Psychology of stress WPS-PS-PSTRC

Topics covered:
1. Introduction: course organization, course credit requirements.
2-4. Basic concepts and concepts of stress. Overview of selected stress concepts.
5. Characteristics of stress sources. Methods of measuring and reducing the negative effects of stress.
6. The impact of stress on human functioning.
7. Psychological stress: selected measurement methods.
8. Test.
9-10. Coping with stress. Effectiveness and costs of coping.
11. Methods of measuring stress coping.
12-13. Modifiers of stress coping.
14. Assessment of current behavior in the subject's natural environment - Introduction.
15. Test.

Term 2026/27_Z:

The aim of the course is to familiarize students with the theoretical foundations of stress psychology, identify and classify sources of stress, and familiarize them with diagnostic tools used in stress psychology.

Topics:
Zone 1. Introduction: course organization, course credit requirements.
Zones 2-4. Basic concepts and concepts of stress. Biological concepts of stress (homeostasis, Selye). Medical concepts of stress (salutogenetic, psychosomatic, stressful life events, life crises, positive disintegration). Psychological concepts of stress (frustration, emotional tension, threat perception, transactional stress, conservation of resources). Concepts of stress by Polish psychologists (Tomaszewski, Tyszkowa, Reykowski, Terelak, Sęk, Biela, Marek).
Zone 5. Characterizing sources of stress. Methods of measuring and reducing the negative effects of stress. Physical and chronobiological sources of stress.
Psychological sources of stress. Organizational sources of stress. Selected methods of stress measurement. Zone 6. The impact of stress on human functioning. Direct human reactions to stress (physical, emotional, behavioral changes, cognitive aspects). Reactions to chronic stress. Stress and health.
Zone 7. Psychological stress: selected measurement methods. The KPS (Knowledge of Stress) Questionnaire. The Perceived Stress Scale – PSS-10.
Zones 8-9. Coping with stress. The effectiveness and costs of coping. The concept and functions of coping with stress. Controversies surrounding these concepts.
The process of coping with stress. Strategies for coping with stress.
Coping style with stress. The effectiveness of coping with stress.
Conditions of coping with stress.
Zone 10. Methods of measuring coping with stress. The Coping Questionnaire for Stressful Situations – CISS. The Multidimensional Inventory for measuring coping with stress – COPE.
Zones 11-12. Modifiers of coping with stress. Characteristics of the person and situation as determinants of coping. Personality and styles of coping with stress as modifiers of the stress process. Temperament as a factor modifying the stress process. Personality resilience and its role in stress coping processes. The role of relaxation techniques.
Z.13. Occupational stress. Theories of occupational stress (Cox, Harrison, Kalimo, Weroński model, Karasek, Siegrist, Hobfoll, DISC strain compensation).
Occupational burnout. Personality and situational factors predisposing to and preventing burnout.
Z.14. Traumatic stress and posttraumatic stress disorder. Acute stress disorder (ASD). Characteristics of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Tools for assessing the effects of PTSD.
Z.15. Test.

(in Polish) Dyscyplina naukowa, do której odnoszą się efekty uczenia się

psychology

(in Polish) E-Learning

(in Polish) E-Learning z podziałem na grupy

(in Polish) Grupa przedmiotów ogólnouczenianych

(in Polish) nie dotyczy

Course coordinators

Halina Dubczak

(in Polish) Opis nakładu pracy studenta w ECTS

- Active participation in tutorials = 1 ECTS (30 hours); - Individual and group work aimed at preparing a presentation on a specific topic, based on literature provided by the instructor = 0.5 ECTS (15 hours); - Preparation for the colloquium = 0.5 ECTS (15 hours); (60 hours/30 = 2 ECTS credits)

Subject level

elementary

(in Polish) Punkty ECTS

2.00

Learning outcome code/codes

PS_W07 PS_W11 PS_W13 PS_U04 PS_K04

Type of subject

obligatory

Preliminary Requirements

Prerequisites: knowledge of the basics of theoretical psychology, especially in the areas of personality, emotions and motivation.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge:
LO 1; the student knows basic terminology in the field of stress psychology,
LO 2; the student has a structured understanding of the basic concepts of stress psychology,
LO 3; the student has knowledge of the most important discussions in stress psychology.

Skills:
LO 4; the student can analyze, summarize, and present scientific texts in the field of stress psychology,
LO 5; the student formulates scientific issues in the field of stress psychology orally and in writing, and is able to appropriately reconstruct and justify individual positions in the field of stress psychology,
LO 6; the student locates and utilizes reliable sources of information in the field of stress psychology,
LO 7; analyzes specific behaviors in the context of specific psychological theories, selects and utilizes research tools in stress psychology research.

