Measuring Stress A Guide for Health and Social Scientists

by Cohen, Sheldon; Kessler, Ronald C.; Gordon, Lynn Underwood

• ISBN13: 9780195121209
• ISBN10: 0195121201
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1997-12-11
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Measuring Stress is the definitive resource for health and social scientists interested in assessing stress in humans. With contributions from leading experts, this work provides for the first time a unified conceptual overview of the intricate relationship between stress and a variety ofdisorders. Its interdisciplinary approach to the selection of appropriate environmental, psychological, and biological measures includes comprehensive evaluations and practical advice regarding a wide range of measurement approaches. For environmental stress, techniques such as checklists andinterviews that measure life event, daily event, and chronic stress are discussed. An analysis of psychological measurements includes methods for assessing stress appraisal and affective response. Neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, and immune measures are examined as important biological stressassessments. Contributors also uncover the conceptual underpinnings of each approach as well as the various costs and benefits of available assessment techniques. Reflecting the diversity of theoretical conceptions of stress, Measuring Stress masterfully provides integrative, incisive guidelinesthat will prove invaluable to students, clinicians, and researchers in health and social psychology, medicine, nursing, epidemiology, sociology, and psychiatry.

Table of Contents

Contributors	xii
Part I Conceptualizing Stress and Its Relation to Disease	3	(26)
1. Strategies for measuring stress in studies of psychiatric and physical disorders	3	(26)
SHELDON COHEN
RONALD C. KESSLER
LYNN UNDERWOOD GORDON
Part II The Environmental Perspective	29	(93)
2. Checklist measurement of stressful life events	29	(30)
R. JAY TURNER
BLAIR WHEATON
3. Interview measurement of stressful life events	59	(21)
ELAINE WETHINGTON
GEORGE W. BROWN
RONALD C. KESSLER
4. Daily and within-day event measurement	80	(22)
JOHN ECKENRODE
NIALL BOLGER
5. Measurement of chronic stressors	102	(20)
STEPHEN J. LEPORE
Part III The Psychological Perspective	122	(53)
6. Measurement of stress appraisal	122	(26)
SCOTT M. MONROE
JOHN M. KELLEY
7. Measurement of affective response	148	(27)
ARTHUR A. STONE
Part IV The Biological Perspective	175	(56)
8. Measurement of stress hormones	175	(8)
ANDREW BAUM
NEIL GRUNBERG
9. Measurement of cardiovascular responses	183	(30)
DAVID S. KRANTZ
JENNIFER J. FALCONER
10. Measurement of immune response	213	(18)
JANICE K. KIECOLT-GLASER
RONALD GLASER
Subject Index	231