Week 3 Project
Imagine if every stressor you encounter were to cause you to
throw a punch or run and hide. Most people can recall encountering others whose
response seemed a little extreme for the stressful moment at hand. Just like
there are various manifestations of stress, there needs to be various
strategies for managing stress. Stress management includes cognitive and
behavioral interventions to teach adaptive coping strategies. Training may
include relaxation exercises, assertiveness training, goal setting, sleep
hygiene, time management, conflict management, or cognitive restructuring.
Researchers have discovered that stress management interventions not only help
you navigate a stressful situation but they also seem to balance the immune
system disorders that are associated with stress. For example, relaxation
techniques have shown to be effective in suppressing viral outbreaks. Guided
imagery, for example, has been found to be effective in enhancing immune
function for those with herpes. Also, stressed medical students who use
relaxation techniques have better functioning immune systems during exam
periods when compared to a control group. Stress management techniques enhance
the effectiveness of immunizations and reduce the autoimmune response of
asthma. Practicing stress management techniques leads to lowered levels of
depression, negative mood, and morning cortisol levels.
While there are specific stress management techniques proven
to be effective, this does not relieve health psychology professionals from
finding the most suitable stress management strategies for their clients and
the specific stressors from which they suffer. As mentioned in this week’s Discussion,
there are a variety of cultural, biological, and environmental factors
impacting how populations respond to stress. As a result, there has been a
great deal of research conducted on stress management for specific populations.
The outcome is a list of topics included in stress management educational
sessions that differ by population. Training may include a variety of
strategies such as productive versus nonproductive coping, time management, and
goal setting. Since one strategy may not effectively relieve all types of
stress response, participants in stress management workshops may be taught an
array of different strategies from which to choose.
For this assignment, research a population for which you
would like to create a stress management workshop. Then find four articles in
the Walden Library related to stress management techniques appropriate for the
types of stress your population faces.
The Assignment (3–5 page APA-formatted essay)
Your Final Project in this course is to develop a stress management
presentation/workshop for a population of your choice including a Microsoft
PowerPoint presentation, three handouts, an evaluation form, and a supporting
evidence-based descriptive narrative. This week’s assignment serves as the
foundation for the deliverables of your Final Project.
Select and describe a target population.
Explain common stressors and related health issues for this
population.
Select and empirically support three stress management
strategies.
Explain why these strategies are appropriate for the target
population.
Support your Final Project assignment with specific
references to all resources used in its preparation. You are to provide a
reference list for all resources, including those in the Learning Resources for
this course.
Submit your assignment by Day 7.





