Put your stress knowledge to the test

What is stress?

• A. A state induced by time pressure and greater demands than we have resources

  The right answer is B. Although time pressure and limited resources contribute to one’s experience of stress, they do not define nor cause stress. After all, some people perform best when under extreme time pressure while others crack under it. In biological and psychological terms, stress is the end result or a state brought on by events or circumstances an individual interprets as stressful. Because individual’s perceptions differ, stress is therefore a highly personal and individual phenomenon. You will see as you go along why it is impossible to describe stress in a nutshell.

• B. The body’s response to a stressful situation coupled with the feelings or emotions (e.g. tension, worry, anxiety, sadness, etc) these situations bring about.
  Good answer! Although time pressure and limited resources contribute to one’s experience of stress, they do not define nor cause stress. After all, some people perform best when under extreme time pressure while others crack under it. In biological and psychological terms, stress is the end result or a state brought on by events or circumstances an individual interprets as stressful. Because individual’s perceptions differ, stress is therefore a highly personal and individual phenomenon. You will see as you go along why it is impossible to describe stress in a nutshell.
   

According to you, what are the 4 most important characteristics that induce stress?

• A. Novelty, low sense of control, unpredictability, threat to the ego
  Good answer! Although stress is an individual experience, the factors that render something stressful are universal. In other words, they will reliably induce a stress response in everyone. In fact, don’t go N.U.T.S trying to figure them out! They are Novelty, Unpredictability, Threat to your self-image or EGO, and poor Sense of control.
  
• B. Conflict, work overload, time pressure, expectations from others
  The right answer is A. Although stress is an individual experience, the factors that render something stressful are universal. In other words, they will reliably induce a stress response in everyone. In fact, don’t go N.U.T.S trying to figure them out! They are Novelty, Unpredictability, Threat to your self-image or EGO, and poor Sense of control.  Take a minute and see how the examples given involve NUTS. For instance, work overload can be caused by having too many new (novelty) things thrown at you, an unexpected deadline (unpredictability), cutbacks resulting in you having to do things that are outside of your usual area of expertise that make you doubt your ability to complete them (threat to the ego), all of the above can decrease your sense of control over your work situation.

Stress is bad.

• True
  Both answers are right! A certain amount of stress is required for the optimal functioning of all of our bodily systems and our brain in particular. Problems can arise when there is too much stress over an extended period of time. Therefore learning to keep a healthy balance is the key. 
• False
  Both answers are right! A certain amount of stress is required for the optimal functioning of all of our bodily systems and our brain in particular. Problems can arise when there is too much stress over an extended period of time. Therefore learning to keep a healthy balance is the key. 

According to you, out of adults and children, who is more susceptible to be stressed on a daily basis? 

• A. Adults
  The right answer is B. If the popular definitions of stress were correct, then children should not be stressed. After all, they do not experience time pressure, work overload, and a lack of balance between resources and demands as do adults. But, children are also vulnerable to stress, in fact studies have shown that children living in lower income households and as young a 6 years of age have elevated stress hormone levels when compared to other children of the same age living in more financially comfortable homes. 
• B. Children
  Right answer! If the popular definitions of stress were correct, then children should not be stressed. After all, they do not experience time pressure, work overload, and a lack of balance between resources and demands as do adults. But, children are also vulnerable to stress, in fact studies have shown that children living in lower income households and as young a 6 years of age have elevated stress hormone levels when compared to other children of the same age living in more financially comfortable homes. 

According to you, out of adults and elderly individuals, who is more susceptible to be stressed on a daily basis? 

• A. Adults
  The right answer is B. If the popular definitions of stress were correct, then the elderly should not be stressed. After all, they do not experience time pressure, work overload and a lack of balance between resources and demands as do younger adults. Studies have shown however, that the elderly are particularly vulnerable to the effects of stress. One study followed a group of older adults over a period of 4 years and found that for 30% of the participants stress hormone levels increased every year. This same 30% of the sample performed poorly on memory tests and also had a smaller hippocampus, an important brain region in learning and memory that is the first to be affected in Alzheimer's disease.
• B. Elderly
  Good answer! If the popular definitions of stress were correct, then the elderly should not be stressed. After all, they do not experience time pressure, work overload and a lack of balance between resources and demands as do younger adults. Studies have shown however, that the elderly are particularly vulnerable to the effects of stress. One study followed a group of older adults over a period of 4 years and found that for 30% of the participants stress hormone levels increased every year. This same 30% of the sample performed poorly on memory tests and also had a smaller hippocampus, an important brain region in learning and memory that is the first to be affected in Alzheimer's disease.

Women are more likely than men to develop a depression related to stress. 

• True
  Good answer! High levels of stress hormones have been linked to depression. Numerous studies have shown that women are twice as likely to develop depression as are men. Scientists do not yet know exactly why this might be the case but they are getting closer everyday to finding out. For instance, we know that stress hormones interact with the hormone estrogen such that when estrogen levels are low stress hormone levels are high. Studies have also shown that life experiences, especially early life events, play a very large role in the development of depression. 
• False
  The right answer is True. High levels of stress hormones have been linked to depression. Numerous studies have shown that women are twice as likely to develop depression as are men. Scientists do not yet know exactly why this might be the case but they are getting closer everyday to finding out. For instance, we know that stress hormones interact with the hormone estrogen such that when estrogen levels are low stress hormone levels are high. Studies have also shown that life experiences, especially early life events, play a very large role in the development of depression. 

Being totally stress-free is a good thing.

• True
  The right answer is False. We need a certain amount of stress to survive and to function normally. Take memory for instance, low levels of the stress hormone cortisol results in poor memory performance. In fact, years of research have shown that having too little stress can be just as bad as having too much stress.
• False
  Good answer! We need a certain amount of stress to survive and to function normally. Take memory for instance, low levels of the stress hormone cortisol results in poor memory performance. In fact, years of research have shown that having too little stress can be just as bad as having too much stress.

Stress can cause obesity, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, physical pain, depression, problems with digestion, alcool and drug abuse, attentional problems, flu and insomnia. 

• True
  The right answer is false. Stress does not directly cause any of the above, but stress and stress hormones certainly affect the development, the progression, or the outcome of each and every one. 
• False
  Good answer! Stress does not directly cause any of the above, but stress and stress hormones certainly affect the development, the progression, or the outcome of each and every one.