ABSTRACT
Stress is widespread and media coverage suggests that it causes illness. In this chapter we will examine how stress is studied and how it is linked to disease. We will consider evolutionary perspectives on stress in preparing humans for fight or flight as well as more contemporary views. Building on Chapter 2, we discuss a model of physiological responses to stress leading to the long-term health impact of stress, known as allostatic load. We then explore different measures of stress including life events such as marriage, divorce or bereavement and daily hassles such as losing one’s keys. We discuss these in terms of Lazarus’ Transactional Theory of Stress (1966, 1999, Lazarus and Folkman, 1984). Finally, we discuss Conservation of Resources theory (Hobfoll, 1989, 2001).
