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A Clinical Guide to the Treatment of the Human Stress Response pp 103–126Cite as

Measurement of the Human Stress Response

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Abstract

In the final analysis, the empirical foundation of epistemology is measurement. When an unexplained phenomenon, such as a stress-related disease, is first observed, it is common to search for possible etiological factors. This search often culminates in a phenomenological theory; in this case, perhaps a theory of stress arousal and subsequent pathogenesis. On the basis of the formulated theory, for example, of stress arousal, it is then a useful next step to design an experiment in order to test the theory and any proposed relationships critical to the theory. Inherent in the design of the experiment is the designation of key variables and some means of measuring, recording, or otherwise quantifying those relevant variables. Relevant to the present discussion, this would typically involve a means of measuring the stress response and perhaps its pathological effects.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    One useful formula for correcting for the Law of Initial Values when comparing individuals is the Autonomic Lability Score (ALS; Lacey & Lacey, 1962). The ALS, a form of covariance and therefore consistent with Benjamin’s recommendation, is expressed as

    $$\text{ALS}=50+10\left[\frac{{y}_{z}-{x}_{z\text r}{}_{{}_{xy}}}{\left(1-{r}^{2}{{}^{xy}}^{{}^{0.5}}\right)}\right]$$

    where X z  =  client’s standardized prestressor autonomic level, Y z  =  client’s standardized poststressor autonomic level, and r xy  =  correlation for sample between pre- and poststressor levels.

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  1. School of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University, Severna Park, MD, USA

    George S. Everly Jr.

  2. Loyola University Mayland, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Jeffrey M. Lating

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Everly, G.S., Lating, J.M. (2013). Measurement of the Human Stress Response. In: A Clinical Guide to the Treatment of the Human Stress Response. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5538-7_5

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