A theory that can be applied to the factors that influence a laboring mother's choice of pain control is a borrowed theory. A borrowed theory is synonymous with the rubber ball. A rubber band ball is made up of many rubber bands wrapped around each other to form a ball. Borrowed theory is information (elastics) gathered from different disciplines and incorporated into nursing practice (elastics). The most applicable borrowed theory would be Richard Lazarus' theory of stress, coping, and adaptation. “Lazarus theory deals with how a person copes with stressful situations” (McEwen & Wills, 2011, p. 288). This theory is classified under stress theories. “Stress theories provide nursing with a framework for understanding the effects of stress on the individual and how the individual responds to stressful situations or life events” (McEwen & Wills, 2011, p. 287) . The stressful situation identified is that of a woman going through the different stages of labor and experiencing the pain that accompanies them. Richard Lazarus was a highly educated, award-winning psychology professor (PhD) and book author. He specialized in “emotion theory and research, health psychology or behavioral medicine, personality and social psychology, clinical psychology research, stress and adaptation theory” (Lazarus, Richard S., 2002). Several of Lazarus' influences range from research to checklists to projects that are all stress-related. He worked with several others during the research phase of his career. For example, "...he researched autonomous discrimination without awareness (which he and McCleary called subception), hunger and perception, projective testing, perceptual defense (with Eriksen), and motivation and cognition.... middle of article ......c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#db=mmt&AN=TIP07002744Kolcaba, K., Dowd, T., Steiner, R., & Mitzel, A. (2004). Effectiveness of hand massage to improve the comfort of patients in palliative care. Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care, 6(2), 91-102. Retrieved from http://ehis.ebscohost.com.library.gcu.edu:2048/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=12&sid=2de162ef-afff-4a48-8415-83dcedf9530a%40sessionmgr110&hid=104Lazarus, Richard S. (2002) . In Biographical Dictionary of Psychology. Retrieved from http://library.gcu.edu:2048/login?qurl=http%3A2F%2Fwww.credoreference.com/entry/routbiopsy/lazarus_richard_sLazarus, RS and Folkman, S. (1987). Transactional theory and research on emotions and coping. European Journal of Personality, 1(3), 141-169. Retrieved from http://ehis.ebscohost.com.library.gcu.edu:2048/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=4&sid=6af88033-cdff-4c3b-8b49-dadc2d302c35%40sessionmgr4004&hid=4105