Armah A Quick Guide
The response to stress varies between individuals based on their resilience and susceptibility. Factors such as biological vulnerability, self-efficacy, psychological hardiness, locus of control, sense of humor, predictability and preparation, optimism, and social support act as moderators of stress. Those who possess these factors are better able to manage and cope with stress, leading to higher well-being.
Moderators of Stress: Resilient vs susceptible people
Consider the following scenario to understand the moderators of stress :
‘Amy and Sarah are class fellows doing the same degree in health sciences. Amy is often stressed about getting high grades. She expects the worst from herself in exams, gives up when things get too tough & blames the teachers for grading the exam unfairly. She is generally a serious person who is often pessimistic about her academic progress. Additionally, she has an anxiety disorder in her family. Whereas her social circle is also restricted.
Compared to her, Sarah sees exams and grades as a normal part of her academic life. She believes that she can do well when she puts her mind to it. She stays committed during challenges, looks at her own mistakes as opportunities for learning, often laughs, and stays optimistic about her academic process. Sara also relies on her social circle when things get overwhelming. As a result, she is relaxed and has higher well-being compared to Amy’
So, why is Amy’s and Sara’s response to the same conditions so different? Well, the difference lies in terms of the number of moderators of stress they both possess.
Psychological Moderators of stress
While some people are more resilient in the face of stress, others are more susceptible to showing a stress response even when faced with minor triggers. Multiple factors play a role in this. A few of them are stated as follows:
1. Biological moderators of stress
Some people are genetically or biologically vulnerable to developing physical or psychological disorders that bring stress. For example, cardiac problems, blood pressure, anxiety disorders, etc. So, if you have some biological vulnerability in your family, that may make you susceptible to developing stress conditions. However, psychological factors are equally important which may moderate the impact of stress. These are in our control to some level and we can regulate these to manage stress effectively.
2. Self-efficacy or self-belief
Self-efficacy which refers to confidence in our abilities is integral to moderating stress. You may have come across a stereotypical scenario in movies where the main character often doubts him or herself but eventually discovers that all they needed to do was to believe in themselves. As cliché as it sounds, it is in fact true. The more belief we have in our abilities to perform a certain task or manage a certain stressor, the more confident we are and better able to execute it. Compared to it, a person who is low in self-efficacy and doubts his or her abilities will struggle when facing and managing life challenges. For example, if you believe you can lose weight, you are more likely to stick to your weight loss program and end up reaching your target goal.
3. Psychological hardiness
Psychological hardiness simply refers to a set of traits that make us resilient and helps us to buffer the impact of stress. Three key traits include:
- Commitment to your goals.
- Driven to face challenges rather than feeling threatened by them.
- Perceiving high self-control over one’s life.
So people who have these are able to manage stress much better.
4. Locus of control
Locus of control refers to a person’s tendency to attribute the source of control external or internal to self. A person with an internal locus of control believes he or she is in control of whatever happens in their life and can manage it using personal resources. Whereas a person with an external locus of control will believe that whatever happens in his or her life is largely outside of his control and dependent on external factors like destiny, fate, luck, other people and their responses, etc.
People who are resilient to stress have an internal locus of control since they see stressors as normal and something they can manage by relying on their coping strategies. For example, a student who gets a bad grade may blame the teacher or the test for being too tough (external locus of control). Whereas a student who tries to learn from his mistakes and the bad grade may see it as an opportunity to perform better in the future (internal locus of control).
5. Sense of humor
People who have a sense of humor, especially in the face of stress are able to cope with it effectively. Those who learn to laugh at their stressors, lower the burden on them.
6. Predictability and preparation
When we sense an upcoming threat or stressor, it alerts us to be prepared for it when it happens. Being prepared helps us to cope with stress effectively. So the ability to predict a stressor moderates its impact. For example, if you predicted that you will have to wait at least an hour in the waiting room for your doctor’s appointment, you can make preparations to prevent the frustration of waiting. Such as, you may take a magazine to read to pass time or you may utilize that time to reply to important work emails, etc.
7. Optimism versus pessimism
People who have a pessimistic worldview tend to see and focus on the negative aspects of life which only adds to their stress. Compared to them, those with an optimistic attitude are relaxed, healthier, live longer, and have a more fulfilled life. This does not mean that you have to be over-optimistic to be less stressed. Rather, maintaining a balanced attitude towards life is a healthier way to moderate unnecessary stress.
8. Social Support: An effective moderator of stress
People who utilize social support regularly release pent-up stress. Seeking help from others gives us:
- Emotional support
- Material or instrumental support
- Guidance or advice
- Feedback
- Releases stress by socializing and doing de-stressing activities.
Compared to them, people who spend more time by themselves are less likely to rely on others for support and have higher stress levels.
Now that you know what makes some people resilient to stress, try to adopt some of the moderators of stress in your overall stance towards life. Though it is easier said than done, consistency and self-work often bring us closer to our goals.
To find out more about stress, read the related articles in the stress management series.