CHAPTER 14
Health
HANDOUT 14.1 Explanatory Styles
Imagine that the situation described below happened to you. What would you feel caused it? Events may have many causes, but we want you to pick only one -- the major cause if this event happened to you. Please write this cause in the blank provided. Next we ask you some questions about this cause. Circle one number for each answer.
Situation: Your car ran out of gas in the middle of a highway.
1.Write down the one major cause ______
2.Is this cause due to something about you or to something about other people or circumstances?
Totally due to other people or circumstances / Totally due to me1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7
3.In the future, will this cause again be present?
Will never again be present / Will always be present1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7
4.Is the cause something that influences just this situation, or does it also influence other areas of your life?
Influences just this particular situation / Influences all situations in my life1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7
HANDOUT 14.2 Life Orientation Test
Circle the response that best reflects your feelings about each statement[1].
1.In uncertain times, I usually expect the best.
strongly disagree / disagree / neutral / agree / strongly agree2.It’s easy for me to relax.
strongly disagree / disagree / neutral / agree / strongly agree3.If something can go wrong for me, it will.
strongly disagree / disagree / neutral / agree / strongly agree4.I always look on the bright side of things.
strongly disagree / disagree / neutral / agree / strongly agree5.I’m always optimistic about the future.
strongly disagree / disagree / neutral / agree / strongly agree6.I enjoy my friends a lot.
strongly disagree / disagree / neutral / agree / strongly agree7.It’s important to me to keep busy.
strongly disagree / disagree / neutral / agree / strongly agree8.I hardly ever expect things to go my way.
strongly disagree / disagree / neutral / agree / strongly agree9.Things never work out the way I want them to.
strongly disagree / disagree / neutral / agree / strongly agree10.I don’t get upset too easily.
strongly disagree / disagree / neutral / agree / strongly agree11.I’m a believer in the idea that “every cloud has a silver lining.”
strongly disagree / disagree / neutral / agree / strongly agree12.I rarely count on good things happening to me.
strongly disagree / disagree / neutral / agree / strongly agreeHANDOUT 14.4a Type A Behavior Pattern
Create a list of specific observable behaviors that exemplify each of the three categories below that make up the Type A behavior pattern.
Excessive Competitiveness and Achievement Motivation / Time Urgency and Impatience / Easily Aroused Anger and HostilityHANDOUT 14.4b Type A Behavior Pattern
Below is a list of adjectives. Use these words to describe yourself by indicating on a scale from 1 to 7 how true of you these various characteristics are. Please give your own opinion of yourself. If you are not sure, put down the number that comes closest to what you think best describes you. Do not leave any blank spaces if you can avoid it.[2]
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7Never or almost never true / Usually not true / Sometimes but infre- quently true / Occasionally true / Often true / Usually true / Always or almost always true
1. / Energetic / _____
2. / Idealistic / _____
3. / Quiet / _____
4. / Outspoken / _____
5. / Self-Confident / _____
6. / Cooperative / _____
7. / Peaceable / _____
8. / Aggressive / _____
9. / Quick / _____
10. / Helpful / _____
11. / Calm / _____
12. / Forceful / _____
13. / Enterprising / _____
14. / Unrealistic / _____
15. / Relaxed / _____
16. / Headstrong / _____
17. / Tense / _____
18. / Unstable / _____
19. / Enthusiastic / _____
20. / Irritable / _____
21. / Informal / _____
22. / Ambitious / _____
23. / Dominant / _____
24. / Assertive / _____
25. / Shy / _____
26. / Argumentative / _____
27. / Excitable / _____
28. / Snobbish / _____
29. / Mild / _____
30. / Loud / _____
31. / Individualistic / _____
32. / Stingy / _____
33. / Easy-going / _____
34. / Talkative / _____
35. / Outgoing / _____
36. / Original / _____
37. / Cautious / _____
38. / Strong / _____
HANDOUT 14.6
The questions in this scale ask you about your feelings and thoughts during the last month. In each case, you will be asked to indicate how often you felt or thought a certain way. Although some of the questions are similar, there are differences between them, and you should treat each one as a separate question. The best approach is to answer each question fairly quickly. That is, don’t try to count the number of times you felt a particular way, but rather indicate what seems like a reasonable estimate. For each question choose from the following alternatives:[3]
0 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4never / almost never / sometimes / fairly often / very often
1. / ____ / In the last month, how often have you been upset because of something that happened unexpectedly?
2. / ____ / In the last month, how often have you felt that you were unable to control the important things in your life?
3. / ____ / In the last month, how often have you felt nervous and stressed?
4. / ____ / In the last month, how often have you dealt with irritating life hassles?
5. / ____ / In the last month, how often have you felt that things were going your way?
6. / ____ / In the last month, how often have you felt confident about your ability to handle your personal problems?
7. / ____ / In the last month, how often have you felt that things were going your way?
8. / ____ / In the last month, how often have you found that you could not cope with all the things you had to do?
9. / ____ / In the last month, how often have you been able to control irritations in your life?
10. / ____ / In the last month, how often have you felt that you were on top of things?
11. / ____ / In the last month, how often have you been angered because of things that happened that were outside of your control?
12. / ____ / In the last month, how often have you found yourself thinking about things that you have to accomplish?
13. / ____ / In the last month, how often have you been able to control the way you spend your time?
14. / ____ / In the last month, how often have you felt difficulties were piling up so high that you could not overcome them?
HANDOUT 14.7a Social Readjustment Rating Scale
Note each of the following events that have happened to you in the last year. Add up the points from all of these events to determine your level of stress[4].
Life Event / Point ValueDeath of a spouse / 100
Divorce / 73
Marital separation / 65
Jail term / 63
Death of a close family member / 63
Personal injury or illness / 53
Marriage / 50
Fired at work / 47
Marital reconciliation / 45
Retirement / 45
Change in health of family member / 44
Pregnancy / 40
Sex difficulties / 39
Gain of a new family member / 39
Business readjustment / 39
Change in financial state / 38
Death of a close friend / 37
Change to a different line of work / 36
Change in # of arguments with spouse / 35
Mortgage over $10,000 / 31
Foreclosure on mortgage or loan / 30
Change in responsibilities at work / 29
Son or daughter leaving home / 29
Trouble with in-laws / 29
Outstanding personal achievement / 28
Wife begins or stops work / 26
Begin or end school / 26
Change in living conditions / 25
Revision of personal habits / 24
Trouble with boss / 23
Change in work hours or conditions / 20
Change in residence / 20
Change in schools / 20
Change in recreation / 19
Change in church activities / 19
Change in social activities / 18
Mortgage or loan less than $10,000 / 17
Change in sleeping habits / 16
Change in # of family get-togethers / 15
Change in eating habits / 15
Vacation / 13
Christmas / 12
Minor violations of the law / 11
HANDOUT 14.7b Life Experiences Survey
Listed below are a number of events that sometimes bring about change in the lives of those who experience them and that necessitate social readjustment. Please check those events that you have experienced in the recent past. For each event you experienced indicate the period during which you experienced the event, and the extent to which you viewed the event as having either a positive or a negative impact on your life at the time it occurred. A rating of –3 would indicate an extremely negative impact, a rating of 0 suggests no impact, and a rating of +3 an extremely positive impact[5].
-3 / -2 / -1 / 0 / +1 / +2 / +3Extremely negative / Moderately negative / Somewhat negative / No impact / Somewhat positive / Moderately positive / Extremely positive
Section 1. All participants / number of months ago / rating
1. / Marriage / _____ / _____
2. / Detention in jail or comparable institution / _____ / _____
3. / Death of a spouse / _____ / _____
4. / Major change in sleep habits (much more or much less) / _____ / _____
5. / Death of
a. / mother / _____ / _____
b. / father / _____ / _____
c. / brother / _____ / _____
d. / sister / _____ / _____
e. / grandmother / _____ / _____
f. / grandfather / _____ / _____
6. / Major change in eating habits (much more or much less / _____ / _____
7. / Foreclosure on a mortgage or loan / _____ / _____
8. / Death of a close friend / _____ / _____
9. / Outstanding personal achievement / _____ / _____
10. / Minor law violation (e.g., traffic ticket) / _____ / _____
11. / Male: wife or girlfriend’s pregnancy / _____ / _____
12. / Female: pregnancy / _____ / _____
13. / Changed work situation (hours, work responsibility, etc.) / _____ / _____
14. / New job / _____ / _____
15. / Serious illness or injury
g. / father / _____ / _____
h. / mother / _____ / _____
i. / sister / _____ / _____
j. / brother / _____ / _____
k. / grandmother / _____ / _____
l. / grandfather / _____ / _____
m. / spouse / _____ / _____
n.______/ other (specify) / _____ / _____
16. / Sexual difficulties / _____ / _____
17. / Troubles with employer (suspension, demotion, etc.) / _____ / _____
18. / Trouble with in-laws / _____ / _____
19. / Major change in financial status / _____ / _____
20. / Major change in closeness of a family member / _____ / _____
21. / Gaining a new family member (birth, adoption, etc.) / _____ / _____
22. / Change of residence / _____ / _____
23. / Marital separation / _____ / _____
24. / Major change in church activities (increased or decreased attendance) / _____ / _____
25. / Marital reconciliation / _____ / _____
26. / Major change in number of arguments with spouse / _____ / _____
27. / Married male: change in wife’s work outside the home (start work, stop work, change work) / _____ / _____
28. / Married female: change in husband’s work (job loss, new job, etc.) / _____ / _____
29. / Major change in usual type or amount of recreation / _____ / _____
30. / Borrowing for a major purchase (e.g., home) / _____ / _____
31. / Borrowing for a smaller purchase (e.g., TV) / _____ / _____
32. / Fired from a job / _____ / _____
33. / Male: wife/girlfriend having abortion / _____ / _____
34. / Female: having abortion / _____ / _____
