Which term describes negative stress that can impair performance?

Which term describes negative stress that can impair performance?

• A. Eustress
• B. Stress
• C. Distress
• D. Anxiety

Answer: (C)

Negative stress that hurts performance is distress. When demands exceed what a person can cope with, stress becomes distress, causing muscle tension, poorer concentration, and slower decision-making, which can lead to mistakes or choking under pressure. Eustress is the beneficial, energizing type of stress that can improve performance, while anxiety is a feeling of worry or fear that can accompany distress but isn’t the term for the harmful stress itself. Stress covers both positive and negative responses, but the specific idea of negative, performance-impairing stress is distress.

Negative stress that hurts performance is distress. When demands exceed what a person can cope with, stress becomes distress, causing muscle tension, poorer concentration, and slower decision-making, which can lead to mistakes or choking under pressure. Eustress is the beneficial, energizing type of stress that can improve performance, while anxiety is a feeling of worry or fear that can accompany distress but isn’t the term for the harmful stress itself. Stress covers both positive and negative responses, but the specific idea of negative, performance-impairing stress is distress.