Stress Overload
The primary focus of assessment is of Stress Overload (SO), the form of stress that has been shown through research to be predictive of poor health (Amirkhan, Landa, & Huff, 2017), lower academic achievement (Amirkhan & Kofman, 2018), and maladaptive coping mechanisms (Amirkhan & Markwordt, 2016). SO is assessed with the Stress Overload Scale (SOS; Amirkhan, 2012) or SOS-Short (Amirkhan, 2016). Get access to the scales and related files here.
Coping Strategies
Related to stress is how an individual chooses to cope with it. This lab also uses the Coping Strategy Indicator (CSI; Amirkhan, 1990) to examine the three strategies that individuals use: problem solving, avoidance, and seeking social support. This information has been used alongside of Stress Overload (SO) levels and demographics to better understand who uses which strategy and how effective it is in reducing SO. Get access to the scale and related files here.
Some projects include:
Ongoing validation of the Stress Overload Scale (SOS; Amirkhan, 2012), and investigation of the feasibility of a short version of the SOS. Updating items on the Coping Strategy Indicator (CSI; Amirkhan, 1990, 1994). Using these scales to identify incoming freshmen at risk for academic failure, and other applications.
Some projects include:
Ongoing validation of the Stress Overload Scale (SOS; Amirkhan, 2012), and investigation of the feasibility of a short version of the SOS. Updating items on the Coping Strategy Indicator (CSI; Amirkhan, 1990, 1994). Using these scales to identify incoming freshmen at risk for academic failure, and other applications.
Western Psychological Association Posters
Each year, the lab breaks into teams that analyze archival data with new hypotheses. These studies are developed, run, interpreted, then written into an abstract to submit to the Western Psychological Association (WPA) conferences. As a lab, we critique each other's abstracts and posters. Often, we present at both the CSULB Psychology Department's "Psych Day" and the WPA conference. These posters provide invaluable experience in the research process and in conference presentations. Last year, one of our lab's posters won a 2018 Psi Chi WPA Regional Research Award.
Click on the years to download the posters from this lab in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Click on the years to download the posters from this lab in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Selected publications
Amirkhan, J. H. & Velasco*, S. E. (2019). Stress overload and the new nightmare for Dreamers. Journal of American College Health. doi:10.1080/07448481.2019.1652182
Amirkhan, Bowers*, & Logan* (2019). Applying stress theory to higher education: Lessons from a study of first-year students. Studies in Higher Education. doi:10.1080/03075079.2019.1601692
Amirkhan, Urizar, & Clark* (2015). Criterion validity of a stress measure: The Stress Overload Scale. Psychological Assessment, 27, 985-996.
Amirkhan & Markwordt* (2016). Past trauma and current stress and coping: Towards a general model. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 22, 47-60.
Amirkhan (2016). A brief stress diagnostic tool: The Short Stress Overload Scale. Assessment. doi:10.1177/1073191116673173
Amirkhan, Landa*, & Huff* (2017). Seeking signs of stress overload: Symptoms and behaviors. International Journal of Stress Management. doi:10.1037/str0000066
Amirkhan, & Kofman* (2018). Stress overload as a red flag for freshman failure and attrition. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 54, 297-3018. doi:10.1016/j.cedpsych.2018.07.004
*Indicates student co-author.
Amirkhan, Bowers*, & Logan* (2019). Applying stress theory to higher education: Lessons from a study of first-year students. Studies in Higher Education. doi:10.1080/03075079.2019.1601692
Amirkhan, Urizar, & Clark* (2015). Criterion validity of a stress measure: The Stress Overload Scale. Psychological Assessment, 27, 985-996.
Amirkhan & Markwordt* (2016). Past trauma and current stress and coping: Towards a general model. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 22, 47-60.
Amirkhan (2016). A brief stress diagnostic tool: The Short Stress Overload Scale. Assessment. doi:10.1177/1073191116673173
Amirkhan, Landa*, & Huff* (2017). Seeking signs of stress overload: Symptoms and behaviors. International Journal of Stress Management. doi:10.1037/str0000066
Amirkhan, & Kofman* (2018). Stress overload as a red flag for freshman failure and attrition. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 54, 297-3018. doi:10.1016/j.cedpsych.2018.07.004
*Indicates student co-author.
Last updated: May 23, 2019