Stress Management Workshop, Evaluation, and Descriptive Narrative
As a health psychology professional, it is likely that you may participate in the analysis and modification of behaviors and thought-processes to improve responses to stress. The components of the Final Project for this course prepare you to identify the stress management needs of a specific population and provide the most appropriate stress management techniques based on the stressors involved. Another component of the Final Project provides practice in the development of stress management handouts and a stress management workshop presentation. Then in the last component of the Final Project you develop a workshop evaluation to analyze the effectiveness of stress management techniques presented in an engaging learning environment, such as a group workshop. Finally, these components of the Final Project taken together prepare you to assist clients in the adoption of effective stress management techniques to reduce the impact of stress.
Final Project (10–15 total pages)
Your Final Project, which is due in Week 11, must include the following elements:
- Descriptive Narrative (5–7 pages):
Describe the population you selected in Week 3 as the intended audience for a stress management workshop.
Synthesize research related to stress management techniques.
Include the stressors common to that population.
Explain the stress management research techniques you selected for your population.
Describe the three original handouts you created on stress management techniques in Week 5.
Justify the strategy used for selecting these techniques for the specific population you selected.
Describe how your stress management presentation from Week 7 is applicable for future use within health psychology.
Explain how the stress management techniques you selected and the stress management workshop you created contribute to social change.
Information on scholarly writing may be found in the APA Publication Manual (6th ed.), and at the
Walden Writing Center
website. Also see “Code of Conduct and Academic Integrity,” in the Guidelines and Policies area on the left navigation bar.
Stress management techniques
Stress Management techniques for Female Migrant Domestic Workforces from Mexico
The female migrant domestic workforces from Mexico go through a lot of stress during the various migration processes, including phases such as before the migration, during their stay in the United States, and then while they return to Mexico. The workers encounter stressor which can be either, environmental, social, including the internal demands, which forces the workers to readjust their usual behaviors, which includes their cognitive patterns. There are effective stress management techniques for these workers, who have mostly completed at least one contract as domestic workers while in their stay in the United States. The techniques are such as exercise, relaxation, and time management techniques that are effective for stress management.
Exercising techniques
In most cases, stress is an unavoidable and inevitable part of life. Exercising is one of the keys to alleviating stress, and one of the best methods to compensate for stress factors. Apart from promoting the body’s general fitness, physical exercising helps in stress management, which includes life stresses, which can be emotional or tensional (Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, 2019). Exercise improves sleep and effectively removes one from stressful situations and environments. Exercise enables and individual to be fit, therefore the individual will be able to deal with stress when it arises.
Considering factors, such as staying physically active is essential as it ensures a healthy physical condition and ability to fight diseases, which may arise due to stress and other factors. Researchers to have considered exercise as a primary vital factor for maintaining healthy mental fitness, hence reducing stress. Studies have also shown that exercising reduces mental fatigue, hence improve an individual’s ability to be alert and to concentrate, which generally improves the cognitive function. When stress affects the brain, it interferes with the various nerve connections, whereas the rest of the body is also affected, because the brain controls the rest of the body organs (Varvogli, & Darviri, 2011). Exercises and engagement in other physical activities enhance the production of endorphins, which are chemicals in the brain, which typically act as painkillers. These chemicals normally play a role in the induction of sleep, hence reduces stress. Regular engagement in exercises, such as aerobics decreases the levels of tension, hence stabilizes the mood, which in turn improves self-esteem.
Relaxing and meditation techniques
There are various effective ways of using relaxation techniques to help in the management and control of stress, in order to improve the mental and most importantly the mental health. It is important to practice personal meditation techniques. There are examples of the structures programs, which are available and increase the relaxation ability (Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, 2019). First, is the autogenic training, this technique is typically based on passive awareness and concentration. No particular physical activities or exercise are involved and require absolute time and patience. The second is the biofeedback; it enables an individual to achieve control and relaxation, and effectively modify the body’s reaction by using equipment, which provides information from the body.
The third is imagery; this is the use of relaxing or pleasant images to help in calming the body and especially the mind. This is done by controlling the rate of breathing and also visualizing g a present soothing image, this creates a state of deep relation. The forth is the meditation technique. This method normally focuses purely on physical meditation and relaxation. During the meditation procedure, there is a meditative state whereby the individual is in a deep focusing. He or she centers upon the mental and physical being, both body and mind are is relaxing state (Dhar, Walia, & Das, 2011). This greatly helps the brain to rest; hence ensure an improved mental health capability. The fifth method is progressive muscle relaxation. This is whereby the muscle groups are deliberately tightened, and then relaxed in succession. The outcome is a relaxed mind, including a sense of physical relaxation. The sixth method is yoga. There are many kinds of yoga, and the activity is based on the body, and breathing which are connected to the mind. Yoga restores the balance, including the harmony of emotions and the body in general.
Time management techniques
When practicing good time management, it is important to be attentive to your mental health. It is essential to handle stress positively so that you are motivated to perform well when going through daily tasks. Therefore good time management skills, are effective for stress control. It is important to learn to organize and prioritize existing tasks because this prevents cases of over commitments, which are critical because they can lead to being overscheduled (Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, 2019). Using important factors such as the calendar, or maybe the daily, weekly, monthly and annual planners help individuals to be committed, as long as they check it faithfully. Individuals can also identify the tasks meant for wasting time, by keeping an organized diary for some days, so that you can note whether you are losing a lot of time on the tasks.
Experts recommend setting aside some time every day to check and also respond to the emails, including messages, which prevents one from being a continual slave to the incoming information (Chinaveh, Ishak, & Salleh, 2010). Therefore, it is important for the workers, to be aware that during their duties, they experience various forms of stress. The workers must react positively in cases of stress to ensure a healthy mentality. Workers normally react to stress differently. Others express their stressful situations through anger and sadness, some react in a disruptive way, others will allow the stress to degrade the quality of work, and others even become overwhelmed and shut down due to the stressful work situations. Therefore, it is important for the workers to rather be motivated in avoiding stress through planning and prioritizing their work. They should take notes of the particular stressors including the reactive tendencies so that they work on the important areas, which need improvement.
References
Chinaveh, M., Ishak, N. M., & Salleh, A. M. (2010). Improving mental health and academic performance through multiple stress management intervention: implication for diverse learners. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 7, 311-316.
Dhar, R., Walia, I., & Das, K. (2011). A descriptive study to assess the causes of stress and copingstrategies used by the newly admitted basic B. Sc. Nursing students. Nursing and Midwifery Research, 5(1).
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD. (2019). Stress Management Techniques: Get Tips to Improve Health. Retrieved from
https://www.medicinenet.com/stress_management_techniques/article.htm#stress-management_facts
Varvogli, L., & Darviri, C. (2011). Stress management techniques: evidence-based procedures that reduce stress and promote health. Health science journal, 5(2), 74.
Runninghead: STRESS MANAGEMENT FOR FEMALE MIGRANT DOMESTIC WORKFORCES FROM MEXICO
1
STRESS MANAGEMENT FOR FEMALE MIGRANT DOMESTIC WORKFORCES FROM MEXICO 5
Stress Management for Female Domestic Workers
Steffi Nicholas
Stress and Coping
Walden University
December 13, 2019
Stress Management for Female Migrant Domestic Workforces from Mexico
The Target Population
This exploratory study will focus on assessing the stress dynamics of female migrant domestic workforces from Mexico in the various migration process phases; before migration, while in the United States, as well as they return to Mexico. The target population will include Mexican adult female individuals aged between 18 and 60 years, besides who have finished at least one contract as a domestic worker while in the United States.
Common Stressors and Related Health Issues
During the various phases of migration; pre-migration, during migration, and post-migration female domestic workforces encounter various stressors that can be pronounced as social, environmental, and internal demands that necessitate the individual to readjust her usual behavioral and as well as cognitive patterns (Rousseau & Frounfelker, 2018). By way of these stressors accruing, the negative consequences probability for their wellbeing increases. These include common migration-related stressors such as sense of loss of country, home, and family, besides socio-economic problems, in addition to challenges of adapting to the United States. Consequently, there are income and financial stressors associated with pre-migration and post-migration phases. In particular, Edwards, Anderson, and Stranges (2019) indicated that during the pre-migration phase the stress emanates from lack of financial resources to support the application process, educational, and occupational status in the nation of origin. Furthermore, there are stressors involved with social support disruption, along with roles and networks, trauma, and political involvement.
During the post-migration phase the stressors are related to lack of income and money, uncertainty concerning the migration status, under-employment/unemployment, social status loss, loss of community and family social supports (Cook, Alegría, Lin, & Guo, 2009). Additionally concerns about family members left behind and the prospect for reunification, acculturation and adaptation, for instance, change in sex roles.
During the migration-phase they are different psychosocial issues such as homesickness and loneliness, difficulties in adjusting to the American culture and conditions of workplaces and personal safety, besides abuses and restrictions (Edwards, Anderson, & Stranges, 2019). Apart from being physically hurt, other psychosocial related stresses are connected to worries concerning leaving their children and families, and the relationships with their spouses, on top of the uncertainty regarding the migration outcomes, exposure to violence, in addition to the duration and route of migration.
Empirical Support for Three Management Strategies
According to Edwards, Anderson, and Stranges (2019) during the pre-migration phase most of the females use coping strategies that fundamentally involve generating monies by borrowing from their families, friends, acquaintances, and even sale of their own properties. Additionally, they apply problem-oriented coping strategies that involve mobilization of relatives to support them in the preparations for their departure. Following Rousseau and Frounfelker (2018) during the migration phase most females use emotion-focused strategies that include spiritual strategies like reading spiritual books, praying, crying, becoming more dominant, enduring the situation, and resting. Edwards, Anderson, and Stranges (2019) indicate that the social support forms include creating groups whereby they share their problems and look for ways to solve them. Moreover, a considerable number of females cope with stress through having frequent talks with their children, spouses, relatives, and friends.
Reasons why these Strategies are Appropriate
The transformation from problem-centered stress management strategies to a more-passive, in addition to emotion-centered way of managing the stress could be reasoned out by the nonexistence of control, occasioning from these migrant female’s isolated positions as well as reliance on their employers (Cook, Alegría, Lin, & Guo, 2009). Numerous scholars indicate that problem-centered stress management strategies are more applicable whenever situational demands are observed as controllable. On the other hand, Rousseau and Frounfelker (2018) emphasize that emotion-focused stress management strategies are more applicable whenever demands seem uncontrollable. Then again, the variety and flexibility of the appropriate stress management strategies are more significant to the levels of stress than the particular management strategy. Therefore, it is plausible that the live-in nature of the female migrant domestic work, in the company of the working hours, unfortunate working conditions, and employers’ restrictions, have a high inclination of reducing and determining their options for management strategies and thereby their choice of stress management flexibility.
Social structures appear to be a significant part and parcel in the lives of these female migrant domestic workforces in different ways. Being away from their family as well as the responsibility of generating the household income seems to be an important tool towards dealing with the stresses they encounter. As reported in various studies, the creations of social networks have a significant impact on the wellbeing of these migrants (Rousseau & Frounfelker (2018). Moreover, participation in religious activities has been commonly used by these migrants during stress and particularly by society’s most disadvantaged groups, as they aim at emotional adjustment to the stressful situation (Edwards, Anderson, & Stranges, 2019). Additionally, they are focused at the relegation of responsibilities to a higher entity, instead of at actions towards changing the stressors, in addition to supporting them to maintain their cultural identity.
References
Cook, B., Alegría, M., Lin, J. Y., & Guo, J. (2009). Pathways and correlates connecting Latinos’ mental health with exposure to the United States. American journal of public health, 99(12), 2247-2254.
Edwards, J., Anderson, K. K., & Stranges, S. (2019). Migrant mental health, Hickam’s dictum, and the dangers of oversimplification.
Kirmayer, L. J., Narasiah, L., Munoz, M., & et al. (2011). Common mental health problems in immigrants and refugees: general approach in primary care. CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l’Association medicale canadienne, 183(12), E959–E967. doi:10.1503/cmaj.090292
Rousseau, C., & Frounfelker, R. L. (2018). Mental health needs and services for migrants: an overview for primary care providers. Journal of travel medicine, 26(2), tay150.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders
Stress Management Techniques
Steffi Nicholas
Stress and Coping
Walden University
January 12, 2020
Relationship between stress and health
There is an existing complex relationship between stress and health.
Not all kinds of stress have a negative impact on health (Salleh, 2008).
A study found that short-term stress boosts the body’s immune system. Consequently the general health is improved.
Chronic stress has a negative impact on mental health, and body’s functionality in general. Chronic stress causes tumor development, including suppression of the natural killer cells (Salleh, 2008).
Relationship between stress and health.
Chronic stress causes negative effects to an individual .
The negative effects are in most cases psychological to an individual (Salleh, 2008).
Therefore the effects can cause serious harm to mental health.
Influence of stress on Female Migrant Domestic Workforces from Mexico.
Stress has a significant impact on the female migrant domestic workforces from Mexico. It causes various negative impacts
The first is high absenteeism, hence due to stress, the employees will develop a habit of being absent from work.
The second is high labor turnover. Stress which lead to a high average number of employees to stop working at the course of their jobs.
