The Vulnerability of Chronic Stress: Implications for Feeling Like Giving Up

The feeling of learned helplessness has been associated with prolonged stress and trauma. Additionally, many previous studies have examined the relationship between stress and decreased feelings of control, such as self-efficacy and locus of control. However, these forms of control have been primarily self-reported. The present study aimed to investigate the relationships among learned helplessness, chronic stressors, and self-agency using a computer-based task. We also measured heart rate variability (HRV) during the self-agency task to assess psychophysiological correlates of these variables. Seventy-four participants completed a series of questionnaires that were used to assess lifelong stressors (e.g., exposure to natural disasters, adoption, abuse, and neglect), and measures related to mental health symptoms (i.e. depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorders). Participants were then randomly assigned to a learned helplessness task comprised of either solvable (n = 34) or unsolvable anagrams (n = 40). Finally, participants completed a computer-based self-agency task, where they were asked to rate their level of perceived control when moving boxes around on a computer screen. A 2x2 mixed-model ANOVA that examined the effect of stress (high, low) and learned helplessness condition (unsolvable, solvable) on self-agency ratings indicated there was no main effect or interaction. Furthermore, independent samples t-test revealed there was no effect of stress group on HRV. Findings from this study could have implications for the role of resiliency in those who have endured chronic stress

Chronic Stress in Relation to Locus of Control

Stress is prominent in everyone’s lives, and if the right precautions are not taken, stress can become chronic and harmful to an individual’s health (Schmitz, Neumann, & Oppermann, 2000). To prevent chronic stress, researchers seek to find out important factors that lead to chronic stress. One of the most prominent factors leading to chronic stress is locus of control (LOC), or how much control people feel they have over situations (Cummins, 1988). People can endorse an internal locus of control which means individual attributes events occurring in their life to their own behavior, or an external, which one would consider an outside force responsible for an event that occurred in their life (Bollini, Walker, Hamann, & Kestler, 2004). There are mixed results in the literature regarding different forms of stress and locus of control. Some results indicate that external locus of control is related to higher stress levels (Schmitz et al. 2000), some results indicate that a more internal locus of control is related to higher stress (Cummins, 1988), while others found no significant relationship (Bollini et al. 2004). For this experiment, researchers wanted to examine the relationship between type of locus of control and amount of chronic stress. It was predicted that greater external locus of control would be associated with increased chronic stress. In the present study, UMSL students (n=81) completed the Life Stressors Checklist to measure amount of stress exposure, as well as the Locus of Control Scale to measure if participants had more internal or external locus of control. We found that LOC was not correlated with levels of chronic stress (F(1,79)=0.049, p\u3e0.05). Although a significant relationship was not found, it is still important that individuals learn to manage stress, because stress presents itself similarly, no matter which perception of control an individual possesses (Bollini et al. 2004)

The Dimensional Relationship Between Age of First Traumatic Exposure and Perceptions of Control: A Pilot Study

An earlier age of onset of trauma (before 16 years old) has been associated with greater psychological impairments, such as increased risk of psychopathology and greater psychological distress in adulthood (Kaplow & Widom, 2007; Mueller et al., 2010; Teicher et al., 2009). Furthermore, trauma exposure has been linked to deficits in control (Fraizer, 2003; Ataria, 2015). However, the association between age of first trauma and perception of control are unclear. The present study aimed to define the relationship between age of first trauma and perception of control, or self-agency. Self-agency is defined as the sense of control of one’s actions and/or thoughts (Gallagher, 2000). Participants (n = 14, Mage = 24.00 ± 9.54; Male = 2) first completed online questionnaires which examined exposure to traumatic and stressful events (e.g. jail time, neglect, and natural disasters) and measures relating to psychopathologies (i.e. depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)). Participants then completed a computer based Self-agency Judgement Task, where they were asked to rate their perceived control after moving a box on the computer in various noise conditions (0%, 30%, 75%, 90%, 100%). Preliminary results show that there were statistically significant differences between age of trauma and agency ratings, such that earlier age of trauma predicted lower ratings of average control within all five conditions, t(12) = -2.30, p = .040. Interestingly, earlier age of trauma did not predict depression (t(12) = -1.06, p = .311), anxiety (t(12) = -1.06, p = .312), or PTSD psychopathology scores (t(12) = -0.02, p = .981). As data collection is ongoing, we will continue to examine the relationship between age of first trauma and perceptions of control, and its relationship to psychological disorders

Iniciativas innovadoras de desarrollo local casos de Nicaragua, El Salvador y Costa Rica

El presente documento representa una síntesis de los puntos más importantes de un documento de análisis comparativo realizado por el equipo de trabajo “Innovación y Desarrollo Local” del proyecto SUDESCA. Este documento síntesis, presenta primero el planteamiento del problema de desarrollo y la justificación de los casos de iniciativas de desarrollo local estudiadas en Nicaragua, El Salvador y Costa Rica, así como las preguntas y la metodología de investigación utilizada. Segundo, presenta un conjunto de lecciones que surgen del análisis comparativo de los tres estudios para fortalecer las capacidades innovadoras de agentes involucradas en iniciativas de desarrollo local.This document represents a synthesis of the most important points of a comparative analysis document carried out by the "Innovation and Local Development" work team of the SUDESCA project. This synthesis document first presents the statement of the development problem and the justification of the cases of local development initiatives studied in Nicaragua, El Salvador and Costa Rica, as well as the questions and the research methodology used. Second, it presents a set of lessons that emerge from the comparative analysis of the three studies to strengthen the innovative capacities of agents involved in local development initiatives.Universidad Nacional, Costa RicaCentro Internacional de Política Económica para el Desarrollo Sostenibl