The effects of hardiness and gender on psychophysiological reactivity to two types of stressors /
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| Other Authors: | , , |
| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
1991.
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Link to OAKTrust copy |
| Abstract: | This study was conducted to assess the effects of gender to the moderating effects of hardiness on physiological reactivity to two types of laboratory stressors. The gender relevance of the stressors utilized in this study was manipulated to explore the influence of type of stressor on affect, cognitive appraisals and physiological responses. Conceptual issues regarding hardiness theory were investigated by statistically c o n trolling for neuroticism and sex-role to determine if measures of these traits overlap with the hardiness measure. Speech variables were included in the analysis to determine their potential influence on physiological responses independently of arousal to stressors. The results of this study indicated limited support for the moderating effects of hardiness, particularly for females. The physiological reactivity patterns show some evidence for increased organismic strain on recovery, especially for low hardy males, but showed no main or moderating effects for hardiness on arousal patterns. Gender effects emerged in physiological reactivity. Males showed greater arousal and slower recovery on systolic blood pressure and finger pulse volume. Females showed increased arousal on skin conductance response but no effects on recovery. Sex-role influences on gender were observed on arousal. The type of stressor influenced cognitive appraisals and some physiological reactivity indices in the direction of the gender relevance predicted for this study; the math stressor elicited greater response in males and the speaking stressor elicited equivalent or no responses for all males and females. Evidence for the overlap of hardiness and neuroticism measures was strong. The significant findings of increased negative self-reported affect and self-appraisals were all attributable to neuroticism as were many of the negative task appraisals and physiological responses. Gender effects emerged when neuroticism was statistically controlled with more positive effects for males than females. The findings of this study present a mixed picture with some support for the adaptive cognitive style of the hardy individual but stronger support for the confounding of hardiness with neuroticism. The confusing physiological reactivity patterns raise additional questions regarding moderating effects of hardiness and the relationship between cognitive appraisals and health. |
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| Item Description: | Typescript (photocopy). Vita. "Major subject: Counseling Psychology." |
| Physical Description: | ix, 277 leaves : illustrations ; 29 cm |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references. |