35. / Major personal injury or illness / _____ / _____
36. / Major change in social activities (e.g., parties, movies) / _____ / _____
37. / Change in living conditions of family (new home, remodeling, etc.) / _____ / _____
38. / Divorce / _____ / _____
39. / Serious injury or illness of close friend / _____ / _____
40. / Retirement from work / _____ / _____
41. / Son or daughter leaving home / _____ / _____
42. / End of formal schooling / _____ / _____
43. / Separation from spouse due to travel, work, etc / _____ / _____
44. / Engagement / _____ / _____
45. / Breaking up with boy/girlfriend / _____ / _____
46. / Leaving home for first time / _____ / _____
47. / Reconciliation with boy/girlfriend / _____ / _____
Other recent experiences that have had an impact on your life. List and rate
48. / ______/ _____ / _____
49. / ______/ _____ / _____
50. / ______/ _____ / _____
Section 2. Students only
51. / Beginning new school experience at higher academic level / _____ / _____
52. / Change to new school at same academic level / _____ / _____
53. / Academic probation / _____ / _____
54. / Being dismissed from dormitory or other residence / _____ / _____
55. / Failing an important exam / _____ / _____
56. / Changing major / _____ / _____
57. / Failing a course / _____ / _____
58. / Dropping a course / _____ / _____
59. / Joining fraternity/sorority / _____ / _____
60. / Financial problems concerning school / _____ / _____
HANDOUT 14.9 Social Support Questionnaire
The following questions ask about people in your environment who provide you with help or support. Each question has two parts. For the first part, list all the people you know, excluding yourself, whom you can count on for help or support in the manner described. Give the person’s initials and relationship to you (see example). Do not list more than one person next to each of the numbers beneath the question.[6]
For the second part, circle how satisfied you are with the overall support you have. If you have had no support for a question, check the words “No one,” but still rate your level of satisfaction. Do not list more than nine persons per question. Please answer all the questions as best you can. All your responses will be kept confidential.
Example:
Whom do you know whom you can trust with information that could get you in trouble?
No one
1.T.N. (brother)
2.L.M. (friend)
3.R.S. (friend)
4.L.N. (father)
5.J.D. (employer)
6.______
7.______
8.______
9.______
How satisfied?
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6Very satisfied / Fairly satisfied / a little satisfied / a little dissatisfied / Fairly dissatisfied / Very dissatisfied
1.Whom can you really count on to be dependable when you need help?
No one
1.______
2.______
3.______
4.______
5.______
6.______
7.______
8.______
9.______
How satisfied?
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6Very satisfied / Fairly satisfied / a little satisfied / a little dissatisfied / Fairly dissatisfied / Very dissatisfied
2.Whom can you really count on to help you feel more relaxed when you are under pressure or tense?
No one
1.______
2.______
3.______
4.______
5.______
6.______
7.______
8.______
9.______
How satisfied?
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6Very satisfied / Fairly satisfied / a little satisfied / a little dissatisfied / Fairly dissatisfied / Very dissatisfied
3.Who accepts you totally, including both your worst and your best points?
No one
1.______
2.______
3.______
4.______
5.______
6.______
7.______
8.______
9.______
How satisfied?
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6Very satisfied / Fairly satisfied / a little satisfied / a little dissatisfied / Fairly dissatisfied / Very dissatisfied
4.Whom can you really count on to care about you, regardless of what is happening to you?
No one
1.______
2.______
3.______
4.______
5.______
6.______
7.______
8.______
9.______
How satisfied?
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6Very satisfied / Fairly satisfied / a little satisfied / a little dissatisfied / Fairly dissatisfied / Very dissatisfied
5.Whom can you really count on to help you feel better when you are generally down-in-the dumps?
No one
1.______
2.______
3.______
4.______
5.______
6.______
7.______
8.______
9.______
How satisfied?
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6Very satisfied / Fairly satisfied / a little satisfied / a little dissatisfied / Fairly dissatisfied / Very dissatisfied
6.Whom can you count on to console you when you are very upset?
No one
1.______
2.______
3.______
4.______
5.______
6.______
7.______
8.______
9.______
How satisfied?
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6Very satisfied / Fairly satisfied / a little satisfied / a little dissatisfied / Fairly dissatisfied / Very dissatisfied
[1] From Scheier & Carver. Copyright © 1987 by Blackwell Publishers. Reprinted with permission.
[2] From Blumenthal et al. Copyright © 1985 by Elsevier Science. Reprinted with permission.
[3] From Cohen, Kamarck, & Mermelstein. Copyright © 1983 by the American Sociological Association. Reprinted with permission.
[4] From Holmes & Rahe. Copyright © 1967 by Elsevier Science. Reprinted with permission.
[5] From Sarason, Johnson, & Siegel. Copyright © 1978 by the American Psychological Association. Reprinted with permission.
[6] From Sarason et al. Copyright © 1987 by Sage LTD. Reprinted with permission.