Final Project: Case Study

Final Project: Case Study

Caesar M. Blanco

PSY 210

Chantell Hines

November 01, 2009

Case Study #1

Jennifer is a 29-year-old administrative assistant married to Antonio, an Italian engineer,

whom Jennifer met four years earlier while on a business trip for her marketing company. The

couple now lives in Nebraska, where Antonio works for the county's transportation

department and Jennifer commutes an hour each way to her marketing office. They have been

trying to start a family for over a year. Eight months ago, Jennifer miscarried in her second

month of pregnancy. Antonio's parents love Jennifer and often ask her if she is expecting

again, hoping to encourage her to focus on her next baby. Jennifer's mother passed away two

years ago and her father's health is rapidly deteriorating. Jennifer faces the probability of

placing her father in a skilled nursing care facility within the next few months, against his

wishes.

At work, Jennifer runs a tight ship. She is organized and prepares lists to assure that

everything is done according to schedule. Everyone counts on Jennifer and she takes pride in

never letting people down.

Jennifer has visited her physician numerous times in the last six months, complaining of

headaches, backaches, and indigestion. Jennifer insists that she is happy and is not feeling

stressed, yet she finds herself making more mistakes at work, unable to keep up with

housework, and feeling tired and overwhelmed; she has begun to question her effectiveness as

an employee, wife, daughter, and potential mother. Her pains seem to be increasing, but her

doctor cannot find a physical cause for her discomfort.

(Axia College of University of Phoenix, n.d., p. 2)

What are the causes of stress in Jennifer’s life? How is stress affecting Jennifer’s health?

According to Nevid and Rathus (2005), stress is any “event that exerts...