Definition
Social stress can be broadly defined as a situation which threatens one’s relationships, esteem, or sense of belonging within a dyad, group, or larger social context. Social stress can emerge in a number of situations. Social stress can stem from difficult social interactions, for example, a conflictual or tumultuous marital or family relationship (Kiecolt-Glaser, Gouin, & Hantsoo, 2010). Social stress can also emerge in the context of evaluated performance situations, where others could be judgmental or critical, or in contexts in which one feels rejected, ostracized, or ignored (Dickerson & Kemeny, 2004). Social stress can also be more broadly construed, representing perceptions of one’s lower role or standing within a group or community.
Social stress can lead to a range of observable and measurable responses related to health outcomes (Miller, Chen, & Cole, 2009). In some cases, social stress can cause increases...
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References and Readings
Dickerson, S. S., & Kemeny, M. E. (2004). Acute stressors and cortisol responses: A theoretical integration and synthesis of laboratory research. Psychological Bulletin, 130, 355–391.
Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., Gouin, J. P., & Hantsoo, L. (2010). Close relationships, inflammation, and health. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 35, 33–38.
Lepore, S., & Revenson, T. (2007). Social constraints on disclosure and adjustment to cancer. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 1, 313–333.
Miller, G., Chen, E., & Cole, S. W. (2009). Health psychology: Developing biologically plausible models linking the social world and physical health. Annual Review of Psychology, 60, 501–524.
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Juth, V., Dickerson, S. (2013). Social Stress. In: Gellman, M.D., Turner, J.R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1005-9_283
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1005-9_283
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