De‐stressing mommy: ameliorative association with dispositional optimism and resiliency

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the role of dispositional optimism on levels of stress, resiliency and salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) in employed mothers. The participants, comprised of 37 mothers (26 married and 11 single), were asked to render a timed saliva sample and complete a questionnaire package (demographic sheet, stress, resiliency and optimism inventories). Results indicated that mothers who were more optimistic tended to report less distress and greater resiliency. Furthermore, life event stress was positively related to self‐reported levels of distress. Salivary IgA did not correlate significantly with the above psychological variables. These data provide additional support regarding the buffering effect of dispositional optimism on the stress experience and has practical implications for the cultivation of learned optimism in employed mothers. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Stress‐related predictors of optimism in breast cancer survivors

Optimism is a key variable for adjustment in aversive conditions. The purpose of this study was to examine whether optimism is predicted by two stress‐related variables which represent information about self and the environment (i.e. illness‐related stress and self‐efficacy), in a sample of breast cancer survivors. Ninety‐two women who had undergone a mastectomy participated in the study (minimum time elapsed since diagnosis = 3 years). Most participants (51 per cent) reported that at least one of four illness‐related concerns had been quite or very stressful in the past 6 months. Analyses showed that illness‐related stress exerted influence on optimism through coping, whereas self‐efficacy exerted influence both directly and through coping. Stress was predicted by two medical variables (time since diagnosis and time since mastectomy). These findings confirmed our hypothesis that knowledge about personal abilities, as well as about environment difficulties can predict the way a person evaluates future outcomes. This study has significant implications for clinical practice with patients. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Latent classes of resilience and psychological response among only‐child loss parents in China

Only‐child loss parents in China recently gained extensive attention as a newly defined social group. Resilience could be a probable solution out of the psychological dilemma. Using a sample of 185 only‐child loss people, this study employed latent class analysis (a) to explore whether different classes of resilience could be identified, (b) to determine socio‐demographic characteristics of each class, and (c) to compare the depression and the subjective well‐being of each class. The results supported a three‐class solution, defined as ‘high tenacity‐strength but moderate optimism class’, ‘moderate resilience but low self‐efficacy class’ and ‘low tenacity but moderate adaption‐dependence class’. Parents with low income and medical insurance of low reimbursement type and without endowment insurance occupied more proportions in the latter two classes. The latter two classes also had a significant higher depression scores and lower subjective well‐being scores than high tenacity‐strength but moderate optimism class. Future work should care those socio‐economically vulnerable bereaved parents, and an elastic economic assistance policy was needed. To develop targeted resilience interventions, the emphasis of high tenacity‐strength but moderate optimism class should be the optimism. Moderate resilience but low self‐efficacy class should be self‐efficacy, and low tenacity but moderate adaption‐dependence class should be tenacity.     

Psychological well‐being and the role of perceived primal threat: evidence from two studies in patient and healthy samples

In two studies we examined the interrelations of threats against four basic human needs (i.e. self‐preservation, social integration, personal identity and growth, and personal worldview), as well as their role in the stress process. These threats are proposed to represent the aspects of a common factor referred to as perceived primal threat (PPT). In the first study, 108 hospitalized patients completed questionnaires about PPT, psychological symptoms and illness threat. In the second study, 100 healthy individuals completed questionnaires about PPT, psychological symptoms, life satisfaction, social support, self‐efficacy and the perceived stressfulness of a recent negative condition. According to the results of both studies, the four PPT aspects were strongly intercorrelated; loaded on a higher order common factor; were associated with psychological symptoms, life satisfaction and stress‐related evaluations (i.e. stressfulness of the condition, self‐efficacy, social support) and mediated the relation of stress‐related evaluations to psychological symptoms in an equivalent way. These findings are in line with our hypotheses, and provide support to the role of PPT in the stress process. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cortisol variability and self‐reports in the measurement of work‐related stress

