Stress inoculation therapy

• What is a strength of SIT in treating stress?

  It is effective in treating a variety of different stressors.
• How did Meichenbaum (1977) compare SIT with systematic desensitization?

  He compared them as treatments for phobias of snakes.
• What was the finding of Meichenbaum's study regarding SIT and systematic desensitization?

  Both reduced the phobia, but SIT was better for dealing with a second phobia.
• Why is the ability of SIT to prepare patients for future stressful situations significant?

  It helps clients cope with both current and future problems.
• In what types of situations has SIT been shown to be effective?

  In medical procedures and academic stress.
• How does SIT compare to biological approaches to managing stress?

  SIT is a useful psychological alternative to biological approaches.
• What is a strength of SIT in treating stress?

  SIT gives clients skills and confidence to cope with future problems.
• How does SIT differ from drug therapy in addressing stress?

  SIT addresses underlying problems and prepares for future difficulties.
• Why is the focus on skills acquisition in SIT significant?

  It provides long-lasting effectiveness against future stressors.
• What does the effectiveness of SIT suggest about its role in stress management?

  SIT is an effective alternative to biological approaches.
• How can SIT be viewed in terms of its usefulness?

  SIT can be viewed as incredibly useful.
• What is a weakness of SIT as a way to treat stress?

  It is time-consuming and requires high motivation.
• How many sessions does SIT typically take when dealing with clinical disorders according to Meichenbaum (2007)?

  8–15 sessions, plus follow-up sessions over as much as a year.
• Why might the time required for SIT be a concern for some individuals?

  It may be longer than some people wish to invest.
• What is a reason some people may not complete SIT therapy?

  They do not like to discuss their feelings and do not want to change their thinking.
• How does the effectiveness of SIT change if individuals do not complete the therapy?

  Its effectiveness is considerably reduced.
• What is a weakness of SIT as a way to treat stress?

  It is unnecessarily complex
• What is a conclusion about the suitability of SIT for treating stress?

  Although effective, SIT might not be suitable for everyone.
• Why might SIT be effective according to researchers?

  It may be due to learning to talk more positively and relax more
• What is a long-lasting effect of SIT compared to short-term treatments like drug therapy?

  SIT provides long-lasting effects.
• What are the key characteristics of SIT as a treatment for stress?

  • Time-consuming
  • Requires high motivation
  • 8–15 sessions for clinical disorders
  • May not be suitable for everyone
  • Provides long-lasting effects
• How does relaxation affect the sympathetic nervous system?

  Relaxation reduces activity in the sympathetic nervous system
• What implication does the complexity of SIT have on its effectiveness?

  The range of activities involved in SIT could be reduced without losing much effectiveness
• What validity issues arise from research on SIT's components?

  There are validity issues suggesting that all components of SIT are required to treat stress