Daily Hassles Scale Research Articles

Everyday stress and crohn’s disease activity: A time series analysis of 20 single cases

In a 84-day long-term study involving 20 patients with active Crohn's disease, the relation between daily stress and symptomatology was investigated. The diagnoses were verified clinically, endoscopically, radiologically, and histologically. The Crohn symptomatology was assessed by a daily symptoms diary. The degree of everyday stress was measured with a daily hassles scale. Additionally, the disease activity was measured 4 times. The data were evaluated using a time series analysis method following the ARIMA model (autoregressive integrative moving average model), which takes the autocorrelation of the data into account. In 55% of the cases, a significant correlation between daily hassles and disease activity was found. Patients whose symptomatology responded to stress did not differ from nonresponders in age, duration of the disease, disease activity, frequency of abdominal surgery, partnership situation, or statements concerning their average level of daily hassles. Disease activity in general did not change during the observation period. A verified influence of daily hassles on Crohn symptomatology as a rule occurs on the same day with time lag 0. According to these results, the group of Crohn's disease patients is not homogenous. The widely held assumption that daily hassles influence the symptomatology cannot generally be confirmed. Variations may result from different ways of coping with stress. Long-term effects of daily hassles on the disease are not clear.

Oral contraceptive use: implications for cognitive and emotional functioning.

This study investigated the role of oral contraception use versus nonuse as a moderator variable differentially influencing cognitive-emotional processes. Seventy-six healthy women (29 users and 47 nonusers; 18 to 48 years old), completed the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory, the Clinical Analysis Questionnaire, the Rotter Scale of locus of control, the Daily Hassles Scale, and a Repertory Grid. A subsample (N = 33) also volunteered for a blood draw. Hormonal levels of progesterone and estrogen mostly were unrelated to cognitive and emotional measures, and contraindicated the "chemical suppression" proposition. Alternatively, when cognitive-emotional functioning was examined separately for users and nonusers, cognitive factors including the appraisal of stress, loci of control, and self-integration were implicated with specific patterns of negative affect and much more so for users than for nonusers. For the most part, oral contraceptive use versus nonuse seemed to influence the saliency rather than the nature of cognitive-emotional patterns. Discussion focused on oral contraceptive use as a moderator variable and the need for longitudinal research to clarify the evolving, biopsychosocial influence of hormonal regulatory treatment.

The measurement of stress in pregnancy.

Stress is thought to be one of the biopsychosocial factors that contribute to adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm labor and low birthweight. Identification of these factors (as in total number), and measurement of their individually perceived importance (severity) could lead to opportunities for intervention, and improved pregnancy outcome. A pilot study of the Daily Hassles Scale, was conducted in order to determine the appropriateness of its use among pregnant women. Daily hassles were thought to be a valid proxy for prenatal stress. Content and construct validity were determined among a sample of four content experts and 30 pregnant women. The Daily Hassles Scale proved to be a reliable (internally consistent) measure of stress (alpha reliability coefficient of 0.90). Further adaptation of the scale to include hassles specific to pregnancy and further testing of its usefulness among diverse multicultural and ethnic populations is warranted.

Relevance of Both Daily Hassles and the ALDH2 Genotype to Problem Drinking among Japanese Male Workers

The effects of genetic polymorphisms in the ALDH2 and ADH2 genes and stress levels, as assessed by the daily hassles scale on the prevalence of problem drinkers, were investigated in males in a Japanese occupational population. The frequency of problem drinkers was estimated by the Kurihama Alcoholism Screening Test (KAST). The prevalence of those with a high KAST score (> or =0.0) was significantly higher in ALDH2*1/*1 (18.4%) than in ALDH2*1/*2 (4.8%). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed significant contributions by levels of alcohol consumption, the ALDH2 genotype, and daily hassles to the prevalence of those with a high KAST score. When we analyzed the data for each ALDH2 genotype, heavier alcohol consumption (> or =28.8 ml/day), older age (> or =40 years old), and very high daily hassles levels (> or =20) significantly increased the prevalence of problem drinkers in ALDH2*1/*1. On the contrary, no variables other than heavier alcohol consumption influenced the prevalence in ALDH2*1/*2. In summary, the present study revealed significant contributions of both daily hassles and the ALDH2 genotype to the increase of problem drinkers in an occupational population. Health promotion activities to prevent from alcohol dependence should focus on ALDH2*1/*1, especially those of middle age, and should include stress management as a part of their activities.

Validation française d'un inventaire de micro‐stresseurs de la vie quotidienne: combinaison du “Daily Hassles Scale” et du “Uplifts Scale”

Ce travail présente les résultats d'une étude de validité de la version française d'un instrument d'auto‐évaluation des micro‐stresseurs de la vie quotidienne (“Daily Hassles Scale”; “Uplifts Scale”; Lazarus & Folkman, 1989). Les informations de validité reposent sur des structures factorielles ainsi que des analyses de cohérence interne et de convergence avec une mesure de stress psychologique (MSP: Lemyre, Tessier, & Fillion, 1990). Auprès d'une communauté universitaire (N = 265), six facteurs d'embětements quotidiens et cinq facteurs d'encouragements journaliers ont été isolés. Comme prévu, le score d'intensité aux différents facteurs d'embětements corrèle positivement et significativement avec l'état d'ětre stressé ce qui n'est pas le cas des encouragements quotidiens. La discussion soulève la nécessité d'utiliser différents groupes de micro‐stresseurs plutôt qu'un facteur général. Elle évalue également le rôle ambigu des encouragements quotidiens comme facteur de protection dans l'expérience du stress.

Stress and psychiatric disorders in local government officials in Japan, in relation to their employment level.

In order to explore an association between psychiatric disorders and employment level, 283 local government officials in Japan were asked to complete a questionnaire consisting of a series of psychometric scales. The Daily Hassles Scale, General Health Questionnaire and Burnout Scale were used to measure stress, psychiatric disorders and burnout syndrome, respectively. As a result of canonical correlation analysis, the first canonical correlation indicated that the higher the level of stress under poorer support systems, the greater the likelihood of burnout syndrome. The second canonical correlation indicated that the stronger the support system, the smaller the tendency toward depression. Officials in higher levels of employment were supported less and were more severely depressed than officials at lower levels of employment.

Psychosocial Factors and Health Status in Women With Rheumatoid Arthritis: Predictive Models

Health status, and consequently productivity and quality of life, depends on a multitude of factors. Numerous psychosocial factors have been associated with the concurrent health status of individuals with chronic disease. Previous studies have examined the relationship between singular psychosocial factors and health status in rheumatoid arthritis. This study evaluated the simultaneous interrelationships among selected psychosocial variable and health outcomes using data from a study of younger women diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The hypothesized models were examined using data from a survey of 185 women with a mean age of 43 years, diagnosed with RA for an average of 6.6 years. Participants in the study completed the following measures: (1) Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales, (2) Multidimensional Pain Inventory, (3) Daily Hassles Scale, (4) Interpersonal Support Evaluation List, and (5) Perceived Self-Efficacy Scale. Using path analysis, the information provided by the LISREL program, and extant theory, two models were tested. The data provided support for all but two of the hypothesized relationships in the model predicting physical functioning. Pain severity and self-efficacy emerged as important variables in understanding individual variations in perceived physical functioning. In the second model, using perceived well-being as the outcome, two bidirectional relationships were noted: one between affective distress and social support, and the second between perceived well-being and daily stress. The models evaluated in this study support the provision of multifaceted interventions aimed at enhancing a woman's ability to manage her pain and stress while also enhancing her beliefs in her own abilities.

