Process of Stress

• Stress is not a single event; it is a process that starts from situations in the environment and ends in a particular level of stress and coping.​
• This process depends on which events a person notices, how these events are understood (appraised), and how the person reacts to them.

Stressors are events or conditions that cause stress in a person’s life.​

Important dimensions of stressors are:

• Intensity – how strong or severe the stressor is.
• Duration – how long the stressor continues.
• Predictability – whether it can be expected in advance or comes suddenly.​

These stressors can affect physical health, mental health, and social/cultural life.

People differ in how much stress they feel and how they respond to the same situation.​

The stress response depends on:

• Personality (confidence, sense of security, general attitude).
• Past experience with similar stressful situations.
• Level of frustration tolerance and stress tolerance.​

A situation may be very stressful for someone with low frustration tolerance, but not very stressful for someone who has learned to tolerate frustration.

• How stressful a situation feels depends on how the person appraises it (as controllable vs. uncontrollable, normal vs. traumatic).​
• If a person believes “I can handle this, it is part of daily life”, the stress experienced is lower.
• If a person sees the situation as uncontrollable, frightening, or traumatic, the stress experienced is higher.​
• Level of stress also depends on resources available to the person: personal skills, coping style, physical and psychological health, and social support from family and friends.

• Stress reaches the person through a systematic chain: environmental stressors → their dimensions → person’s characteristics and past experience → appraisal of situation → available resources and support → level of stress and coping outcome.​
• When stress threatens security, well‑being, and happiness, the person may need help, such as psychological counselling, medical care, the development of personal skills, social support, and other professional support.

• Stress is a process that begins with environmental stressors and ends in coping responses.
• Stressors differ in intensity, duration, and predictability.
• Individual differences (personality, past experience, tolerance level) affect how stress is felt.
• Appraisal and resources (skills, health, social support) determine the level of stress.
• Stress management may require coping skills, social support, or professional help.