Literature Review

My research question is whether bad behavior and stress are linked. My objective is to explore why, when we are stressed, it is easier to make bad decisions. I aim to show a connection between childhood stress exposure and the development of destructive behaviors in adulthood, if men and women respond differently to stress regarding engaging in destructive behavior, and how stress influences decision-making, impulse control, and risk assessment.

The following are the sources I chose for my research:

Brown, H. (2011). The role of emotion in decision-making.  The Journal of Adult Protection, 13(4), 194-202.  https://doi.org/10.1108/14668201111177932

Colman, I., Garad, Y., Zeng, Y.  et al. Stress and development of depression and heavy drinking in adulthood: moderating effects of childhood trauma.  Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol  48, 265–274 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-012-0531-8

Stawski, R.S., Cichy, K.E., Witzel, D.D.  et al. Daily Stress Processes as Potential Intervention Targets to Reduce Gender Differences and Improve Mental Health Outcomes in Mid- and Later Life.  Prev Sci  24, 876–886 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-022-01444-7

The first source was found in Hunt Library and is from a peer-reviewed journal. I chose to use this source because it can add to my research topic. It examines the effect stress has on both physical and mental health and how it influences decision-making processes. It explains how stress can hinder the ability to make new and adaptable choices. It claims chronic stress disrupts brain chemistry, making evaluating the consequences and benefits of decisions challenging, potentially resulting in poor choices.

The second article was accessed through Hunt Library and is a peer-reviewed piece. I chose this article because it investigates the relationship between childhood trauma and the development of depression and heavy drinking in adulthood. The study found that childhood trauma significantly increased the odds of experiencing depression in adulthood. The risk of depression was higher for individuals who had experienced one or more traumatic events during their childhood. The study supports the stress sensitization model, which suggests that individuals who experience childhood trauma have a lower tolerance for stress in adulthood. This lower tolerance to stress makes them more susceptible to developing depression after stressful life events.

The last article was accessed through Hunts Library and is a peer-reviewed article. I chose this article because it discusses the impact of daily stress processes on mental health for men vs. women. The study acknowledges that women are at a higher risk of experiencing depression, particularly in midlife and later life, compared to men. The research aims to show how daily stressors influence mental health in men and women.