Effects of social support, stress, and level of Illness on caregiving of children with AIDS

The purpose of this descriptive correlational study was to explore the relationship between social support, stressors, level of illness, and perceived caregiver burden in caregivers of children with HIV/AIDS. Instruments used were: (1) the Classification System for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection in Children Under 13 Years of Age (1987), (2) the Daily Hassles Scale, (3) the Tilden Interpersonal Relationship Inventory (IPRI), (4) the Derogatis Stress Profile (DSP), and (5) the Caregiver Appraisal Scale. The sample was drawn from two medical centers in New Jersey. The 49 caregivers of children with perinatally acquired HIV were predominantly HIV-positive biological mothers of African American descent whose education ranged from 8th grade through college. One-half of the children were classified at the CDC P2 level. Descriptive statistics and stepwise multiple regression were used to analyze the data. The results of the DSP indicated subjects were slightly below the 70th percentile for anxiety, depression, hostility, and work stressors and that subjects' social support levels were in the upper end of the low support category. Stepwise regression indicated that depression and anxiety predicted 40% of the variance in caregiver burden (R2 = .399; F = 14,985; p = .000). Hostility and level of social support predicted 37% of the variance in caregiving impact (R2 = .37; F = 13.254; p = .000). Finally, social support predicted 17.5% of the variability in the caregivers' sense of caregiving competency (R2 = .175; F = 9.788; p = .003). The child's level of illness and HIV status of caregiver did not significantly predict variance in caregiving appraisal.

Development and Testing of the Barriers to Cessation Scale

The purpose of this research was to develop and test a measure of barriers to smoking cessation. Barriers, reconceptualized within the Transactional Model of Stress (Lazarus, 1966), reflect specific stressors associated with smoking cessation. The measure consists of a 19-item scale, which has been tested in three studies. Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranged from .81 to .87. Construct validity was demonstrated by correlations between barriers scores and scores on the Daily Hassles Scale (DeLongis, Folkman, & Lazarus, 1988). Predictive validity was demonstrated by findings that barriers scores significantly contributed to classification of abstainers versus relapsers 8 weeks after smoking cessation group participants quit smoking.

Psychology of Computer Use: XXXI. Relating Computer Users' Stress, Daily Hassles, Somatic Complaints, and Anxiety

The relation of computer users' stress, measured by the Computer Hassles Scale, and global stress, measured by the Daily Hassles Scale, with stress reactions, measured by the somatization-anxiety items of the SCL-90, was investigated in a college sample (N = 101). Computer hassles ratings were correlated .54 with daily hassles ratings and .57 with somatization-anxiety ratings. Daily hassles ratings were correlated .74 with somatization-anxiety ratings. These results provide important evidence on convergent validity for the Computer Hassles Scale as a measure of computer users' stress.

Relationship of Computer Hassles, Somatic Complaints, and Daily Hassles

The relationships between computer hassles, measured by the Computer Technology Hassles Scale, daily hassles, measured by the Daily Hassles Scale, and somatic complaints, measured by the Hopkins Symptom Checklist, were investigated in a college sample of 103. Computer hassles were correlated .57 with daily hassles and .39 with somatic complaints. Daily hassles were correlated .62 with somatic complaints. In general, these measures were uncorrelated with computer experience or computer knowledge. The daily Hassles Scale, a measure of stress, is a better correlate for the Computer Technology Hassles Scale, a measure of computer-related stress, than the Perceived Stress Scale.

The effects of stressors and coping resources on anxiety and peripheral narrowing

Abstract The purpose of the study was to examine possible mechanisms which might help explain why individuals with high life stress and/or low coping resources are at greater risk for incurring athletic injuries. The effects of life events, daily hassles (DH), and coping resources (CR) on state anxiety and peripheral vision narrowing during a stress condition were examined. Subjects were 74 recreational athletes who completed the Life Events Survey, Daily Hassles Scale (DHS), Vulnerability to Stress Questionnaire (CR), and state portion of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Peripheral vision was measured alone during baseline and while simultaneously performing a Stroop Color-Word Test accompanied by distracting noise during the stress condition. State anxiety was assessed during baseline and the stress condition. Analyses of covariance revealed that high negative life events (NLE) (p = .01) were related to greater peripheral narrowing during the stress condition. High TLE (p = .01) and DH (p = .005) were...

