Page 126 - Biobehavioral Resilence to Stress

Adaptation to Stress 103

possible to modify these alterations by subsequent supportive maternal
care giving and pharmacological interventions (Caldji et al., 1998; Kuhn &
Schanberg, 1998).
Far less is known about the effects of early environment on later neu-

robiological stress reactivity in human beings. In one study, pediatric
inpatients with previous positive separation experiences (i.e., staying with
grandparents for short periods of time) experienced less stress during their
hospital stays (Stacey, 1970). Childhood exposure to mild stress has also been
associated with reduced heart rate and blood pressure responses to distressing
laboratory tests in adolescents (Boyce & Chesterman, 1990). Further, better
psychiatric outcomes have been reported among adult natural disaster and
torture survivors who had experienced similarly traumatic events earlier
in their lives (Basoglu et al., 1997; Knight, Gatz, Heller & Bengtson, 2000;
Norris & Murrell, 1988).
The notion that manageable and controlled doses of stress can have steel-

ing or stress-inoculating effects has been incorporated into a number of clin-
ical therapeutic approaches for the treatment and/or prevention of trauma.
Using a stress inoculation-based intervention, Wells, Howard, Nowlin, and
Vargas (1986) demonstrated that surgical patients who underwent preopera-
tive stress inoculation experienced less postoperative pain and anxiety. Simi-
larly, stress-inoculation training has been found to be an eff ective treatment
for chronically stressed community residents (Long, 1985). Th e neurobio-

logical basis for stress-inoculation effects in human subjects is not yet well
understood.

Psychosocial Factors of Allostatic Load and Resilience

Psychological resilience to stress has been considered for its relationship to
numerous psychosocial variables, many of which are discussed through-
out this volume. Here, we address four psychosocial factors of particular
relevance to the neurobiological systems considered in the present chap-
ter. Although our current understanding of these factors remains incom-

plete, the existing body of literature is sufficient to suggest relationships of

interest.

Dispositional Optimism
Dispositional optimism is thought to be an important psychosocial factor

in the moderation of stress. Defined as generalized positive expectations
for the future, optimism has been associated with reduced psychiatric
symptoms upon exposure to stressful life events (Carver et al., 1999); better

12/17/2007 3:27:54 PM
CRC_71777_Ch005.indd 103 12/17/2007 3:27:54 PM
CRC_71777_Ch005.indd 103