5558198 “Stress & Coping”

docx

School

Chamberlain College of Nursing *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

1510

Subject

Psychology

Date

Nov 24, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by DeaconMusicQuail4

Stress & Coping Name: Institution: Course: Instructor: Date:

1 Introduction In life, individuals face various stressors that affect their lives negatively. However, how these individuals face these stressors are diverse and various factors might underpin their approaches to reacting to them. The reactions and the subsequent coping strategies that these individuals develop might determine whether the stressors in their lives will be addressed efficiently or if they will continue to disrupt their lives negatively (Wu et al., 2020). Therefore, the essence of this paper is to examine the stressor of taking exams from the perspective of the physiological, emotional, behavioral and cognitive reactions to it. Subsequently, the paper will develop two strategies that might be incorporated to help cope with the stressor more effectively. Comprehensive Analysis Physiological Reactions The stressor of taking exams might first be examined from a physiological perspective. Research has affirmed that this stressor is associated with various physiological implications, such as an increased heart rate and blood pressure due to the uneasiness that an individual taking the exam might be experiencing. This stressor also results in enhanced stress hormone production – especially cortisol and adrenaline. In an instance when heightened levels of the cortisol hormone are produced, there are chances that an individual might experience other physiological effects such as muscle tension and stalled digestive processes that might culminate in feeling nauseous, vomiting, and in other instances, diarrhea (Šimić & Manenica, 2012). Other physiological reactions that an individual is at risk of experiencing in this situation include dilated pupils and excessive sweating that further increases the lack of comfortability and, subsequently, the likelihood of an individual performing poorly in that exam. Emotional Reactions

2 Spangler et al. (2002) explained that the stressor of taking exams is associated with numerous emotional reactions, such as increased anxiety and nervousness. These emotional reactions are mainly occasioned by increased production of the hormone cortisol that was mentioned previously. This hormone is commonly referred to as the stress hormone. Moreover, Spangler et al. (2002) explained that this stressor might result in an individual expressing frustration and high anger levels, especially when they perceive that they do not have sufficient comprehension of some concepts that might be tested. Other emotional reactions to this stressor include reduced self-esteem levels, self-doubt about one’s ability to take the examinations and pass, irritability, and heightened hopelessness levels, as these individuals often feel helpless about their situation. Behavioral Reactions One behavioral reaction to the stressor of taking examinations is experiencing difficulty concentrating or remaining focused. Often individuals experiencing this kind of stress tend to think about other negative aspects associated with this situation, and therefore, their concentration span reduces significantly. This reaction makes them more frustrated about the whole situation, especially when they realize that their lack of concentration leads to them failing to remember what they might have read concerning the topics to be tested in the exam. Also, this stressor strongly correlates to one’s inability to sleep well – a reaction contributing to fatigue. Elevated stress levels associated with taking an exam might also result in other individuals engaging in substance abuse as they seek to lower their anxiety, nervousness, or stress levels. Hence, they might take substances rich in nicotine and caffeine or alcohol as a reactionary measure (Tan & Greenwood, 2021). Cognitive Reactions

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

3 Elevated stress levels that one experiences about taking exams might result in considerably decreased levels of creativity and critical thinking. Since one might be experiencing anxiety, nervousness, and fear, their ability to be creative cognitively and analyze exam questions diligently might be affected negatively. Likewise, their critical thinking abilities might also be hampered due to the negative emotional reactions mentioned above. Furthermore, one might experience challenges with memory or recalling the concepts they have been taught or read in preparation for the exam. This occurrence is occasioned by the increased secretion of stress hormones, which impairs recall memory (Attia et al., 2022). Other cognitive reactions include the development of intrusive thoughts and difficulties in decision-making and problem-solving. Effective Coping Strategies The first coping strategy is cognitive. It includes being conscious of the negative thoughts that one might develop and replacing them with positive thoughts about one’s ability to pass the exams. Research has shown that reframing negative thoughts is effective as it also helps boost one’s self-confidence and esteem about their ability to answer the exam questions. Within this concept, an individual might also look into the possibility of practising mindfulness. This strategy entails focusing on the present moment and avoiding being distracted by negative thoughts about the future. Mindfulness helps increase self-awareness and has also been found to boost memory, attention span, and problem-solving skills – elements critical in helping one pass exams (Sharma & Rush, 2014). Behavioral coping strategies for this stressor include developing effective time management techniques. People become stressed during exams due to their failure to manage their time effectively. Hence, this results in a lack of organization and subsequent feeling overwhelmed and anxious. Hence, managing one’s time more efficiently might be a good coping

