Stress has become so much a part of our daily life, as evidenced by the frequent use of terms like “stressed out.” How we perceive stress, and deal with the stressors of life, has a major impact on our health. Consequently, stress is often discussed in relation to the diagnosis and treatment of a range of conditions. In this discussion, we will focus on how we perceive and talk about stress.

After you have read the assigned materials for Module 4, please respond to the following discussion questions:
1.“Stress management” is a term that we often hear, accompanied by programs that promise to teach techniques for proactively avoiding stress as well as coping skills for dealing with situations that cause stress. Some people take advantage of stress management programs while others don’t see the value in them. Describe why an individual might choose to learn how to better manage stress from the perspectives of the Health Belief Model and the Theory of Reasoned Action.
2.What does health locus of control contribute to our perceptions of the causes of stress? Discuss how an individual’s perceived locus of control contributes to their experience of stress.
3.Stress is increasingly being discussed in terms of the role it plays in illness. What do you see as the benefit and the risks of discussing stress and its relationship to illness? Consider how stress is diagnosed and treated from the perspective of medicalization.