Module PPP-3002:
Stress Anxiety, and Health

Module Facts

Run by School of Psychology

20.000 Credits or 10.000 ECTS Credits

Semester 2

Organiser: Dr Judith Roberts

Overall aims and purpose

This module will outline the main thinking about stress in terms of nature and definitions, with the primary focus on the transactional model of stress and coping. Students will learn that stress can be positive and negative, that it can be acute and chronic, that how it changes across the lifespan. An emphasis will be placed on the biological basis of our stress response and the impact on health and wellbeing. Students will also investigate behavioural responses to stressful demands placed upon us, and how we cope and why. The role of personality and the importance of social relationships will be considered. There will be a focus on our interpretation of events and how this can develop into an anxiety disorder. By the end of the module, students should understand the complexities of the relationship between stress, anxiety and health.

Course content

Topics include stress and anxiety disorders, resilience and coping, social relationships and stress, stress and personality, stress as a physiological response, stress add health outcomes, stress across the lifespan, psychological interventions, and prevention and wellbeing.

Assessment Criteria

excellent

A- to A** - The work displays comprehensive knowledge and detailed understanding of stress, coping theories and stress appraisal, reflecting extensive background study - The work is highly focussed, well structured, logically presented and with defended arguments - The work considers the topics in an original way - The work is presented to a high standard with accurate information and no factual errors

threshold

D- to C+ - The work only demonstrates knowledge of key areas/principles of stress, coping theories and stress appraisal - There is limited evidence of originality or of background study - The work contains some irrelevant material and weaknesses in structure Arguments are presented but they lack coherence - The work contains factual errors with little evidence of problem solving - The are weaknesses in the standard of presentation and its accuracy

good

B- to B+ - The work displays a sound knowledge of stress, coping theories and stress appraisal but with some limitations - There is evidence of background study - The work has a defined and logical structure but with some weaknesses in the way in the arguments are presented - There is some original interpretation of topics - The work is presented carefully with accurate information and few factual errors

Learning outcomes

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of stress and coping as a transaction between the individual and environment.

  2. Critically evaluate theories of acute and chronic stress and demonstrate an understanding of the links between stress and illness (physical or psychological).

  3. Critically evaluate and synthesise coping theories, definitions and understand the distinction between coping styles and coping strategies.

  4. Appreciate the nature and function of social support and how it influences stress appraisal, coping response and illness outcomes.

  5. Demonstrate an understanding of the link between interpretation and emotional expression and its influence on stress appraisal, coping response and illness outcomes (physical and psychological).

Assessment Methods

Type Name Description Weight
Written assignment, including essay Written Assignment

Students will be given a choice of an essay question, developing a factsheet, or a presentation.

 50.00
EXAM Exam

The exam will consist of four short answer questions.

 50.00

Teaching and Learning Strategy

Hours
Lecture

10 x 2 hour lectures (1 week will be reading week and 1 will be revision week).

 20
Private study

This will cover weekly reading time, preparing and taking assessments.

 180

Transferable skills

  • Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
  • Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
  • Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
  • Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
  • Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
  • Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
  • Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting

Subject specific skills

  • Understand the scientific underpinnings of psychology as a discipline.
  • Apply multiple perspectives to psychological issues and integrate ideas and findings across the multiple perspectives in psychology.
  • Communicate psychological concepts effectively in written form.
  • Communicate psychological concepts effectively in oral form.
  • Retrieve and organise information effectively.
  • Handle primary source material critically.
  • Use effectively personal planning and project management skills.
  • Problem-solve by clarifying questions, considering alternative solutions, making critical judgements, and evaluating outcomes.

Resources

Resource implications for students

Students may need to print course content from blackboard.

Reading list

Suggested reading materials will be provided for each weeks lecture.

Courses including this module

Compulsory in courses:

Optional in courses: