Cross-country discrepancies on public understanding of stress concepts: evidence for stress-management psychoeducational programs

Author(s)

Souza-Talarico, Juliana Nery ^[1] ; Wan, Nathalie ^[2] ; Santos, Sheila ^[3] ; Araujo Fialho, Patricia Paes ^[4] ; Chaves, Eliane Correa ^[1] ; Caramelli, Paulo ^[4] ; Bianchi, Estela Ferraz ^[1] ; Santos, Aline Talita ^[1] ; Lupien, Sonia J. ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Med Surg Nursing, Sch Nursing, Av Dr Eneas de Carvalho Aguiar 419, BR-05403000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Montreal, Mental Hlth Res Ctr Fernand Seguin, Ctr Studies Human Stress, Hosp Louis H Lafontaine, 7401 Rue Hochelaga, Montreal, PQ H1N 3M5 - Canada

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Heart, Hosp Clin, Av Dr Eneas de Carvalho Aguiar, BR-05403000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Fed Minas Gerais, Dept Internal Med, Behav & Cognit Neurol Unit, Fac Med, Av Prof Alfredo Balena 190, BR-30130100 Belo Horizonte, MG - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: BMC Psychiatry; v. 16, JUN 3 2016.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Background: Negative effects of stress have pose one of the major threats to the health and economic well being of individuals independently of age and cultural background. Nevertheless, the term ``stress{''} has been globally used unlinked from scientificevidence-based meaning. The discrepancies between scientific and public stress knowledge are focus of concern and little is know about it. This is relevant since misconceptions about stress may influence the effects of stress-management psychoeducational programs and the development of best practices for interventions. The study aimed to analyze stress knowledge among the Canadian and Brazilian general public and to determine the extent to which scientific and popular views of stress differ between those countries. Methods: We evaluated 1156 healthy participants between 18 and 88 years of age recruited from Canada (n = 502) and Brazil (n = 654). To assess stress knowledge, a questionnaire composed of questions regarding stress concepts ({''}stress is bad{''} versus ``stress-free life is good{''}) and factors capable of triggering the stress response ({''}novelty, unpredictability, low sense of control and social evaluative threat versus ``time pressure, work overload, conflict, unbalance and children{''}) was used. Results: Both Canadian and Brazilian participants showed misconceptions about stress and the factors capable of triggering a stress response. However, the rate of misconceptions was higher in Brazil than in Canada (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest a lack of public understanding of stress science and its variance according to a country's society. Psychoeducational programs and vulnerability of stress-related disorder are discussed. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 03/14041-9 - Stress effect on cognitive and functional performance of elderly people with Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment
• Grantee: Eliane Corrêa Chaves
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants