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What Are the Causes of Stress in Studies?

The human body operates optimally under certain conditions, and when physical or mental limits are pushed, stress occurs. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), stress can be acute, meaning it lasts for a short time and is usually the result of a specific event, or it can be chronic, which means it lasts for years at a time and is usually the result of a life situation such as being married to an abusive spouse or living in poverty. The APA has linked stress to premature aging and susceptibility to illness, so it's important to recognize stress and take measures to reduce it.

  1. Lack of Sleep

    • According to the Franklin Institute, many studies have linked stress to inadequate sleep. In one study, a group of people with insomnia were compared to a group of people with normal sleep patterns. The insomniacs had high levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their blood compared to the normal sleep group. Another study showed that preschool aged children who slept under 10 hours a day were more likely to exhibit behavioral problems in the classroom.

    Job-Related Stress

    • Job-related stress, if not actively dealt with, can turn into a chronic stress situation that slowly wears a person down over time. Not only can an unhappy job situation be a cause of major stress, but it has also been linked to obesity, reports one study from the University of Rochester Medical Center. In this study of 2,782 employees, exercise was determined to be helpful in combating obesity due to job-related stress as opposed to a diet high in fruits and vegetables.

    Social Isolation

    • One University of Chicago study reports that people who do not have a social network of friends experience higher levels of stress and are more prone to health issues than those who experience more social interaction. The study suggests that healthcare plans should take into account increasing social connections as part of a healthy lifestyle.

    Divorce

    • A 10-year Iowa State University study of 416 women showed that women who were divorced reported greater incidence of chronic stress in their lives than the married group. Not only was the divorced group shown to have higher stress levels, but they also reported more physical illness than the married group.

    Lack of Free Time

    • Dr. Daniel Hamermesh at The University of Texas at Austin reports that the more money people make, the less free time they have, which leads to an increase in stress. Well-off people who spend most of their time working have fewer available hours of free time per day, which leads to higher levels of stress.

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