PART 1
Health Locus of Control
PART 2
CONCLUSIONS
METHODS
DISCUSSION
APPENDIXES
Stress in the 90's
The Internet is the latest trendy technological breakthrough, reflective of this culture's obsession with information and commodity. Although it is a means of communication, it may cut us off from the rest of the world at the same time that it unleashes a number of communicative possibilities (see quote of Thich Nhat Hanh, introducing this paper). Some dream of a world in which they will be able to live and work virtual lives over their computers. While I recognize computers as an invaluable tool, this seems more of a nightmare to me, a pathogenic conception. I entertain this idea because I see the lack of social support which this country maintains as mirrored by such notions. Relative to collectivist nations, we are alone in our work, our institutions, and even amongst family and friends in some cases. In such a climate, one might feel socially isolated, and imagine the culture shock of individuals in this country who come from cultures which value co-operation, homogeneity and sacrifice for the in-group over individuality.
Another characteristic of this society illustrated by the growing Internet industry is the hyper attention placed on time, money, deadline, and production. If the fact that we must go it on our own is not stressful enough, this is bound to exert some influence in our lives. The general increases in stress levels for those who are discriminated against beyond this already present social isolation and fast-paced environment cannot be ignored. Nor can that fact that good health is primarily reserved for the rich and middle class (as far as access to health care, treatment, medicine, and prevention strategies go). These are just a handful of stressors which currently plague our society.
