Defining stress
Published Sep 1, 2004 · R. Burton, J. Hinton
Medical Education
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Abstract
Editor – Adams notes the need for clear definitions of stress. The word is variously applied in the psychological research literature to potential stressors (i.e. external demands), to responses (e.g. physiological symptoms), and to the intervening mental state. Situations (e.g. study, examinations, monotony) have been labelled as stresses ⁄ stressors regardless of how the subject perceives them. Many researchers fail to distinguish bad stress ( distress ) and good stress ( eustress ) – thus explaining disagreement over whether stress can be beneficial. Good stress may involve challenge , which can imply a desirable, exhilarating state, but also anything tending to alter the status quo. Questionnaires may refer to stress , which presumes a common understanding of its meaning.