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The life stress paradigm and psychological distress.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Ensel, WM; Lin, N
Published in: Journal of health and social behavior
December 1991

The paper focuses on two forces (stressors and resources) in the life stress process as they affect psychological distress. Utilizing three waves of panel data from a representative community sample in upstate New York, six causal models of the life stress process are tested with indicators of two types of stressors (social and physiological) and two types of resources (social and psychological). Both deterring and coping models are tested. Analysis shows that: (1) stressors and resources in the social environment have a direct impact on depressive symptoms, (2) social resources mediate the effects of social stressors on psychological distress, and (3) psychological resources indirectly affect distress by enhancing social resources. The critical role played by the social environment in the life stress process involving psychological distress is substantiated. The implications of these and other findings are discussed.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Journal of health and social behavior

EISSN

2150-6000

ISSN

0022-1465

Publication Date

December 1991

Volume

32

Issue

4

Start / End Page

321 / 341

Related Subject Headings

  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Stress, Psychological
  • Public Health
  • New York
  • Models, Psychological
  • Life Change Events
  • Humans
  • Causality
  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • 5205 Social and personality psychology
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Ensel, W. M., & Lin, N. (1991). The life stress paradigm and psychological distress. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 32(4), 321–341.
Ensel, W. M., and N. Lin. “The life stress paradigm and psychological distress.Journal of Health and Social Behavior 32, no. 4 (December 1991): 321–41.
Ensel WM, Lin N. The life stress paradigm and psychological distress. Journal of health and social behavior. 1991 Dec;32(4):321–41.
Ensel, W. M., and N. Lin. “The life stress paradigm and psychological distress.Journal of Health and Social Behavior, vol. 32, no. 4, Dec. 1991, pp. 321–41.
Ensel WM, Lin N. The life stress paradigm and psychological distress. Journal of health and social behavior. 1991 Dec;32(4):321–341.
Journal cover image

Published In

Journal of health and social behavior

EISSN

2150-6000

ISSN

0022-1465

Publication Date

December 1991

Volume

32

Issue

4

Start / End Page

321 / 341

Related Subject Headings

  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Stress, Psychological
  • Public Health
  • New York
  • Models, Psychological
  • Life Change Events
  • Humans
  • Causality
  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • 5205 Social and personality psychology