| Abstract: | Stress is a concept which is much talked about but little understood. We are exposed to it every day of our lives and our response to it often determines the quality of our life and health. Hans Selye (1976), the acknowledged father of stress research, defines stress as the nonspecific response of the body to any demand and a stressor as an agent which produces stress at any time. The stressor may be a demánd for physical activity or an environmental exposure to potential toxins such as heat or noise. It may be an emotional difficulty that produces distorted perceptions of ordinary circumstances or the psychological impact of such significant events as the death of a loved one. Social stressors may arise out of an individual's work, family roles or interpersonal relationships with others. |
