Life Stress: Related Symptoms, Subjective Appraisal and Coping Styles.

Stress and its influence upon physiological and emotional functioning has been well documented in research literature. In order to extend this research to study the relationship between accumulated life stress, symptoms, and coping responses, 202 college graduates and undergraduates, (144 females and 58 males) responded to three self-report measures. The surveys examined life stress, i.e., 28 college student life events, the frequency of 16 stress-related symptoms (e.g., insomnia, headache, asthma), and 32 coping behaviors (including task-orientation, rumination, hostility, and social affiliation) in response to specific stressful situations. Results showed a significant relationship between life stress and the subsequent reporting of specific stress-related symptoms, e.g., tension/irritability, hyperventilation, and heartburn. Further, both cognitive and subjective appraisals of life stress positively correlated with symptoms. No relationship was found to exist between life stress and alcohol, marijuana, or hard drug use. Future research should focus on the functional relationship between stress and cognitive, subjective appraisal which may mediate health outcomes. The surveys are appended. (Author/BL)