History Of Stress Research

In 2018, the UK Mental Health Foundation found that 74% of those surveyed experienced such high levels of stress in the previous year that they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope. Our current understanding of stress has evolved over decades of study dating back to the 1930s. To understand how to cope with stress, it may be helpful to define this condition and explore the history of stress research. 

Are you experiencing chronic stress?

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What is stress?

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines stress as “a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation.” Stress may occur as a natural response to certain situations; however, if a person experiences stress for an extended period of time, that may be harmful to their physical and mental health. 

Acute and chronic stress may manifest as a , which can be categorized as mental, physical, or behavioral. These symptoms may include the following: 

Mental symptoms of stress

• Difficulty relaxing
• Feelings of anxiety or depression
• Racing thoughts
• Irritability
• Worry or tension
• An inability to enjoy previously enjoyable activities

Physical symptoms of stress

Behavioral symptoms of stress

Recognizing these symptoms can be critical, but to understand the complexity of stress, it may be helpful to explore its research history. 

What is the history of stress research? 

While the term “stress” may have been used to describe the interaction between force and force resistance, the first person to use the stress concept in a medical context may have been Hans Selye. Sometimes referred to as the “father of stress research,” Selye was an endocrinologist who began to observe stress while studying medicine at the University of Prague. During his second year, Selye noticed similarities between patients with different diseases. By compiling common signs and symptoms, Selye identified what we now know as stress; he described this as the “nonspecific response of the body to any demand.” He also distinguished between acute and chronic stress, the latter of which he referred to as general adaptation syndrome (also called Selye’s Syndrome.) This syndrome can be divided into three stages: the alarm reaction, the stage of resistance, and the stage of exhaustion. 

• Alarm reaction: Often referred to as the fight-or-flight response, the alarm reaction phase describes the way that the body initially responds to stress. During this phase, an individual’s sympathetic nervous system activates, stimulates the adrenal cortex and glands, and releases stress hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline, and noradrenaline. The body may respond to this release in a number of ways, including rapid heart rate, faster breathing, shaking, and dilated pupils. 
• Stage of resistance: In order to compensate for this reaction, the body typically enters the resistance stage. If the stressful stimuli are gone, stress-related symptoms may subside. If the stimuli continue to affect the individual, stress hormone levels may remain high and symptoms can remain. Over time, this chronic stress may lead to a variety of health impacts, such as immune system dysfunction, sleep disturbances, and higher risk of cardiovascular disease. 
• Stage of exhaustion: Chronic stress can also lead to the exhaustion stage. If a person is continually exposed to stressful stimuli without a chance to recover, their body may not be able to cope with the effects. An individual may feel tired or burnt-out and could experience mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression. 

Selye continued to study stress throughout his life, publishing more than 40 books and 1,600 scientific articles, with his best-known publication being The Stress of Life. In addition, Selye was nominated for a Nobel Prize in 1949, and in 1975, he founded the International Institute of Stress. However, Selye was not the only one to contribute to the field of stress research. 

Other contributions to stress research

Following Selye’s foundational work, other researchers have made significant contributions to the field of stress research. One example is John Mason, a physician who conducted an experiment to test the potential effects of psychological stress. Mason took two groups of monkeys and deprived them of food, but allowed one group to watch other monkeys eat. He observed that this group experienced higher stress hormone levels despite undergoing the same physical stress. This indicated that psychological stress may have a significant impact on the body’s stress response. 

Stress research continues to this day, with recent studies covering a variety of subjects. For example, a study published in 2024 assessed whether exercise can directly decrease stress signals in the brain. By analyzing data from 50,359 adults, researchers found that a higher level of physical activity was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disorder. 

However, physical activity may not be the only way to cope with stress. Stress research has yielded a number of coping techniques that could help to alleviate stress or mitigate potential effects. 

How to cope with stress

Besides exercise, there may be several other ways to cope with stress. These may include:

• Sleep: The American Psychological Association (APA) indicates that improper sleep may cause a variety of negative health effects. In addition to affecting memory, mood, and judgment, a lack of sleep may increase the risk of health conditions, such as high blood pressure. On the other hand, high-quality sleep may decrease the levels of hormones like cortisol, which may help to reduce stress. Improving sleep can be achieved in a number of ways, including by avoiding eating large meals near bedtime, exercising early in the day, and sleeping in a quiet and dark environment. 
• Social support: Research suggests that social support may help to moderate environmental and genetic vulnerabilities and increase resilience to stress. Social support may also have other benefits, including improving cognitive function, mood, and overall physical health. Finding social support may be possible by reaching out to friends and family members, strengthening your existing relationships, or seeking socialization through hobbies, support groups, or extracurricular activities. 
• Avoid substance misuse: In some cases, individuals may use substances as a way to cope with stress. While these could seem to work in the short term, substance use may harm mental health and increase stress over time. In addition, substance use can create more challenges in an individual’s life, such as addiction. An individual may perceive that a substance, such as nicotine or alcohol, relieves their stress; however, that interpretation may be related to relief from the symptoms of withdrawal, thereby creating a stress-related feedback loop. 

Are you experiencing chronic stress?

Learn about ways to reduce stress

While self-care methods may be helpful, it may also be necessary to seek the assistance of a mental health professional. Research indicates that certain forms of therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), may be effective treatments for stress-related disorders. However, some may find it challenging to see a therapist in person. For example, a person who is experiencing significant amounts of stress may not have the patience to search for an in-person therapist with available appointments. In these cases, online therapy may be a viable option. With online therapy, individuals can speak with a therapist via audio, video, or live chat. This may help place stress into a context in which they can address it and mitigate its effects.

Research suggests that online therapy can be as effective as in-person therapy in the treatment of several conditions. One study published in 2017 found that online therapy was effective for anxiety, depression, phobias, and substance use disorder, among other conditions.