We examined whether a high cortisol awakening response (CAR) and low cortisol decline over the day (CDD) are related to self‐reported work stress and well‐being, and whether there are gender differences in these relationships. Three hundred eighty‐three working men and women responded to a survey measuring job stress factors, mastery at work, symptoms and well‐being. Salivary cortisol was sampled at awakening, after 45 min and at 21:00, from which the variables CAR and CDD were defined. A high CAR was associated with lower perceived job control and work mastery, and poorer well‐being. Low CDD was associated only with higher job demands, but the self‐report scores showed a number of interactions between cortisol group and gender. Among women, those showing a low CDD, compared with those with a higher CDD, had more favourable scores on a number of job stress factors and symptom load. In contrast, among men, a similar comparison showed those with low CDD to have poorer scores on job stress factors and symptom load. We conclude that individuals displaying high CAR or low CDD differ from those not displaying these cortisol profiles in self‐report of work stress and well‐being, and that gender differences appear in these relationships. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The effects of mindfulness‐based group intervention on the mental health of middle‐aged Korean women in community

This study was conducted to develop a mindfulness and self‐compassion enhancement intervention for middle‐aged women who complained of emotional distress and to ascertain whether participation in the mindfulness‐based programme was associated with an increase in psychological well‐being and the improvement of psychological symptoms. The results showed that time by group interactions were significant in improving psychological well‐being, depression, anxiety, hostility, somatization, positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA). These results suggest that participants in the mindfulness and self‐compassion group programme appeared to have enhanced psychological well‐being and improved psychological distress. The study findings also suggest that mindfulness and self‐compassion enhancement programme may be an intervention with potential for helping many individuals to learn to deal with emotional distress. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Well‐being Under chronic stress: is morningness an advantage?

This study investigated whether morningness was associated with better quality of life in individuals experiencing chronic stress. Thirty‐one informal primary carers and 35 non‐carers completed self‐report measures of time‐of‐day preference, stress and well‐being. The data were collected as part of a broader study of circadian rhythmicity under conditions of prolonged stress. There was a significant interaction between diurnal preference and caregiving, with morningness associated with better well‐being outcomes in those providing long‐term home care. It appears that chronic arousal, but not perceived stress, plays a role in this morningness–carer interaction, with lower arousal levels also evident in carers with a greater preference for morningness. These results point to a possible role for circadian influences in the relationship between stress and subjective well‐being. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Longitudinal relationships between self‐efficacy,post‐traumatic distress and salivary cortisol among motor vehicle accident survivors

The present study tested if post‐traumatic distress following a motor vehicle accident (MVA) and MVA‐related self‐efficacy beliefs were associated with diurnal salivary cortisol in the early post‐traumatic period. Cortisol was collected upon awakening and at 1, 4 and 12 h after waking. Collection days were 1 week, 1 month and 3 months after MVA. A total of 30 participants provided their cortisol samples across all measurement points. Two methods for computing the area under the cortisol curve were used. Higher post‐traumatic distress at 1 month predicted lower cortisol area under the curve (AUC) with respect to increase (AUC_I, reflecting changes in cortisol secretions during daytime) at 3 months. AUC with respect to ground (AUC_G, reflecting total cortisol release during daytime), measured at 1 month after trauma, predicted higher post‐traumatic distress at 3 months. The results showed that self‐efficacy at 1 week indirectly predicted 3‐month AUC_I through 1‐month post‐traumatic distress. These findings highlight the importance of self‐efficacy and post‐traumatic distress in explaining longitudinal diurnal patterns of cortisol secretion after trauma. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Self‐compassion moderates the predictive effects of implicit cognitions on subjective well‐being

This study examined whether self‐compassion may regulate the effects of implicit cognitions (automatic and preconscious responses) on the subjective well‐being of Australian adults (N = 132). As hypothesized, self‐compassion moderated the predictive effects of 2 implicit cognitions (positive attention bias and implicit self‐esteem) on 2 indicators of subjective well‐being (life satisfaction and depressive symptoms). Low implicit self‐esteem and weak positive attention bias predicted more depressive symptoms and lower life satisfaction only for participants who were low in self‐compassion. These results extend previous research knowledge by indicating that self‐compassion may not only buffer the impact of explicit (deliberate and conscious) cognitive processes on well‐being but may also regulate the effects of preconscious cognitive processes on mental health outcomes. Theoretical and treatment implications are discussed.     

