Effective: 2022-05-01

Course Description

The course outline below was developed as part of a statewide standardization process.

General Course Purpose

HLT 215 explores basic concepts of personal stress and identifies personal stress management strategies.

Course Objectives

• Communication
• Communicate openly and accurately with others regarding the stress response and techniques for managing stress
• Critical Thinking
• Recognize the importance of taking a preventative approach to managing stress
• Explore and evaluate strategies for managing time and financial stressors
• Describe the interaction between mind and body in response to stress
• Compare and contrast characteristics of healthy and unhealthy responses to stress
• Social and Cultural Understanding
• Apply communication and conflict resolution techniques to manage stressors in personal and professional relationships
• Information Literacy
• Select and utilize credible sources of health information
• Personal Development
• Develop and employ a personalized plan to manage stress
• Assess personal goals, time and financial management skills
• Recognize the role of emotions and perception in managing stress
• Explore a variety of relaxation techniques for mind and body
• Utilize techniques for managing existing sources of stress
• Develop and employ a personalized plan to manage stress
• Defining Stress
• Define the terms stress and stressor
• Explain the difference between eustress and distress
• Differentiate between duration and degree with respect to stress
• Differentiate between acute and chronic stress
• Describe the dimensions of health/wellness
• Classify stressors into the dimensions of wellness
• Describe homeostasis and the impact of stress on homeostasis
• Explain the fight-or-flight response
• Share personal examples of the fight or flight response
• Describe the phases of the General Adaptation Syndrome
• Recognize examples of the phases of the General Adaptation Syndrome
• Formulate an explanation of how human response to stress has changed over time
• Define the Yerkes Dodson principle
• Discuss a variety of theories related to stress (life events, daily hassles, tend and befriend, hardiness, Dynamic Systems Theory (DST)
• Given a situation, provide examples of each of the three approaches to a stressor
• Assess their current stress levels based on a variety of stress assessments
• Determine needed actions based on results of the stress assessments
• Identify primary and secondary sources for stress in their life
• Define why stress is a problem
• Explain how stress is both a stimulus and response
• Describe Allostasis and why it is detrimental to long-term health
• Identify the Transactional Model of Stress
• Mind, Body and Stress
• Identify the biological mechanisms of stress in the body's systems (*Endocrine, circulatory, respiratory, immune, digestive, etc.)
• Explain physiological and psychological indicators of stress
• Identify major fight or flight responses in the body
• Discuss the role of the CNS and Limbic system in stress response
• Identify the physiological HPA process of stress in the body
• Describe the role of Cortisol in the body in its relation to a perceived threat
• Explore the role of Dopamine as a motivator of stress response
• List the physiological changes associated with the stress response
• Identify the stages of the General Adaptation Syndrome
• Explain how the science of stress relates to stress management and prevention
• Describe the role of stress in disease
• Discuss how stress can affect each of the body systems
• Discuss various diseases associated with stress
• Explain the relationship between stress and the immune response
• Explain the terms psychosomatic, placebo effect, and nocebo effect as they relate to the relationship between mind and body
• Values and Goals
• Define the term value
• Describe the processes of values acquisition and values clarification
• Discuss values of various cultures
• Clarify and prioritize the values most important in your life
• Define the terms Niagara Syndrome, dharma, and altruism as they relate to values
• Explain the connection between values clarification and stress management
• Differentiate between a value and a priority
• Establish their own "top ten list" of priorities
• Describe the components of the "SMART" acronym of goal writing
• Based on their goals, establish a set of goals that meet the "SMART" criteria
• Time Management
• Access how they spend their time
• Identify time management strategies to complete undesirable tasks
• Identify and apply methods to overcome procrastination
• Explain how to delegate tasks as a time management
• Describe the ABC123 and Quadrant Planning techniques
• Classify tasks based on the ABC123 and Quadrant Planning techniques
• Distinguish between principles of life balance and serendipity
• Explain Pareto's Law (the 80:20 rule) and how it relates to time management
• Select time management techniques that work for them
• Reduce their stress by being more efficient and effective
• Define procrastination and describe how it keeps them from completing tasks
• Communication and Conflict
• Define communication styles to include assertive, aggressive and non-assertive
• Recognize differences in body language for each communication style
• Explain the benefits of assertiveness
• List attributes of assertive body language
• List and explain the "six steps" for effective verbal communication
• Apply the "six steps" for effective verbal communication to communication scenarios
• Define conflict
• Discuss the benefits and detriments of conflict
• Identify five styles of conflict management
• Describe attributes of each style of conflict management
