An Empirical Study Of The Systems Of Stress

Stress is a common physical and psychological phenomenon. The researches of contemporary neurobiology show that the stress-reaction process (SRP) is vital to the growth and development of neuronal networks. On the basis of a comprehensive definition of SRP the neurobiological and psychological consequences of this process, which are elicited by either controllable or uncontrollable stress, are described. We conclude that controllable stress triggers the stabilization and facilitation of neuronal networks involved in the generation of appropriate patterns of appraisal and coping, whereas uncontrollable stress favors the extinction of inappropriate patterns and the reorganization of neuronal connections underlyingcertain inappropriate behaviors. The overabundance, as well as the lack, of either kind of SRP may lead to different psychodevelopmental failures and psychiatric disturbances.Since 1930s ,the concepts and the related theories of stress may be summarized into the following four models:(1)Stresses are stimulus which lead stress reactions to individuals. (2)Stress is the reaction of individuals against stimulus. (3)Stresses are the mediated variables between the stressors and the stress actions. (4)Stress is a singular process of stressors , mediated variables and stress reactions.Recently, on the basis of comprehensive researches of stress ,the system of stress has been described by the profressor JIANG Qian Jin.The systems of stress presents that stress is a system consisted of stressors,stress reactions and the objects involved in the psychological stress which haveinteractions .mutual influences and feedback regulations.System is consisted of a set of objects and a set of the relations of the objects.System is described by symbals into a ordered couple: S=(M, R),M is the set ofobjects and R is the set of the relations.The two missions should be completed in the empirical studies of the systems of stress: the set of objects and the set of the relations. Objectives:Try to find out the supported evidences of the systems of stress and explore the set of objects and the set of the relations. Methods:540 male criminals were investigated with ATQ(Automatic Thought Questionnaire, EPQ (Eysenck Personality Questionnaire), TCSQ( Trait Coping Style Questionnaire), PSSS (Perceived Social Support Scale), SRQ (Stress Reaction Questionnaire) and attitude questionnaire of serve a sentence. The data were analyzed with the analyses of simple correlations, multiple linear regressions,path analyses and Structural quation Modeling by SPSS 13.0 .MINITAB and AMOS4.0. Results:The set of objects is consisted of by correlation analysis , regression and Structural equation model the stress actions, economic conditions, passive appraisal ,automatic thought , positive coping, negative coping,psychoticism ,neuroticism ,extraversion ,Lie, social support from family, social support out of family, passed term of imprisonment.The multivariate regression shows that negative coping, and automatic thoughts, neuroticism, negative cognitive and lie personality (L), Psychoticism personality (P) 7 variables were entered the equation, predict 70.5% if the stress reaction is dependent variable,and the other above variables by the simple correlation are independent variables.Structural equation analysis shows extraversion personality tends to take positive coping strategies and support out of families,lie personality tends to take positive coping strategies and support from families, but also take a negative coping; neurotic personality tends to take a negative coping strategies not inclined to take active countermeasures, prone to negative automatic thoughts; Psychoticism personality tends to take a negative coping and prone to negative automatic thoughts. Personality of the stress reaction is no direct significant effect, but the stress reactionstandardized indirect effects sum up to 0.988.Social support on stress reaction is no direct significant effect, primarily by reducing negative automatic thoughts and increase the positive coping to buffer the stress reactions.Wrong ways to cope with stress reactions have a strong impact -- negative coping to stress standardized path coefficient is 0.91. Negative coping to stress standardized direct and indirect effects sum up to 0.440. Positive coping to the negative coping is no significant direct impact, the indirect standardized effects of positive coping to stress action is -0.05. Coping strategies is strongly influenced by personality, the standardized path coefficients of neuroticism and psychoticism to negative coping is 1.08 and 0.44 in turn, the standardized path coefficient of extraversion personality to positive coping is 0.26.From a structural point of view, automatic thouguts and negative cognitive have strong direct and indirect effects to stress reaction . Personality, social support, coping have to go through them when they influence stress reactions; From effects point of view, automaticthoughts on the stress reaction of the direct and indirect effects of standardized path coefficient is 0.365 (not included negative coping containing the role of cognitive component) , the standardized coefficient of direct and indirect effects of automatic thoughts to the stress reaction sum up to 0.365, with a strong role. Therefore, whether from the structure or the effects ,cognitive appraisal can be seen as a key factor.Stress reactions to negative cognitive, negative coping has direct negative feedback regulations, but to the negative automatic thoughts no direct negative feedback; negative cognitive to automatic thought has a direct negative feedback regulation. Family support and support out of family have mutual positive feedback, and promote each other.In the common factors ,economic situation can directly reduce automatic thought, increase family support. Passed term of imprisonment increases negative cognitive. Conclusion :Stress is a system consisted of stress factors which interrelate,interact and feedback regulate.Personalityis the core factor ,cognitive appraisal is the key factor, coping especially negative coping is an important factor.