The third influence is poor time keeping, performance and productivity. therefore, due to stress the employees will have issues with arriving to work late, decreased levels of quality work performance and productivity (Salleh, 2008).
Influence of stress on Female Migrant Domestic Workforces from Mexico cont..
The forth is low morale and increased employee complaints. Stress will make the Mexican workers have a decreased will to work and they will develop habits of unnecessary complaints.
The last yet important is increased ill-health, accidents and incidents reports. Stress will lead to many serious illnesses to the employees due to decreased levels of immunity, caused by chronic stress
Stress management techniques.
The techniques are such as;
Exercise technique.
Relaxation and meditation techniques.
Time management technique.
They are effective techniques for stress management.
Exercise technique.
In most cases, stress is an unavoidable and inevitable part of life.
Exercising is one of the keys to alleviating stress, and one of the best methods to compensate for stress factors.
Apart from promoting the body’s general fitness, physical exercising helps in stress management, which includes life stresses, which can be emotional or tensional (Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, 2019).
Relaxation and meditation techniques.
Relaxation and meditation techniques help in the management and control of stress.
It improves the general individual health, and most importantly the mental health.
It effectively reduces the levels of stress, such that an individuals psychological or mental health is improved, hence the individuals is free from mental illnesses(Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, 2019).
Time management technique.
Time management technique helps in handling stress positively, so that you are motivated to perform well when going through daily tasks.
Therefore, good time management skills, are effective for stress control(Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, 2019).
Time management helps individuals in performing the right activities, at the right time, and in the right places.
How to apply exercise as a stress management technique.
Considering factors, such as taking a nature walk is essential as it ensures a healthy physical condition and ability to fight diseases, which may arise due to stress and other factors (Varvogli, & Darviri, 2011).
Engaging in gymnastics enables an individual to be fit, therefore the individual will be able to deal with stress when it arises.
Jogging enhance the production of endorphins, which are chemicals in the brain, which typically act as painkillers. These chemicals normally play a role in the induction of sleep, hence reduces stress.
How to apply relaxation and meditation as a stress management technique.
First, is through the autogenic training, this technique is typically based on passive awareness and concentration. No particular physical activities or exercise are involved and require absolute time and patience. It improves both physical and mental health.
The second is the biofeedback; it enables an individual to achieve control and relaxation, and effectively modify the body’s reaction by using equipment, which provides information from the body. It enables individuals to know their progress in relaxation (Varvogli, & Darviri, 2011).
The last yet important is imagery; this is the use of relaxing or pleasant images to help in calming the body and especially the mind.
How to apply time management as a stress management technique.
This is through organizing and prioritization of the existing tasks, because this prevents cases of over commitments, which are critical, because they can lead to being overscheduled (Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, 2019).
It is important to use factors such as the calendars, or maybe the daily, weekly, monthly and annual planners to help in individual commitment, as long as they are checked faithfully.
When practicing good time management, it is important to be attentive to your mental health.
Why these techniques work for Female Migrant Domestic Workforces from Mexico.
These techniques work for the female Mexican workers, including the common stressors they face.
The techniques are evidence-based, hence they ensure a complete good results if adhered to.
The techniques do not require much skills, it just depends on the will of an individual.
The techniques comprises of yoga poses, which in most cases works best for women.
How to successfully incorporate these techniques into the lives of Female Migrant Domestic Workforces from Mexico.
The techniques can be incorporated into the lives of the female migrant domestic workers through a number of different ways:
First is through creation of awareness, it can be by use of mass media to spread messages of stress management techniques.
Second, is using reliable trainers, to train the female migrant workers on stress management techniques.
How to successfully incorporate these techniques into the lives of Female Migrant Domestic Workforces from Mexico cont..
Third, is communicating or liaising with the employers to provide an extra time for the domestic workers to engage in stress management activities.
The last yet important method, is through development of free workshops and seminars for the female migrant workers from Mexico, which are focused of stress management techniques.
It is important to note that, the female migrant domestic workforce from Mexico must know the importance of the stress management techniques to effectively incorporate them.
References
Salleh, M. R. (2008). Life event, stress and illness. The Malaysian journal of medical sciences: MJMS, 15(4), 9.
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD. (2019). Stress Management Techniques: Get Tips to Improve Health. Retrieved from https://www.medicinenet.com/stress_management_techniques/article.htm#stress-management_facts
Varvogli, L., & Darviri, C. (2011). Stress management techniques: evidence-based procedures that reduce stress and promote health. Health science journal, 5(2), 74.