4 strategy. Also, sufficient preparation is another effective behavioral coping strategy (Baqutayan, 2015). Sufficient preparation includes being aware of the topics that will be tested, creating a revision schedule, breaking down the revision material into smaller manageable chunks, and practising good studying traits that include taking breaks to avoid fatigue. Conclusion Various situations in life might result in increased stress levels. This paper has shown that stress might be expressed in various ways – physiologically, emotionally, behaviorally, and cognitively. Having sufficient insights about these reactions is vital to identify them when they happen. Subsequently, developing effective coping strategies might help to address the reactions and guarantee a better experience during exams. Hence, this paper has identified cognitive coping strategies, including mindfulness and behavioral strategies entailing time management and sufficient preparation.

5 References Attia, M., Ibrahim, F. A., Elsady, M. A.-E., Khorkhash, M. K., Rizk, M. A., Shah, J., & Amer, S. A. (2022). Cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioral stress-related symptoms and coping strategies among university students during the third wave of COVID-19 pandemic. Frontiers in Psychiatry , 13 . https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.933981 Baqutayan, S. M. S. (2015). Stress and coping mechanisms: A historical overview. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences , 6 (2). https://doi.org/10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n2s1p479 Sharma, M., & Rush, S. E. (2014). Mindfulness-based stress reduction as a stress management intervention for healthy individuals. Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine , 19 (4), 271–286. https://doi.org/10.1177/2156587214543143 Šimić, N., & Manenica, I. (2012). Exam experience and some reactions to exam stress. Human Physiology , 38 (1), 67–72. https://doi.org/10.1134/s0362119712010161 Spangler, G., Pekrun, R., Kramer, K., & Hofmann, H. (2002). Students’ emotions, physiological reactions, and coping in academic exams. Anxiety, Stress & Coping , 15 (4), 413–432. https://doi.org/10.1080/1061580021000056555 Tan, C. P. Y., & Greenwood, K. M. (2021). Stress, sleep and performance in international and domestic university students. Journal of International Students , 12 (1). https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v12i1.3299 Wu, Y., Yu, W., Wu, X., Wan, H., Wang, Y., & Lu, G. (2020). Psychological resilience and positive coping styles among Chinese undergraduate students: a cross-sectional study. BMC Psychology , 8 (1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-020-00444-y

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

Related Documents

Creation of Measurable Outcomes in Co-Occurring.docx

Educ 5420 discussion unit 3.docx9.docx

Untitled document.edited - 2023-11-18T103632.597.docx

Screenshot_20231124-160316.jpg

Recommended textbooks for you

Ciccarelli: Psychology_5 (5th Edition)

Psychology

ISBN:9780134477961

Author:Saundra K. Ciccarelli, J. Noland White

Publisher:PEARSON

Cognitive Psychology

Psychology

ISBN:9781337408271

Author:Goldstein, E. Bruce.

Publisher:Cengage Learning,

Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and ...

Psychology

ISBN:9781337565691

Author:Dennis Coon, John O. Mitterer, Tanya S. Martini

Publisher:Cengage Learning

Psychology in Your Life (Second Edition)

Psychology

ISBN:9780393265156

Author:Sarah Grison, Michael Gazzaniga

Publisher:W. W. Norton & Company

Cognitive Psychology: Connecting Mind, Research a...

Psychology

ISBN:9781285763880

Author:E. Bruce Goldstein

Publisher:Cengage Learning

Theories of Personality (MindTap Course List)

Psychology

ISBN:9781305652958

Author:Duane P. Schultz, Sydney Ellen Schultz

Publisher:Cengage Learning

SEE MORE TEXTBOOKS

Recommended textbooks for you

Ciccarelli: Psychology_5 (5th Edition)
Psychology
ISBN:9780134477961
Author:Saundra K. Ciccarelli, J. Noland White
Publisher:PEARSON
Cognitive Psychology
Psychology
ISBN:9781337408271
Author:Goldstein, E. Bruce.
Publisher:Cengage Learning,
Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and ...
Psychology
ISBN:9781337565691
Author:Dennis Coon, John O. Mitterer, Tanya S. Martini
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Psychology in Your Life (Second Edition)
Psychology
ISBN:9780393265156
Author:Sarah Grison, Michael Gazzaniga
Publisher:W. W. Norton & Company
Cognitive Psychology: Connecting Mind, Research a...
Psychology
ISBN:9781285763880
Author:E. Bruce Goldstein
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Theories of Personality (MindTap Course List)
Psychology
ISBN:9781305652958
Author:Duane P. Schultz, Sydney Ellen Schultz
Publisher:Cengage Learning