Validation of the Derogatis Stress Profile Using Laboratory and Real World Data

The Derogatis Stress Profile (DSP) is unique among the numerous measures of 'stress' in that it incorporates the interactional model of Lazarus and Folkman in a multidimensional structure. Derogatis has studied the psychometric properties of the DSP but its validity has not been demonstrated in the 'real world' nor has it been related to psychophysiological data. The present investigation was aimed at testing the validity of the DSP in these two areas. Forty-three men between the ages of 18 and 30 years completed the DSP, the Daily Hassles Scale (DHS), the Life Experiences Survey (LES), the Profile of Mood States (bipolar form), and the Jackson Personality Inventory (JPI). Participants were exposed to stressors in a laboratory setting as well as in the field while their heart rate was being monitored. Results supported the validity of the DSP, in part. The correlation between the DSP and JPI anxiety scores was significant as was the correlation between the DSP and the daily depression scores. The correlation between the Total Stress Score (TSS) of the DSP and DHS was significant as were the correlations between the TSS and LES scores. Moreover, the DSP scores were related to heart rate reactivity both in the laboratory and in the field.

The effects of moderate exercise training on psychological well-being and mood state in women

The relationship between moderate exercise training (five 45 min sessions/week, brisk walking at 62 beta +/- 2% VO2max for 15 weeks, psychological well-being and mood state was investigated in a group of 35 sedentary, mildly obese women. A 2 (exercise (EX) (N = 18), and nonexercise (NEX) (N = 17) groups) x 3 (baseline, 6-week, 15-week testing sessions) factorial design was used with data analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. Four psychological tests were administered: Daily Hassles Scale (DHS), General Well-being Schedule (GWB), Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory (S-Anxiety), and Profile of Mood States (POMS). The EX and NEX groups had significantly different patterns of change over time for GWB total scores [F(2,66) = 5.72, p = 0.005] and the GWB subscales 'energy level' and 'freedom from health concern or worry'. Scores for the EX group were elevated at both 6 and 15 weeks. General well-being total scores and subscale 'energy level' scores were significantly correlated with improvement in submaximal cardiorespiratory fitness (r = -0.41, p = 0.014; r = -0.40, p = 0.017, respectively). Exercise training also had a significant effect on frequency but not intensity of DHS scores, and S-Anxiety, with a significant decrease seen in the EX group at 6 weeks but not 15 weeks. Profile of Mood States scores were not significantly related to exercise training. These data support the results of other studies that have reported improvement in general psychological well-being with exercise training.

Sense of humor, hassles, and immunoglobulin A: evidence for a stress-moderating effect of humor.

This study was designed to investigate whether sense of humor moderates immunosuppressive effects of stress. At two time periods one and one-half months apart, forty subjects completed the Daily Hassles Scale and provided saliva samples for determining secretory immunoglobulin A (S-IgA) levels. Four scales were used to assess different aspects of the sense of humor. A negative correlation was obtained between frequency of hassles at time 1 and S-IgA levels at time 2 (r = -.32, p less than .05), suggesting an immunosuppressive effect of hassles. In support of our hypothesis, hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed significant moderating effects of three of the four humor measures on this relationship between hassles and S-IgA. Subjects with low scores on the humor scales revealed a stronger negative relationship between hassles and S-IgA than did those with high humor scores. These results are discussed in terms of other research examining psychological influences on immune function.

Dysfunctional attitudes, stress, and negative emotions

This research examined several hypotheses relating to the proposed moderating effect of dysfunctional attitudes on the relationship between stressful events and mood disturbance. Participants in Study 1 completed the Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Daily Hassles Scale. As predicted, dysfunctional attitudes significantly moderated the relationship between the reported frequency of microstressors and dysphoria. Study 2 extended these findings by means of a laboratory experiment in which participants completed a video task under both minimally and moderately stressful social evaluative conditions. In further support of the proposal that dysfunctional attitudes enhance stress appraisals and negative emotions, individuals scoring high on the DAS displayed increased levels of physiological arousal, anxiety, and self-consciousness throughout the experimental procedures. In addition, these individuals perceived greater disapproval and rejection on the part of the experimenter in the moderately stressful condition than did individuals scoring low on the DAS. Findings from these two studies were discussed in terms of the role of dysfunctional attitudes in stress appraisals, and negative emotions such as anxiety and dysphoria.

