Final answer:
The McCain et al. (2008) study indicates that stress reduction techniques, such as exercise, meditation, and biofeedback, can help manage stress and improve mental health, with exercise increasing stress resilience. Meditation is also beneficial for conditions like hypertension, anxiety disorders, sleep quality, and pain management. Stress levels differ between demographics, showing the relevance of personalized stress management strategies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The results in the McCain et al. (2008) study suggest that certain stress reduction techniques may have beneficial effects on individuals experiencing stress. Techniques such as exercise, meditation, and biofeedback have been shown to manage stress and improve overall mental health. Exercise, both aerobic and anaerobic, has been well-established to benefit physical and mental health, making physically fit individuals more resistant to the adverse effects of stress (Salmon, 2001; Everly & Lating, 2002; Cotton, 1990).
Meditative techniques, with their roots in religious practices, have grown in popularity and have been shown to help reduce blood pressure and assist in the management of hypertension, mood and anxiety disorders, as well as improve sleep quality and pain management (Brook et al., 2013; Caldwell, Harrison, Adams, Quin, & Greeson, 2010; Chen et al., 2013; Freeman et al., 2010; Vøllestad, Nielsen, & Nielsen, 2012; Reiner, Tibi, & Lipsitz, 2013). Additionally, the relaxation response technique, developed by Herbert Benson, aims at reducing sympathetic arousal and has been used effectively to treat high blood pressure (Benson & Proctor, 1994).
It is also noteworthy that stress levels can vary across demographics, with different stress patterns observed in surveys over the years, reflecting socio-economic factors and major events like the economic downturn in 2008-2009 (Cohen & Janicki-Deverts, 2012). These findings reflect the importance of stress management and the potential utility of stress reduction techniques for different individuals under varying circumstances.