Perceived Stress and Self‐esteem Mediate the Effects of Work‐related Stress on Depression

The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of perceived stress and self‐esteem on work‐related stress and depression. Two hundred and eighty‐four Korean nurses participated in the study. The participants completed four questionnaires, including the Korean short version of the occupational stress scale, the perceived stress scale, the Rosenberg self‐esteem scale and the Beck depression inventory. Structural equation modelling was used to determine the relationships among work‐related stress, perceived stress, self‐esteem, and depression. Work‐related stress was positively associated with depression. Perceived stress was inversely related to self‐esteem and positively associated with work‐related stress and depression, respectively. Self‐esteem was negatively associated with work‐related stress and depression. Structural equation modelling revealed that self‐esteem and perceived stress fully mediate the relationship between work‐related stress and depression. Future studies should further investigate the effect of psychological characteristics on work‐related stress and symptoms of depression. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A holistic understanding of the effect of stress on adolescent well‐being: A conditional process analysis

Although traditional assumptions tend to conceptualize stress as inherently dysfunctional, psychological theory suggests that it is not intrinsically maladaptive. Contemporary models emphasize that the stress response can be differentiated into both negative and positive aspects, known as distress and eustress. Research examining the differential effect of positive and negative stress on adolescent well‐being is limited and has been hindered by a lack of appropriate measurement tools. The aim of the present study was to utilize the recently developed Adolescent Distress‐Eustress Scale to provide a balanced understanding of the impact of stress on positive mental health, holistically considering the effect of both distress and eustress on adolescent well‐being. One thousand eighty‐one Australian adolescents (M_age = 15.14, 54.03% female) completed an online survey composed of the Adolescent Distress‐Eustress Scale alongside measures of well‐being, self‐efficacy, psychological ill‐being, physical activity, and daytime sleepiness. Conditional process analysis suggested that distress exerted no direct influence on well‐being, with the observed negative relationship fully mediated by psychological and behavioural variables. Contrastingly, eustress was both directly related to increased well‐being and exerted an indirect effect through relationships with mediating variables. These results demonstrate that stress can have profoundly positive consequences. Theoretical contributions, implications for practice, and perspectives for future research are discussed.     

Political identity dissimilarity,workplace incivility,and declines in well‐being: A prospective investigation

The workplace is an environment where individuals have little choice about with whom they interact. As such, employees may find themselves engaged in conversations with coworkers whose political opinions and perspectives are divergent from their own. In the present study, we examined how coworkers' (dis)similarity in political identity is related to the quality of their interpersonal interactions and subsequent well‐being. We predicted that political identity dissimilarity is associated with experiences of workplace incivility and, in turn, declines in psychological and occupational well‐being. We tested our hypotheses in a four‐wave survey study conducted during the 2012 U.S. presidential election using structural equation modeling. Consistent with our expectations, results indicated that political identity dissimilarity was associated with increased reports of incivility experiences instigated by coworkers, which, in turn, was associated with increased burnout and turnover intentions and diminished job satisfaction. The relationship between incivility and well‐being was mediated by psychological distress. Overall, the findings demonstrate that political identity dissimilarity is detrimentally related to job attitudes and well‐being via triggering workplace incivility, which provides meaningful implications for organizations on how to mitigate the negative influences of identity dissimilarity.     

Physical injury,stress, and health: Protective role of dispositional optimism

Physical injuries are common occurrences that can have substantial implications for personal, emotional, and social functioning. A recent study reported higher prevalence of common illnesses and reduced health‐related quality of life (HRQL) in injury victims. Based on these findings, the present study examined the role of the antibody immunoglobulin A (IgA) and the stress hormone cortisol in the association between injury and health. Additionally, the role of daily life stress and dispositional optimism in this association was examined. Thirty‐seven victims of injury (e.g., fractures and burns) and 41 noninjured participants were assessed for cortisol and IgA levels and completed a battery of questionnaires assessing illness prevalence, HRQL, perceived stress, and optimism. Injured participants reported higher prevalence of illness and poorer HRQL compared with noninjured participants; however, changes in cortisol or IgA levels did not explain this increase in illness. Correlations between perceived stress and HRQL were stronger in injured participants compared with noninjured controls, indicating that injured individuals are more affected by stress. Dispositional optimism was lower in injured participants, and optimism buffered the negative effect of stress on HRQL. Accordingly, it is suggested that optimism played a protective role against the negative consequences of stress in injured individuals, thus improving HRQL.     

