What Is Stress?

Stress – Defining and Measuring Stress

In this course, Dr Sarita Robinson (University of Central Lancashire) explores the topics of defining and measuring stress. In the first lecture, we think about how we can define stress. In the second lecture, we think about how the body responds to stress. In the third lecture, we think about the impact stress has on our health and well-being. Next, we think about different methods of measuring stress. In the fifth and final lecture, we think about how we can manage and cope with stressful situations.

What Is Stress?

In this lecture, we think about what stress is and how it can be researched, focusing in particular on: (i) the fact that, while the experience of stress is highly subjective, we can generally speak of two distinct types of stress as acute stress and chronic stress; (ii) some of the aims of research into stress, such as identifying triggers and developing mechanisms for coping with stress (iii) different methods researchers use to investigate stress, including simulator training and laboratory tests such as the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST).