Daily hassels AQA AS Psy

1. Psychology Notes: Daily hassles:
A daily hassle is an every day irritation that produces an overall elevated stress. When
they build up they can cause a risk of illness.
E.g. getting the bus, driving in traffic and certain aspects of work.
Kanner et al (1981): 117 daily hassles and 135 daily uplifts (thing that you enjoy such
as eating and watching TV). 100 men and women aged 45-64 over a 1 year period.
Confirmed that hassles correlated with illness and undesirable psychological problems
more than life events.
Evaluation of study:
It was a longitudinal study. 12 months
Covers lots of uplifts and hassles on the scale.
The sample was small.
Age bias so is not representative of the wider population.
No data collected on life changes and results for daily uplifts was
inconclusive.
Over all evaluation:
Practical applications to provide effective stress management and prevent
illness in the work place.
Someone who has had a large life change may be more affected by the daily
hassles and illness than someone who hasn’t.
Studies are memory dependant and could be incorrect.
What is a daily hassle? Is it a long term daily hassle or chronic stress?