Studies

• Friedman and Rosenman (1959) studied the relationship between stress and cardiovascular diseases. They assessed stress level of Type A and B with follow up on health outcomes. They found a connection between Type A behavior, chronic stress and increased risk of CVD.
• Kiercolt-Glaser (1984) studied the relationship between academic stress and immunosuppression. Took blood samples from students preparing for exams before and after to compare changes. Found immune function was suppressed due to stress.
• Rahe et al (1967) studied relationship between stress and illness using the schedule of recent experiences (SRE). 2664 marines asked to fill in SRE records of sick visits. Significant correlation found between LCU scores and illness scores. Both with positive and negative life changes.
• Kanner et al (1991) wanted to see if daily hassles are a better stress predictor than life changes. 100 participants completed hassles and uplifts scale and Hopkins syndrome checklist (measures anxiety/ depression) and Bradbum Morale scale (positive/ negative emotions (positive/ negative emotions). Found hassles are a better predictor of wellbeing than life events. 
• Johansson (1978) studied 28 manual workers in a Swedish sawmill. They identified a high-risk group (high workload, low control) and measured levels of adrenaline daily plus self-reports of job satisfaction and illness. High risk groups had high illness and high adrenaline as jobs were repetitive and constrained. 
• Marmot et al (1997) studied 10,000 UK civil servants, completed a range of questionnaires assessing workload, job control and social support. Coronary heart diseases were assessed later in life. Low job control and high workload were associated with CHD and this risk was not reduced with high levels of social support. 
• Kivimaki (2002) found that if workload or job control were considered separately, there is no effect. The combination of both makes it significant. People in lower occupational groups consider control a lesser factor. 
• Karmack et al (1990) looked at the effect of social pressure on stress by measuring blood pressure and heart rate before and after a mental task (stressor). Participants who had a close same-sex friend holding their wrist were less stressed.  
• Gunnar et al (2010) measured salivary cortisol in children 3-4 years old. Children in daycare showed higher stress levels, highest in situations of intrusive, over-controlling care. 
• Holmes and Rahe (1967) realized most patients in their doctor's clinic had recently suffered a life change. They developed the Social Readjustment Rating Scale made up of 43 life events, ranked with Life Change Units. Each LCU score could be totaled to see correlation of stress and illness. 
• Morris et al (1981) interviewed 75 women in a cancer clinic about how they express affection and emotions. Women with cancer were found to experience/ express less anger (Type C) to those without cancer.  
• Kobasa and Maddi (1977) believed that some individuals are hardier and came up with 3 characteristics to measure this: control, commitment and challenge. 
• Kobasa (1979) found that some people can cope with high levels of stress without becoming ill. They took 800 male American executives to complete SRRS and list any illnesses from last 3 years. Participants were grouped into ‘high stress and high illness’ and ‘high stress and low illness’ to complete personality tests. High stress and low illness group scored highly for hardiness characteristics. 
• Meichenbaum (1985) came up with Stress Inoculation Training to develop ways of coping with stress before it occurs and changing the through process about stressors. 
• Taylor et al (2002) came up with the theory of tend-and-befriend to explain how females respond to stress. Oxytocin (love hormone) is released during stress which is suppressed by testosterone leading to women reacting with seeking closeness whereas men respond with aggression. It is an evolution that maximizes survival of self and offspring. 
• Lazarus and Folkman (1984) developed problem and emotion coping as two styles of coping for stress. Problem focused is dealing with the problem which is preferred by men and emotion focused is reducing the stress response which is preferred by females. 
• Matud (2004) studied what people listed as their top stressor out of 3000 participants. Men listed relationship, finance and work and females said family and health as the top. 
• Nabi et al (2013) found that having more friends on Facebook was a good predictor of perception of social support, lower stress and illness. This means the opposite is true and reduced social contact in old age could be a factor for ill health.