ASSESSMENT OF STRESS AND COPING IN THE FA MILY - SELF-MONITORING AS ANEW APPROACH

This contribution begins with a discussion of current family stress re search with reference to their stress concept and their preference for questionnaire based methods. A new method is then presented for the c omputer aided self observation of stress experience and stress coping in families. All family members (older than 13) protocol, using a palm top computer, characteristics of their own and,other behaviour seven t imes a day according to a time and event Sampling schedule. In stress situations that are characterised by an adaptive need the ramified pro gram poses questions about individual and social coping reactions. Fir st finding of the computer and booklet version are presented concernin g objectivity, reliability and reactivity of the method. In addition, characteristic values are given for the time lag between the requested and the actual protocolling moment and for duration of the data entry . The results show that this method is capable of recording characteri stics of stress experiences in families. In conclusion, problems of th is methodology are briefly discussed, with particular attention to pos sible reactive effects.