Perceived stress, coping resources, and life satisfaction among U. S. and mexican college students: A cross-cultural study

Este artículo presenta un estudio transcultural del estrés percibido, los recursos de afrontamiento ante el mismo y la satisfacción con la vida de estudiantes universitarios en México y los Estados Unidos. 206 estudiantes universitarios de México (41 hombres y 165 mujeres) y 241 estudiantes universitarios de Estados Unidos (69 hombres y 172 mujeres) completaron la Escala de Estrés Percibido, el Inventario de Recursos para el Afrontamiento del Estrés y la Escala de Satisfacción con la Vida. El análisis de los resultados estuvo basado en un modelo transaccional del estrés, y se intentó determinar en qué medida el estrés percibido y los recursos de afrontamiento ante el mismo predicen la satisfacción con la vida. Por otro lado, se presenta una descripción comparativa de las diferencias transculturales y masculino – femeninas que fueron encontradas. Finalmente, los autores discuten la pertinencia del modelo transaccional del estrés y el uso de los tres instrumentos tanto en México como en Estados Unidos

This article presents a cross-cultural study of the perceived stress, coping resources, and life satisfaction of college students in Mexico and the United States. Two-hundred-six Mexican college students (41 males and 165 females) and 241 U.S. college students (69 males and 172 females) completed the Perceived Stress Scale, the Coping Resources Inventory for Stress, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. The analysis of the results was based on a transactional stress model, and it was intended to assess the extent to which perceived stress and coping resources predict life satisfaction. In addition, a description of the cross-cultural and male-female differences is presented. Finally, the authors discuss the appropriateness of the transactional stress model and the use of the three instruments for both Mexican and U.S. students

Health care providers' training, perceptions, and practices regarding stress and health outcomes.

In order to assess health care providers' training, perceptions, and practices regarding stress and health outcomes, a survey was administered to primary care providers in the outpatient medical clinics of a southeastern urban hospital serving a predominantly African-American indigent population. One-hundred-fifty-one of 210 providers (72%) responded. Forty-two percent of respondents reported receiving no instruction regarding stress and health outcomes during their medical/professional education. While 90% believed stress management was "very" or "somewhat" effective in improving health outcomes, 45% "rarely" or "never" discussed stress management with their patients. Respondents were twice as likely to believe that counseling patients about smoking, nutrition, or exercise was more important than counseling them about stress. Seventy-six percent lacked confidence in their ability to counsel patients about stress. The majority of respondents (57%) "rarely" or "never" practiced stress reduction techniques themselves. Belief in the importance of stress counseling, its effectiveness in improving health, and confidence in one's ability to teach relaxation techniques were all related to the probability that providers would counsel patients regarding stress. There is a need for curriculum reform that emphasizes new knowledge about stress and disease, new skills in stress reduction, and more positive beliefs about mind/body medicine and its integration into the existing health care structure.