Which term refers to the cause of stress?

Which term refers to the cause of stress?

• A. The body's reaction to stress
• B. Stress
• C. Anxiety
• D. Stressor

Answer: (D)

The cause of stress is the stressor—the thing that triggers the stress response. A stressor can be an external event, like an upcoming exam or a heavy workload, or an internal thought or worry. It’s the source that starts the process. The body’s reaction to stress describes what happens inside the body after a stressor is perceived (such as increased heart rate and release of stress hormones). Stress refers to the overall state or experience, combining the trigger and the bodily response. Anxiety is a feeling that can arise from stress, but it isn’t the cause itself. So the term for the thing that causes stress is stressor.

The cause of stress is the stressor—the thing that triggers the stress response. A stressor can be an external event, like an upcoming exam or a heavy workload, or an internal thought or worry. It’s the source that starts the process. The body’s reaction to stress describes what happens inside the body after a stressor is perceived (such as increased heart rate and release of stress hormones). Stress refers to the overall state or experience, combining the trigger and the bodily response. Anxiety is a feeling that can arise from stress, but it isn’t the cause itself. So the term for the thing that causes stress is stressor.