Module Six
Module Six
Stress and community health. Definition and nature, Type of stressors, stress appraisal, coping with stress, psychological moderators of stress (Hardiness, social support and optimism)
Meaning and Definition of Stress
Meaning and Definition of Stress
Meaning of Stress
Stress refers to the physical, psychological, and emotional response of an individual to demands or pressures (stressors) that disturb the individual's equilibrium.
Several psychologists have defined stress:
Hans Selye:
Stress is the non-specific response of the body to any demand placed upon it.
Richard Lazarus and Susan Folkman:
Stress is a relationship between the individual and the environment that is appraised by the individual as taxing or exceeding their resources and endangering well-being.
Sarafino (Health Psychology):
Stress is a condition that results when a person perceives that the demands of a situation exceed their personal and social resources.