Stress is your body's inability to deal with both mental and physical threats. The causes of stress are called stressors. There are several stressors that can be particularly harmful to your mental and physical health. Numerous studies over the past several years have reported the negative mental and physical health effects of acute and chronic stress levels. While there could be a listing of hundreds of stressors that contribute to health problems, there are several stressors that stand out as major causes of stress on a regular basis.
Work
For many people, work is a strong stressor in their lives. In a report by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, it was mentioned that at least 40 percent of workers felt that their job was very or extremely stressful. Additionally, 25 percent of workers felt that work was the No. 1 stressor in their lives. Furthermore, 26 percent of works said that their job was a frequent source of burnout for them. Work stress can result from two very different scenarios: Working in a job that provides too much of a challenge can cause you to become overwhelmed and frustrated; working in a job that does not provide enough to do can provide the opposite feelings of boredom and listlessness.
Family
While your family can be a great source of comfort and support, it can also be a great source of stress and discomfort. Family conflict is a stressor that hits close to home for most individuals. For adults and children, familial stressors such as lack of communication, breakup of the family unit, death of a loved one, pregnancy, job loss, substance abuse and day-to-day responsibilities can be difficult to process and handle.
Finances
Finances are certainly a significant stressor in the lives of most people. The constant pressure to make ends meet and provide for others can take a toll on your mental and physical health. In the 2005 journal of Consumer Interests Annual (Volume 51), researchers indicate that financial stressors such as the ability to pay bills, overextended credit and disability contributed to a variety of health effects. In the study, participants revealed that financial distress made them feel anxiety-ridden, depressed and tense.
References
- National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety: Job Stress
- Consumer Interests Annual; "Negative Health Effects of Financial Stress"; B. O'Neil, B. Sorhaindo, J. Xing and T. Garman; 2005
