THIS IS THE MAIN POST

First, describe something new you learned about the physiological response to stress (ie., HPA activation; fight-or-flight; tend or befriend; sympathetic activation). Next, do some investigating and find a research article that highlights stress and culture. This could include cultural variations of the expression of stress, the effects of prejudice as a stressor, cultural differences in coping with stress, etc. You’re welcome to choose any cultural subgroup that you have an interest in (ie., think Hays’ ADDRESSING model which I’ve included below). Share with the class the main findings of the article you found and why you were interested in the article.

Next, discuss something new that you learned about the social determinants of health according to Berwick (2020). What do you view as your call to action as a future clinical psychologist?

ADDRESSING:

A: Age and generational influences

D: Developmental disability

D: Disability acquired later in life

R: Religion and spiritual orientation

E: Ethnicity/race

S: Socioeconomic status

S: Sexual orientation

I: Indigenous heritage

N: National origin

G: Gender

Hays, P. A. (2001). Addressing Cultural Complexities in Practice: A Framework for Clinicians and Counselors. Washington, D. C.: American Psychological Association.

THIS IS THE STUDEN RESPOND TO THE MAIN POST AMAND

I have always known about the fight or flight response, but I did not know about the HPA activation. The HPA activation is an interaction with the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and adrenal gland. When this activation is activated, the cortisol is released into the blood stream to complete the fight or flight response that your body gives off because of stress.

The article I researched was based in Saudi Arabia where the stress levels of medical students was examined through a qualitative study and coping strategies were tested to see if the stress in the final year of medical school was reduced based on different techniques. The results indicated that planning and time management as well as using the reward systems of highlighting medical school achievements were all seen as a lower stress indicator and that the perception was normal. To avoid stressful discussions, medical talk was not discussed, and the healthy stress coping skills were used through emotional building of relationships and discussions among peers of rewarding and praiseworthy aspects of the profession.

Berwick (2020) discuss how healers are called to mend the fabric of communities that is torn. In understanding how the tearing of communities are moved and influenced by the government that is then further influenced by the justice system. In a world that seems fair and just, what has happened is that the rights of those in the united States are impacted by the health difficulties that are impacted by the government and how people handle different situations. I did have trouble connecting with this article but after a few reads, I was able to understand it.

References:

Abouammoh, N., Irfan, F., & AlFaris, E. (2020). Stress coping strategies among medical students and trainees in saudi arabia: A qualitative study. BMC Medical Education, 20, 1-8. doi:http://dx.doi.org.tcsedsystem.idm.oclc.org/10.1186/s12909-020-02039-y

Berwick, D.M. (2020). The moral determinants of health. American Medical Association, E1-E2.