Stress and coping in the context of psychoneuroimmunology: a holistic framework for nursing practice and research

Nurses who specialize in mental health routinely deal with stress and coping as priority issues. Yet there has been no consensus on an overriding framework for organizing and interpreting knowledge concerning the influences of stress on health and well-being. In addition, stress-management interventions have often been piecemeal. This article surveys traditional and emerging conceptualizations of stress and stress management, with a special focus on the transactional model and psychoneuroimmunology as complementary integrative frameworks. The authors recommend a comprehensive approach for stress management that includes behavioral, cognitive, and combination strategies for active coping as well as cognitive-behavioral techniques for relaxation.