• Explain situations in which each style of conflict management is best used
• Demonstrate use of each conflict negotiation style
• Emotions and Relationships
• Describe the connection between social support and stress
• Describe the types of social support
• Explain how effective listening is the key to healthy communication you statements vs. I statements
• Differentiate between verbal and non-verbal communication
• Discuss how different genders handle stress
• Explain how negative emotions such as guilt, worry, fear, anger, and hostility relate to stress
• Describe the physiological manifestations of certain emotions
• Distinguish between guilt and worry
• Explain the differences between anger and hostility
• Take action to prevent and control stress-causing emotions
• Define Emotional Intelligence, and how it relates to stress and communication
• Perception and Cognitive Methods
• Define perception and the impact of perceptions on our experience with stress
• Describe cognitive appraisal and cognitive restructuring
• Describe how the hardiness characteristics of commitment, challenge and control can be developed to facilitate a more positive perception
• Define locus of control and describe its relationship to stress
• Recognize and distinguish between examples of internal and external locus of control
• Define and provide personal examples of conditioned response
• Define and distinguish among cognitive dissonance, cognitive distortion and cognitive restructuring
• Define thought-stopping, personalizing, positive self-talk and power language
• Distinguish among self esteem, self awareness, self efficacy and self-limiting beliefs
• Recognize examples of cognitive techniques of stress management
• Apply cognitive techniques to personal situations
• Identify and distinguish among the seven levels of response (effective and ineffective)
• Identify their thought patterns that have positive or negative effects on stress response
• Financial Matters
• Explain the ABCs of money management
• Create and implement a plan for financial fitness
• Set financial goals to reduce money-related stress
• Discuss how doodads and credit cards contribute to financial stress
• Investigate what the research says about the relationship between money and satisfaction in life
• Healthy Behaviors
• Explain the health and stress-relieving benefits of a balanced exercise program
• Describe the components of a healthy diet
• Explain the impact of stress on nutritional needs and body fat
• Assess the amount of sleep they require
• Explain unhealthy coping strategies, including negative effects of tobacco, alcohol and drugs
• Incorporate healthy lifestyle habits into their life to reduce and eliminate stress
• Describe the relationship of sleep and stress
• Identify digital detoxification strategies
• Describe the impact of stress and being around positive and/or negative individuals
• Spirituality and Healing Methods for Stress Reduction Environments
• Describe the influence of spirituality on stress
• Differentiate between religiosity and spirituality
• Discuss the research linking spirituality and health
• Summarize the barriers to research on spirituality
• Delineate the five qualities of spiritual health
• Develop a personal plan to reduce stress through spiritual balance
• Describe what is meant by a "healing environment"
• Describe the role our senses play in both stress induction and stress reduction
• Describe the role of the aesthetic qualities of surroundings in creating a healing environment
• Explain how a healing environment helps to prevent stress
• Evaluate their personal level of technostress
• Explain how technology can be managed to prevent stress
• Physical Methods for Stress Reduction
• Describe the purpose and types of progressive relaxation
• Outline the steps in various progressive relaxation techniques
• Define and recognize examples of biofeedback
• Describe the purpose of and types of yoga
• Compare and contrast various deep breathing techniques
• Differentiate among the different types and techniques of massage
• Recognize and discuss the health and stress relief benefits of various relaxation techniques for the body
• Describe precautions for various relaxation techniques for the body
• Locate resources to assist with select relaxation techniques
• Practice/experience select relaxation techniques for the body
• Recognize and discuss the health and stress relief benefits of physical activity for the body
• Psychological Methods for Stress Reduction
• Explain the mind-body connection in relaxation and stress reduction
• Describe mindfulness
• Explain the types of meditation (Transcendental, MBSR, Visual, Walking)
• Describe the elements of a meditative process
• Describe the physical, emotional and psychological benefits to meditation
• Describe the purpose, benefits and precautions of aromatherapy
• Describe the process of guided imagery
• Explain how laughter can be used to cope with stress
• Explain how and why music can be used to cope with stress
• Recognize and discuss the health and stress relief benefits of various relaxation techniques for the mind
• Describe precautions for various relaxation techniques for the mind
• Locate resources to assist with select relaxation techniques
• Practice/experience select relaxation techniques for the mind
• Discuss how "me" time can be used to cope with stress

Major Topics to be Included

• Defining Stress
• Mind, Body and Stress
• Values and Goals
• Time Management
• Communication and Conflict
• Emotions and Relationships
• Perception and Cognitive Methods
• Financial Matters
• Healthy Behaviors
• Spirituality and Healing Methods for Stress Reduction Environments
• Physical Methods for Stress Reduction
• Psychological Methods for Stress Reduction