in benzodiazepine use could be achieved through a programme which involved prescribers, residents and caregivers in the change process. AIM: To demonstrate that an intervention which involved education and relaxation training for patients, and education of prescribers and caregivers, could reduce levels of chronic benzodiazepine use among residents of an aged-care facility. METHODS: Two aged-care facilities from metropolitan Adelaide were chosen; one received the intervention, the other was a no-intervention comparison. Pre-test, post-test and follow-up interviews were conducted with 60 residents: 27 from the intervention setting and 33 from the comparison setting. Residents at the intervention setting were provided with relaxation skills training, and their medical practitioners and caregivers were provided with information about alternative strategies for managing sleep disturbance. Outcome measures were: the proportion of residents using benzodiazepines, total medication use, cognitive performance, emotional responsiveness, subjective health and sleep ratings and an index of well-being. RESULTS: The proportion of participants in the intervention condition who used benzodiazepines declined significantly (from 70% to 35%); the reduction was maintained over the subsequent three months. No adverse consequences were associated with cessation of benzodiazepine use; there was improvement in emotional responsiveness among those who ceased benzodiazepine use. This structured intervention strategy is a useful approach for reducing levels of chronic benzodiazepine use among residents of aged-care accommodation.