Managing Stress for a Healthy Family

2006 ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 126-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin L. Nabi ◽  
Debora Pérez Torres ◽  
Abby Prestin

Abstract. Despite the substantial attention paid to stress management in the extant coping literature, media use has been surprisingly overlooked as a strategy worthy of close examination. Although media scholars have suggested media use may be driven by a need to relax, related research has been sporadic and, until recently, disconnected from the larger conversation about stress management. The present research aimed to determine the relative value of media use within the broader range of coping strategies. Based on surveys of both students and breast cancer patients, media use emerged as one of the most frequently selected strategies for managing stress across a range of personality and individual difference variables. Further, heavier television consumers and those with higher perceived stress were also more likely to use media for coping purposes. Finally, those who choose media for stress management reported it to be an effective tool, although perhaps not as effective as other popular strategies. This research not only documents the centrality of media use in the corpus of stress management techniques, thus highlighting the value of academic inquiry into media-based coping, but it also offers evidence supporting the positive role media use can play in promoting psychological well-being.


2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iram Feroz ◽  
Asma Parveen ◽  
Iftekhar Ahmed ◽  
Nandita Choube

2021 ◽  
pp. 003329412110006
Author(s):  
Kelly Ka Lai Lam ◽  
Wei-Wen Chen

In this study, we investigated the relations between family interaction, gratitude, and depressive symptoms among Chinese emerging adults. It also investigated gratitude as a mediator in the relation between family interaction and depression. Data were obtained from 321 college students who completed the online questionnaire about the Family Assessment Instrument, Gratitude Questionnaire, Patient Health Questionnaire, and demographic information. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test hypotheses and bootstrapping with 5,000 resamplings (95% confidence interval) was used to confirm the mediation model. Results showed that gratitude partially mediated the relation between family interaction and depression. In other words, students with healthy family interaction, as indicated by perceived better family communication, mutuality, and harmony with family members, tended to report higher general gratitude, and subsequently diminished depressive symptoms. The practical implications were discussed.


2005 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 136-145
Author(s):  
Jo Paddison ◽  
Hemi Heta ◽  
Ross Flett

Understanding the distribution of Mãori across stages of health behaviour change (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance) may inform the development of public health programs. In a replication and extension of a study by Nigg et al. (1999) we described the distribution of 73 Mãori male questionnaire respondents (age 18 to 59 years) across these stages for 8 healthy behaviours (avoiding dietary fat, eating fibre, reducing weight, regularly exercising, reducing stress, reducing sun exposure, using sunblock, and conducting cancer self-examinations). Respondents were also asked to rate their general health, health worries, and health locus of control. Evidence found of a continuum of change for ‘ignoring’, to ‘thinking about1 to ‘performing’ healthy behaviour provides moderate support for the idea that behaviour change is not an all-or-nothing event. There were no significant age effects. Respondents who rated their health more positively were more likely to report using sunblock, exercising regularly, and eating a high fibre diet. Respondents who felt they had more control over their health were more likely to eat a diet high in fibre. Eating a high fibre diet, exercising and managing stress were most strongly associated with the other health behaviours which may illustrate the concept of gateway behaviours proposed by Nigg et al. (1999).


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