Agawa, Carrianne
2.62 MB of textual records (PDF)
Audience: Undergraduate. -- Dissertation: Thesis (B. A.). -- Algoma University, 2003. -- Submitted in partial fulfillment of course requirements for PSYC 4105. -- Includes tables and questionnaires. -- Contents: Literature review / Thesis.
Optimism and laughter serve as buffers to the negative aspects of stress; the current study examined potential differences in these effects between aboriginal and non-aboriginal populations. Participants included 36 university and college students; 14 were aboriginal and 22 were non-aboriginal. Participants were given a Life Orientation Test - Revised (LOT-R) by Scheier & Carver (1985) to assess optimism, a 5 minute stress induction and a Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) to assess current mood after the stress induction and after the video condition. Both positive and negative affect dropped significantly in the non-humourous condition. In the humourous condition negative affect dropped significantly but positive affect did not. Aboriginals were found to be slightly more optimistic than non-aboriginals. A discussion follows in regards to further areas of research.
