Stress has long been understood as an intricate and prevalent phenomenon with both adverse and constructive consequences, impacting people across diverse domains and life stages. Drawing from established psychological theories, this essay recognises stress as a complex force, delving into the determinants of its manifestation, while exploring its dual nature as both detrimental and beneficial influence.
The contemporary biopsychosocial model of stress (Rith-Najarian et al., 2014) and Lazarus and Folkman’s transactional model (1984) highlight stress’s adaptive facet, which is triggered when individuals manage and assess challenges within their coping framework. Neurologically we see the hippocampus, a crucial brain region, discerning stress types (McEwen & Morrison, 2013). Stress can spur individuals to solve problems, act and become motivated, foster personal growth, performance and build resilience. Denoted as ‘eustress’ (Hargrove et al., 2013).
Activation and process of the physiological stress response cultivates effective coping mechanisms and adaptation to changing circumstances, offering invaluable learning opportunities for skill acquisition and personal growth (Laine & Shansky, 2022). This adaptive perspective perceives stress as integral to life, offering ongoing room for human development.
Conversely, stress can also be maladaptive. Persistent overwhelming of an individual’s coping resources leads to chronic stress, with a sustained activation of the stress response adversely affecting physical and mental health. Allostatic load, the stress response’s wear and tear can influence concerns like cardiovascular disease and psychiatric disorders (McEwen & Gianaros, 2010; McEwen & Stellar, 1993).
As far back as 1908 the Yerkes-Dodson law proposed an inverted u-shape relationship between performance and stress, revealing excessive stress will impair performance and cognitive function (Yerkes & Dodson, 1908). Subsequent research has outlined the issues of excessive stress in a multifactorial way. Demonstrating the negative consequence on memory capacity, decision-making, problem solving and attentional deficits. Additionally, affecting well-being, mental health and emotional exhaustion (Arnsten, 2009; Dedovic et al., 2009).
Different theories of stress, such as the General Adaptation Syndrome (Cambell et al.,2013), the Allostatic Load Model (McEwen & Stellar, 1993) and Biopsychosocial Model (Rith-Najarian et al., 2014), provide frameworks to understand the nature of stress. These theories acknowledge stress’s outcome depends on individual variances, coping approaches, and socio-environmental contexts.
The Transactional Model (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984) and more recently the underpinnings of cognitive behavioural therapies underline the significance of cognitive appraisal on determining the stress response (Beck, 2005; Nakao et al., 2021). These models recognise the subjectivity of stress and what role our own assumptions, beliefs and associations play on whether stress will be adaptive or maladaptive.
In conclusion, stress is a multifaceted phenomenon exerting maladaptive and adaptive effects on the individual. Understanding this dual nature elucidates stress’s implications for health and wellbeing. As a construct stress serves as a motivating force towards adaptation but can become chronic when overwhelming coping resources yield a variety of negative outcomes. Although no unified theory of psychological stress exists, existing frameworks offer crucial insights into the factors that determine whether stress becomes adaptive or maladaptive. Neuroimaging and epigenic advancements continue our comprehension (Nater, 2021). Stress and its psycho-biological aspects do not operate in isolation and are influenced by contextual factors. By mastering the stress dynamic, we can mitigate maladaptive outcomes and progress towards adaptive states.
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