Introduction to the Prescribed Studies

Welcome! In this chapter, we explore the "real-life" evidence behind Health Psychology. While theories like the HPA axis or the GAS model (which you can learn about in the Physiology of Stress chapter) explain how stress works, these prescribed studies provide the data to prove those theories. We will look at a classic study involving monkeys, a study on migrant workers, and modern research into therapy and coping. These studies are essential for your exams, especially when you are asked to evaluate or discuss research evidence.

1. The Classic Study: Brady (1958) "Ulcers in Executive Monkeys"

This is one of the most famous (and controversial) studies in psychology. Brady wanted to see if the psychological stress of being "in charge" could cause physical illness, specifically stomach ulcers.

What they did (Procedure)

Brady used monkeys in pairs. He put them in a "yoked" design, which means they both received the exact same physical treatment, but their psychological experience was different:

  • The Executive Monkey: This monkey had a lever. Every \(20\) seconds, a warning light came on. If the monkey pressed the lever, it avoided an electric shock for both itself and its partner.
  • The Yoked Control Monkey: This monkey was in a similar restraint but its lever didn't do anything. It simply received whatever shocks the Executive monkey failed to avoid.

The monkeys went through a schedule of \(6\) hours of "work" (avoiding shocks) and \(6\) hours of rest.

What they found (Results)

After about \(23\) days, the Executive monkeys began to die. Post-mortems showed they had developed perforated ulcers. Surprisingly, the Control monkeys (who received the same shocks but had no responsibility) stayed healthy and had no ulcers.

What it means (Conclusion)

It wasn't the physical pain of the shocks that caused the illness; it was the psychological stress of having constant responsibility and being on high alert. This supports the idea that prolonged stress can physically damage the body.

Quick Review: Brady (1958)

Key takeaway: High responsibility + High demand = Physical illness (ulcers). This shows a direct link between the mind and the body.

Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't say the control monkeys were fine because they didn't get shocked. They did get shocked! They just didn't have the stress of the lever.

2. Contemporary Study: Nakonz and Shik (2009)

Moving from monkeys to humans, this study looks at how people cope with stress in the real world. Specifically, it focuses on Philippine migrant workers in Hong Kong.

Context and Aim

Migrant workers often face massive daily hassles (see the Factors Affecting Stress chapter): they are away from family, live in cramped conditions, work long hours for low pay, and sometimes face discrimination. Nakonz and Shik wanted to investigate how religious coping strategies helped them manage this stress.

Findings

The researchers found that religion was a powerful tool for these workers. It provided:

  • Social Support: Going to church provided a community and a sense of belonging.
  • Meaning-making: It helped workers frame their suffering as a "test" or part of a bigger plan, making it easier to endure.
  • Emotion-focused coping: Prayer and ritual helped them manage their feelings of sadness and isolation.

Conclusion

Religious coping is a highly effective positive coping technique. It helps individuals maintain their mental health even when they have very little "problem-focused" control over their difficult living conditions.

Did you know? This study is a great example of qualitative research, using interviews and observations to get deep, detailed data about people's feelings.

3. Contemporary Option A: Avdagic et al. (2014)

If your class studied treatments for anxiety, this is a vital study. It compares two types of therapy for Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

The Comparison

The researchers conducted a Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) to compare:

  1. CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy): Focuses on changing "faulty" thinking patterns.
  2. ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy): A newer approach that encourages people to accept their thoughts rather than fighting them.

Results

The study found that both therapies were effective in reducing anxiety. There was no significant difference in effectiveness between the two. This suggests that simply having a structured psychological intervention is what matters most for patients with GAD.

Key Takeaway:

ACT is a valid alternative to CBT. Both help reduce the symptoms of anxiety significantly (\(p \le .05\)).

4. Contemporary Option B: Russell et al. (2015)

This study looks at how we measure coping in adolescents (teenagers) who are in therapeutic outdoor programs (like "wilderness therapy").

The Goal

Standard questionnaires like the Adolescent Lifestyle Questionnaire (ALQ) are often used to measure health. Russell et al. wanted to adapt these tools to see how teens cope when they are in challenging, "outdoor adventure" settings.

Why it matters

Teenagers often use different coping strategies than adults. The study highlights that therapeutic recreation (getting active outdoors) can help teens move from negative coping (like withdrawal) to positive coping (like seeking social support or problem-solving).

Don't worry if this seems tricky! Just remember that Russell et al. focused on making sure our research methods (questionnaires) are actually fit for the specific group of people we are studying (teenagers in the wild!).

Evaluating the Studies: The "GRENADE" Method

To get top marks, you must evaluate these studies. Use this checklist:

G - Generalisability:
- Brady: Low. Can we really compare a monkey's brain to a human's?
- Nakonz & Shik: Specific to Philippine culture; may not apply to all migrants.

R - Reliability:
- Brady: High. It was a controlled laboratory experiment with a clear "yoked" procedure.
- Avdagic et al.: High. RCTs use standardised procedures that can be repeated.

E - Ethics:
- Brady: Very poor. The monkeys suffered significantly and died. Today, the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 would likely prevent this study from happening.
- Nakonz & Shik: Good. They respected the privacy and culture of the workers.

N - Nature vs. Nurture:
- Brady shows a "Nature" response (biological ulcers) to a "Nurture" environment (stressful job).

A - Application:
- Avdagic et al. helps doctors decide which therapy to offer for anxiety.
- Nakonz & Shik helps charities understand how to support migrant workers better.

D - Data:
- Brady used quantitative data (number of ulcers).
- Nakonz & Shik used qualitative data (interviews/descriptions).

E - Ecological Validity:
- Brady: Low. Monkeys don't usually sit in chairs pressing levers in the wild!
- Nakonz & Shik: High. This was a study of real people in their real-life environments.

Final Summary Checklist

  • Can you explain why the "Executive" monkey got ulcers but the "Control" didn't? (Brady)
  • Can you list three ways religion helped migrant workers cope? (Nakonz and Shik)
  • Do you know the difference between CBT and ACT? (Avdagic et al.)
  • Why did Russell et al. think it was important to adapt questionnaires for teenagers?
  • Can you identify which ethical guidelines (BPS or Animals Act) apply to these studies?