STRESS – Nature, Causes,

Effects
A presentation by Shrestha Ash (M.sc Psychology, Ph.D Scholar).
 STRESS:
Definition – Any type of change that causes
physical, emotional, or psychological strain. It
is the body’s response to anything that
requires attention or action.

Stress is a state of worry or mental tension

caused by a difficult situation.

Stress has been viewed as a response, a

stimulus and a transaction. How an
individual conceptualizes stress determines
his or her response, adaptation and coping
strategies.
TYPES OF STRESS:
DISTRESS is stress that negatively affects you
and EUSTRESS has a positive effect on you.
STRESS AS A RESPONSE: This model was introduced by Hans Selye (1956) describes stress as
a physiological response pattern and was captured within his General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)
model.
STRESS AS A STIMULUS: The theory of stress as a stimulus was introduced
in the 1960s, and viewed stress as a significant life event or change that demands
response, adjustment or adaptation.

Holmes & Rahe (1967) created a Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) consisting
of 42 life events scored according to the estimated degree of adjustment they would
each demand (Eg. Marriage, divorce, relocation, loss or change of job, loss of loved
one)
STRESS AS A TRANSACTION: This model refers to stress as a
dynamic process. Lazarus & Folkman, 1984, presents stress as a product of a
transaction between a person (including multiple systems: cognitive, physiological,
affective, psychological, neurological) and his or her complex environment. Stress is a
result of an interaction between individual’s characteristics, appraisals; internal and
external resources available and the environment (stressors).
Also, Kobasa et al., 1984 have developed the concept of hardiness which refers to a
pattern of personality characteristics that distinguishes people who remain healthy
under life stress compared to those who develop health problems.
DIFFERENT SOURCES OF STRESS AND ITS EFFECTS