ABSTRACT
Stress is widely recognized by health professionals, public policy makers, and corporate medical planners as a significant health factor. It is estimated that 60% to 90% of visits to health-care professionals are for stress-related disorders (Cummings & VandenBos, 1981; Elite, 1986). Both basic and clinical experimental research have determined stress to be a major factor in a wide range of conditions including hypertension, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal disorders, tension and vascular headaches, low-back pain, and decreased immunological functioning with its implications for susceptibility to disorders ranging from colds and flus to cancer and AIDS (Pelletier, 1977; Pelletier & Herzing, 1988).