Stress factors, emotional stress and rheumatoid arthritis disease activity.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between stress factors, emotional stress and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity. Subjects (n = 101) confirmed to have RA completed the Daily Hassles Scale (DHS) to identify daily stress factors and the State/Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) as well as a visual analogue (VA) to measure emotional stress levels. The investigator evaluated RA disease activity (RADA) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Pearson product-moment correlation was used for statistical evaluation. A statistically significant, positive correlation was found between RADA and both measures of emotional stress; STAI r2 = 0.16, VA r2 = 0.25, P less than 0.01. Utilizing a psychophysiological feedback loop model, it was hypothesized that emotional stress levels and RA disease activity each served as a driving force and a consequence, i.e. as emotional stress levels increased, RA symptoms intensified and, likewise, as RA symptoms intensified, emotional stress levels increased. Nursing interventions were identified which possibly would reduce emotional stress levels, and thus, perhaps, decrease the incidence and/or severity of RA disease activity.

Stress and acute respiratory infection.

To examine the relationship between stress and upper respiratory tract infection, 235 adults aged 14-57 years, from 94 families affiliated with three suburban family physicians in Adelaide, South Australia, participated in a six-month prospective study. High and low stress groups were identified by median splits of data collected from the Life Events Inventory, the Daily Hassles Scale, and the General Health Questionnaire, which were administered both before and during the six months of respiratory diary data collection. Using intra-study stress data, the high stress group experienced significantly more episodes (mean of 2.71 vs. 1.56, p less than 0.0005) and symptom days (mean of 29.43 vs. 15.42, p = 0.005) of respiratory illness. The two groups were almost identical with respect to age, sex, occupational status, smoking, passive smoking, exposure to air pollution, family size, and proneness to acute respiratory infection in childhood. In a multivariate model with total respiratory episodes as the dependent variable, 21% of the variance was explained, and two stress variables accounted for 9% of the explained variance. Significant, but less strong relationships were also identified between intra-study stress variables and clinically "definite" episodes and symptom days in both clinically definite and total respiratory episodes. Pre-study measures of stress emphasized chronic stresses and were less strongly related to measures of respiratory illness than those collected during the study. However, significantly more episodes (mean of 2.50 vs. 1.75, p less than 0.02) and symptom days (mean of 28.00 vs. 17.06, p less than 0.03) were experienced in the high stress group. In the multivariate analyses, pre-study stress remained significantly associated with total respiratory episodes and symptom days in total and "definite" respiratory episodes. In all of the multivariate analyses performed, sex (female) and age also appeared as important correlates of respiratory illness.

Daily Hassles and Profiles of Well-Being among Older Residents of Small Rural Towns

As part of a larger study of adaptation to environmental stress, 101 older (65 yr. +) small-town residents displaying four distinct profiles of subjective well-being (frail, disengaged, partially-, and fully-engaged) were administered a 67-item version of the Daily Hassles Scale in interview format. A 1-way multivariate analysis was conducted on frequency of hassles and intensity scores across eight hassle-content categories (Health, Friends and Relatives, Finances, Social Reactions, Physical Environment, Declines in Capacity, Time, and Job). Follow-up univariate F tests and post hoc analyses indicated significant group differences on the number of hassles for five categories (except Social Reactions, Time, and Job). Reliable group differences on intensity of hassles were found for Health, Friends and Relatives, and Declines in Capacity. The general pattern of data showed both frail and fully engaged elderly experiencing more hassles and with greater intensity than the partially engaged and disengaged. Interpretations are offered.