PSBB080 Stress management & Mindfulness

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2024
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Bc. Lucie Robošová (lecturer), PhDr. Zuzana Slováčková, Ph.D. (deputy)
Mgr. Filip Kňažek (assistant), PhDr. Zuzana Slováčková, Ph.D. (deputy)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Hana Přikrylová Kučerová, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Jarmila Valchářová
Supplier department: Department of Psychology – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Fri 4. 10. 9:00–16:40 C51, Sat 5. 10. 9:00–16:50 C51, Sun 6. 10. 9:00–16:50 C51
Prerequisites
The course is primarily intended for psychology students at the FF MU. Given that it is an introduction to the topic of stress and mindfulness, the course is particularly suitable for first-year students. Course participants do not need to have any previous knowledge and skills in this area. The subject is taught in the Czech language. Some (optional) educational resources are listed in English. The course takes place irregularly during the semester.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 17/20, only registered: 3/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to acquire basic theoretical knowledge and practical skills for managing personal and work (academic) stress in students. The subject also aims to support the integration of non-formal education methods into university teaching, to support the social skills of students, to increase their proactivity and to act preventively against the development of burnout syndrome.

Learning outcomes
After successfully completing the course, students will be able to:

- identify stress, individual manifestations of stress and their functions
- understand the basic mechanisms by which stress can lead to diseases
- take a critical look at the role of stress in a wider context (bio-psycho-socio-spiritual approach)
- name and communicate one's own manifestations of stress
- independently use basic stress management techniques (breathing techniques, relaxation, imagination, mindfulness and movement exercises, cognitive techniques) and self-reflective methods
- work more effectively and consciously with stressful life situations
- orient themselves in resources that can be used to help themselves or help others

The outcomes of the course largely depend on the personal commitment of individual students and their willingness to use the knowledge and skills acquired within the course in their lives.

Syllabus

  • In the autumn semester 2024, teaching will take place as follows:

  • - a 3-day block lesson will take place first (face-to-face, from Friday 4 October to Sunday 6 October)
  • - the following weeks will be devoted to practicing the learned skills, completing tasks and individual consultations (if needed)
  • - then the final meeting will take place (we will agree on the course of this meeting on the weekend)

    The content and order of the weekend lessons is indicative and may vary according to the current needs of the group:

  • 1. Introduction to stress – What is stress? How does it manifest itself and what is it for? What is the mechanism of the acute stress response? How does the disease develop on the basis of chronic stress? What does the role of stress look like in the broader context?
  • 2. Mindfulness, resilience and coping mechanisms – What is mindfulness and where does it have its roots? In what ways can mindfulness be practiced in everyday life? What is resilience and what is it shaped by? What are the coping mechanisms of stress and their consequences?
  • 3. Breath, the 4A's of stress management – What types of breath are there? What breathing techniques can be used when working with stress? What does hyperventilation and panic attack look like, and what to do about them? How to reflect on a stressful situation and come to a solution?
  • 4. Thought traps, stress in the social context and prevention of burnout – What thought traps do we fall into? How to deal with them? How to use positive affirmations? What roles do we take in relation to others? How to prevent burnout by working with roles?
  • 5. Movement, imagination and relaxation – How to combine movement and mindfulness? How to use imagination to reduce stress and promote health? How to induce relaxation?
  • 6. Nature – What effect does nature have on human health? What is forest bathing? How to take a conscious walk?
Literature
    recommended literature
  • Principles and practice of stress management. Edited by Omer Van den Bergh - Paul M. Lehrer - Robert L. Woolfolk. Fourth edition. New York: The Guilford Press, 2021, xvi, 672. ISBN 9781462545117. info
  • Harkness, Kate L., and Elizabeth P. Hayden (eds), The Oxford Handbook of Stress and Mental Health, Oxford Library of Psychology (2020; online edn, Oxford Academic, 7 June 2018), https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190681777.001.0001
  • Folkman, Susan (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Stress, Health, and Coping, Oxford Library of Psychology (2010; online edn, Oxford Academic, 18 Sept. 2012), https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195375343.001.0001
    not specified
  • John A. Romas, Manoj Sharma. (2017). Practical Stress Management: A Comprehensive Workbook (7th edition, 236 s.) Academic Press, Elsevier Inc
  • PEŠEK, Tomáš et. al. Slabikář neformálního vzdělávání. Vydání první. Asociace neformálního vzdělávání (ANEV), 2019. 192 stran. ISBN: 978-80-907579-1-2 (online ; PDF). https://www.slabikarnfv.eu/cs
Teaching methods
Lessons are interactive in nature. Emphasis is placed on the acquisition of knowledge, critical thinking, practical skills, self-experience and self-reflection. Active participation in individual and group exercises with subsequent analysis is required.

Assessment methods

Requirements for obtaining credit for the course:

1. Full and active participation in at least 5 of the 6 weekend lessons and participation in the final meeting
2. Completion of all tasks in the  interactive syllabus (including completion of an online written evaluation of the entire course)

Language of instruction
Czech
Study support
https://is.muni.cz/auth/el/phil/podzim2024/PSBB080/index.qwarp
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught each semester.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2024/PSBB080