ABSTRACT
Although stress is a well-known and frequently experienced phenomenon, it is an elusive concept to define. Stress varies greatly from individual to individual and within the same individual stress triggers vary from day to day. It is also important to acknowledge that not all stress is bad. A certain amount of stress creates interest and challenge in our lives, which in turn can lead to positive growth. Too much stress, however, leads to negative consequences and can adversely affect health. In this chapter, stress is operationally defined as the perception of threat to one’s physical or psychological well being, and the perception that one does not have the resources to cope with this threat (1).