Competencies:
LO 8; the student can plan and organize individual work aimed at completing a research task and learning content in the field of stress psychology,
LO 9; the student actively engages in classes by participating in discussions, formulating their own statements and providing constructive criticism.

Assessment criteria

ASSESSMENT METHODS AND CRITERIA:

Assessment: a written test and a final paper; participation and active participation in classes will also be taken into account.

Detailed assessment criteria will be provided during the first class.

Assessment Criteria:

Very good (5) - the student demonstrates a very good understanding of psychological theories regarding stress, performs very well in analyzing specific behaviors in the context of specific psychological theories, and selects and uses research tools in stress psychology research;

Good (4) - the student demonstrates a good understanding of psychological theories regarding stress, performs well in analyzing specific behaviors in the context of specific psychological theories, and selects and uses research tools in stress psychology research;

Satisfactory (3) - the student demonstrates a poor understanding of psychological theories regarding stress, performs poorly in analyzing specific behaviors in the context of specific psychological theories, and selects and uses research tools in stress psychology research;

Fail (2) - The student is unfamiliar with psychological theories regarding stress, is unable to analyze behavior in the context of specific psychological theories, and incorrectly selects and uses research tools in stress psychology research.

DESCRIPTION AND MEANING OF ECTS CREDITS (Student Workload):

- Active participation in tutorials = 1 ECTS (30 hours);
- Individual and group work aimed at preparing a presentation on a specific topic, based on literature recommended by the instructor = 0.5 ECTS (15 hours);
- Preparation for the colloquium = 0.5 ECTS (15 hours);
(60 hours/30 = 2 ECTS points)

Bibliography

Aldwin, C.M. (2007). Stress, Coping, and Development. An integrative perspective. New York-London: The Guilford Press.
Heszen, I. (2013). Psychologia stresu. Korzystne i niekorzystne skutki stresu życiowego. Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN.
Heszen-Niejodek i Z. Ratajczak (red.) (2000). Człowiek w sytuacji stresu. Problemy teoretyczne i metodologiczne. Katowice: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego.
Lazarus, R. S. (1991). Emotion and adaptation. New York: Oxford University Press.
Lazarus, R. S. (1999). Stress and emotions: a new synthesis. New York: Springer Publishing Company.
Terelak, J. F. (2001). Psychologia stresu. Bydgoszcz: Oficyna Wydawnicza Branta.
Terelak, J.F. (2008). Człowiek i stres. Koncepcje – źródła – reakcje – radzenie sobie – modyfikatory. Bydgoszcz-Warszawa: Oficyna Wydawnicza Branta.

Term 2026/27_Z:

Terelak, J.F. (2017). Stres życia: Perspektywa psychologiczna. Warszawa: Wyd. Naukowe UKSW.Terelak, J. F. (2001). Psychologia stresu. Bydgoszcz: Oficyna Wydawnicza Branta.
Terelak, J.F. (2008). Człowiek i stres. Koncepcje – źródła – reakcje – radzenie sobie – modyfikatory. Bydgoszcz-Warszawa: Oficyna Wydawnicza Branta.
Heszen-Niejodek, I. (2014). Psychologia stresu. Korzystne i niekorzystne skutki stresu życiowego. Warszawa, PWN
Heszen-Niejodek i Z. Ratajczak (red.) (2000). Człowiek w sytuacji stresu. Problemy teoretyczne i metodologiczne. Katowice: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego.
Aldwin, C.M. (2007). Stress, Coping, and Development. An integrative perspective. New York-London: The Guilford Press.
Juczyński, Z. (2012) Narzȩdzia pomiaru w promocji i psychologii zdrowia. Pracownia testów psychologicznych PTP.
Łosiak, W. (2008). Psychologia stresu. Wydawnictwa Akademickie i Profesjonalne.
Ogińska-Bulik, N., Juczyński, Z. (2008). Osobowość, stres a zdrowie. Warszawa: Difin.
Selye, H. (1977). Stres okiełznany. Warszawa: PIW.
Aldwin, C.M. (2007). Stress, Coping, and Development. An integrative perspective. New York-London: The Guilford Press.
Lazarus, R. S. (1991). Emotion and adaptation. New York: Oxford University Press.
Lazarus, R. S. (1999). Stress and emotions: a new synthesis. New York: Springer Publishing Company.

Notes

Term 2026/27_Z:

None

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of WPS-PS-PSTRC in USOSweb