Stress and Coping Mediate Relationships between Contingent and Global Self‐Esteem and Alcohol‐Related Problems among College Drinkers

This study examined the hypotheses that contingent self‐esteem would be positively associated with alcohol‐related problems and that global self‐esteem would be negatively associated with such problems. It also examined the hypothesis that high stress and maladaptive coping would mediate these relationships. A sample of college students (n = 399) who were predominantly Hispanic (89%) completed measures of global and contingent self‐esteem; stress and coping; and alcohol‐related problems. Correlational and latent variable analyses indicated that contingent self‐esteem positively related to alcohol‐related problems, with maladaptive coping mediating this relationship. In contrast, global self‐esteem negatively related to such problems, a relationship that was also mediated by maladaptive coping and stress. Overall, the results highlight the potentially harmful consequences of contingent self‐worth and the adaptive nature of non‐contingent self‐esteem. They also demonstrate the important role that coping plays in mediating self‐esteem's associations with alcohol‐related problems. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Perceived Reciprocity and Well‐Being at Work in Non‐Professional Employees: Fairness or Self‐Interest?

This article assesses the links between non‐professional employees' perceptions of reciprocity in their relationships with their supervisors and the positive and negative sides of employees' well‐being at work: burnout and engagement. Two hypotheses were explored. First, the fairness hypothesis assumes a curvilinear relationship where balanced reciprocity (when the person perceives that there is equilibrium between his/her efforts and the benefits he/she receives) presents the highest level of well‐being. Second, the self‐interest hypothesis proposes a linear pattern where over‐benefitted situations for employees (when the person perceives that he/she is receiving more than he/she deserves) increase well‐being. One study with two independent samples was conducted. The participants were 349 employees in 59 hotels (sample 1) and 690 employees in 89 centres providing attention to people with mental disabilities (sample 2). Linear and curvilinear regression models supported the self‐interest hypothesis for the links from reciprocity to burnout and engagement. We conclude with theoretical implications and opportunities for future research. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Perceived stress,psychological well‐being and the activity of neutrophils in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery

This study explored relationships, before and after surgery, between perceived stress and the activity of white‐blood cells (neutrophils) in 82 patients undergoing heart surgery involving cardiopulmonary bypass surgery (CPB). On the evening before surgery and at follow‐up, 6‐weeks after discharge, patients completed self‐administered standard psychological measures. Small peripheral blood samples were taken, from which neutrophil activity was quantified using nitro‐blue tetrazolium (NBT) and luminol‐dependant chemiluminescence (phagocytic capacity). There were consistent, statistically significant associations between stress and percentageNBT cells at baseline and at follow‐up. Regression analysis showed that perceived stress was a predictor of neutrophil activity at follow‐up suggesting that higher levels of stress are associated with higher levels of activity. Results from the phagocytic capacity data support and strengthen the NBT findings; in response to stimuli the phagocytic capacity of the neutrophils is reduced at baseline (high stress) and increased at follow‐up (lower stress). Significant decreases were found on perceived stress, anxiety, depression, negative affect and health‐related stress at follow‐up. Patients' self‐efficacy was high at baseline and remained high throughout the study. Results highlighted a consistent, significant relationship between perceived stress and the ‘activity’ of neutrophils. The implications of this finding are worthy of exploration given that stress‐activated neutrophils may adversely influence health outcomes. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Self‐compassion in mindfulness‐based stress reduction: An examination of prediction and mediation of intervention effects

The current investigation sought to clarify mechanisms of treatment effects in mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR). Self‐compassion and mindful awareness were assessed first as dispositional influences and then as mediators of outcome in unique models. One hundred thirty individuals participating in the 8‐week MBSR intervention were recruited (73.08% female, mean age = 46.97, SD = 14.07). Measures of psychosocial well‐being (Brief Stress Inventory [BSI], Perceived Stress Scale‐10 [PSS]), mindful awareness (Mindful Awareness and Attention Scale [MAAS]), and self‐compassion (Self‐Compassion Scale [SCS]) were collected at preintervention and postintervention. Regression was conducted to examine the influence of baseline MAAS and SCS on change in PSS and BSI scores. Serial multiple mediator models were conducted separately with pre/postintervention BSI and PSS values as criterion, and preintervention/postintervention MAAS and SCS values as mediators. Higher levels of baseline self‐compassion were predictive of greater reductions in PSS scores (β = 0.16). Reductions in BSI scores were serially mediated by change in self‐compassion both directly (MBSR → ΔSCS → ΔBSI β = 0.06) and indirectly through mindful awareness (MBSR → ΔMAAS → ΔSCS → ΔBSI β = 0.09). Results provide support for the role of self‐compassion as both a predictor of treatment effect and a process through which MBSR operates. Mechanisms underlying MBSR effects appear to be unique to the outcome of interest.     

Quality of recipient–caregiver relationship and psychological distress are correlates of self‐care agency after lung transplantation

Self‐care behaviors are crucial for following the complex regimen after lung transplantation, yet little is known about recipients' levels of self‐care agency (the capability and willingness to engage in self‐care behaviors) and its correlates. We examined levels of self‐care agency and recipient characteristics (socio‐demographics, psychological distress, quality of relationship with primary lay caregiver, and health locus of control) in 111 recipients. Based on Perceived Self‐Care Agency scores, recipients were assigned to either the low‐ or high‐self‐care agency comparison group. Characteristics were compared between groups to identify characteristics likely to be associated with lower‐self‐care agency. Mean (SD) score for self‐care agency (scale range, 53–265) was 223.02 (22.46). Recipients with lowest‐self‐care agency scores reported significantly poorer quality of caregiver relationships (p < 0.001) and greater psychological distress (p < 0.001). After controlling for psychological distress, the quality of the recipient–caregiver relationship remained significantly associated with self‐care agency. Every one‐point decrease in the quality of caregiver relationship increased the risk of low‐self‐care agency by 12%. Recipients with poorer caregiver relationships and greater psychological distress may need additional support to perform the self‐care behaviors expected after lung transplantation.     

Consistent‐sufficient sleep predicts improvements in self‐regulatory performance and psychological strain

Sleep may have psychological implications for the stress process because of its effect on self‐regulatory functioning. This study explored the psychological benefits of sleep using an integrated self‐regulatory strength model, which includes resource enhancement in addition to resource replenishment. Combined with the restorative effects of sufficient sleep duration, prolonged consistent sleep practices may build self‐regulatory capacity via exercising self‐control. The proposed sleep sufficiency–consistency interaction predicted improvements in self‐regulatory performance and psychological strain over the course of 5 days. Only consistent–sufficient sleepers experienced an increase in self‐regulatory performance and a decrease in strain. Changes in self‐regulatory strength also predicted changes in strain during the week, rather than the reverse. These findings were robust even when controlling for confounding factors related to dispositional factors, circadian rhythm disruption, typical sleep hygiene, health behaviours and stressors. Much like other routine activities that have shown to increase self‐regulatory strength, continued explorations into the potential resource enhancement aspect of consistent sleep may be a promising topic for stress management research. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Chronic Illness in the Workplace: Stigma,Identity Threat and Strain

Chronic illness affects a large and growing number of workers in the United States and globally. Stigmatization (devaluation) at work based on chronic illness may be stressful for individuals and therefore may lead to negative psychological consequences (i.e. strains). In order to better understand stressful experiences of stigma for workers with chronic illnesses, a model of stigma‐related identity threat (perceptions that one is at risk of being treated negatively at work because of chronic illness) was tested on a sample of 203 working adults with chronic illnesses. The following variables related to workers' perceptions of chronic illness‐related identity threat: workers' boundary flexibility (flexibility in managing their work and life), their meta‐perceptions of devaluation (perceptions of others' devaluation of them based on illness) and their job self‐efficacy (feelings of confidence related to performing their job). In turn, perceptions of identity threat related to both feelings of psychological strain and (lower levels of) perceived work ability. Surprisingly, neither stigma centrality (how fundamental illness is to one's identity) nor supervisor support related to workers' identity threat perceptions. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.