Stress is a normal reaction to everyday pressures, but can become unhealthy when it upsets your day-to-day functioning. Stress involves changes affecting nearly every system of the body, influencing how people feel and behave.
By causing mind–body changes, stress contributes directly to psychological and physiological disorder and disease and affects mental and physical health, reducing quality of life.
Adapted from the APA Dictionary of Psychology
Stress in America
Concerned for the future, beset by inflation
The October 2022 report shows a battered American psyche, facing a barrage of external stressors that are mostly out of personal control. The survey found a majority of adults are disheartened by government and political divisiveness, daunted by historic inflation levels, and dismayed by widespread violence.
Coping with stress
Resources from APA
Media overload is hurting our mental health. Here are ways to manage headline stress
Psychologists are seeing an increase in news-related stress; installing a few key media guardrails can help.
Why mental health needs to be a top priority in the workplace
U.S. surgeon general cites APA research in new guidance around strengthening workplace well-being
Student mental health is in crisis. Campuses are rethinking their approach
Amid massive increases in demand for care, psychologists are helping colleges and universities embrace a broader culture of well-being and better equipping faculty to support students in need
How psychological science can improve well-being for public service workers
The group has been the target of battles over health, racial, economic, and political issues.
How job loss and economic stress affect workers and their families
Anna Gassman-Pines, PhD, of Duke University, talks about how job loss, unstable work schedules and other hardships affect workers, their families and even entire communities.
Spotlight: The ups and downs of the week
This featured article in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology investigates the relevance of distinct time pressure trajectories for indicators of well-being at the end of the working week and start of the following week.
High stress levels during the pandemic are making even everyday choices difficult to navigate
Decision-making has been particularly tough for young adults, parents, and people of color
How to keep stress from harming your health
George Slavich, PhD, discusses how stress affects our brain, body, and immune system; why it’s important to measure a person’s lifetime exposure to stress; and strategies to manage stress and minimize its negative effects on your health.
Podcasts
News from APA
More than a quarter of U.S. adults say they’re so stressed they can’t function
Concerns high around civil liberties, inflation, violence, with nearly half of adults saying they don’t feel protected by U.S. laws
Inflation, war push stress to alarming levels at two-year COVID-19 anniversary
APA calls for immediate steps to protect mental health as geopolitical turmoil, money stress pile on
Stress in America™ 2021: Pandemic impedes basic decision-making ability
Day-to-day stresses overwhelming younger adults, parents; American Psychological Association says mental health supports must be prioritized
Coping with COVID-19 stress easier with a dose of humor
Viewing pandemic memes improves people’s moods, helps manage stress, study says
Continuing education
Updating Guidelines for Sexual Minority People Focus on Resilience
Discuss what affirmative psychological practice means in the context of work with sexual minority people.
Mindfulness Oriented Recovery Enhancement for Addiction, Stress, and Pain: WS506
Provides didactic and experiential instruction in theory, research, and clinical skill practice integral to the implementation of mindfulness-oriented recovery enhancement.
Identify at least five social deaterminants of health, and discuss recent research concerning the social determinants of health.
Identify at least two changes in the criteria used to diagnose post-traumatic stress disorder.
