ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES OF STRESS

Noise
Perhaps the most serious problem created by sound pollution is the impact it has on our health. Because
sound pollution can trigger the bodys stress response, one of its major health effects is chronic stress
and the high levels of stress hormones that go with it. As a result, noise pollution has also been linked
with health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. Its also been linked with
musculoskeletal problems, as a Cornell University study on office noise found that those working in
noisy office environments can also be less likely to ergonomically adjust their workstations for comfort,
which can contribute to physical problems. Noise pollution can also impact sleep quality by preventing
sleep and disrupting sleep cycles. And, perhaps most significantly, because chronic stress can lower your
immunity to all disease, noise pollution is a general threat to health and wellness.
Crowding
Crowding and Health Crowding may have a detrimental effect on health. Studies indicate that crowding
is associated with increases in blood pressure (Datri, 1975; Evans, 1979) and increased secretion of
stress hormones (Lundbergh, 1976), in the short term, at least. In the longer term, the picture is not as
clear. Fuller et al (1993) identify two reasons why crowded conditions may be detrimental to health:
first, the stress associated with crowding may depress the immune system and have other direct health
effects; second, overcrowded conditions may facilitate the spread of communicable diseases. A number
of studies indicate that crowded conditions (measured in terms on the number of people per
household) are associated with increased incidence of colds, asthma, influenza and diarrhoea,
particularly in young children (Kearns et al, 1992; Causon-Kaas et al, 1997). Elender et al (1998) studied
risk factors for tuberculosis in England and Wales and found that rates were significantly higher in
households with more than one person per room. However, the view that crowding per se is
detrimental to health has been challenged on the basis that people living in overcrowded conditions
may be affected by a range of other variables including the presence of damp and mould and poor
access to and use of healthcare facilities (Gray, 2001). As is the case with chemical pollution and noise
(see chapters 2 and 3) it is practically impossible to separate out the relative contributions of different
environmental variables to illness, so whilst it can be shown that ill-health is associated with crowded
conditions, it is impossible to conclude that crowding is, in itself, detrimental to health (Gray, 2001).
CATASTROPHES
Losing ones home in a tornado is an example of a stressor called acatastrophe, an unpredictable event
that happens on a large scale and creates tremendous amounts of stress and feelings of threat. Wars,
hurricanes, floods, fires, airplane crashes, and other disasters are catastrophes. The terrorist-driven
destruction of the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11, 2001, is a prime example of a
catastrophe. In one study, nearly 8 percent of the people living in the area near the attacks developed a
severe stress disorder, and nearly 10 percent reported symptoms of depression even as late as 2 months
after the attack (Galea et al., 2002). A study done 4 years later found a nearly 14 percent increase in
stress disorders as well as continued persistence of previously diagnosed stress disorders (Pollack et al.,
2006). Another example of a catastrophe was the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina on August
29, 2005. A Category 3 hurricane, Katrina laid waste to the north-central coastal area of the Gulf of
Mexico.
HASSLES
Although its easy to think about big disasters and major changes in life as sources of stress, the bulk of
the stress we experience daily actually comes from little frustrations, delays, irritations, minor
disagreements, and similar small aggravations. These daily annoyances are called hassles(Lazarus, 1993;
Lazarus & Folkman, 1984). Experiencing major changes in ones life is like throwing a rock into a pond:
There will be a big splash, but the rock itself is gone. What is left behind are all the ripples in the water
that came from the impact of the rock. Those ripples are the hassles that arise from the big event.
Personal factor of stress
Family
Sometimes family which plays a role of support for individual, itself becomes the source of stress. Family
is a group consisting of two parents and their children living together as a unit. We play different roles in
family. Every family member is individual different - on the basis of likes, dislikes, values, choices,
approach etc. all these differences play role of stressor when situation is demanding.
Accidents / Disease
As we all know that accident is a situation or unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly and
unintentionally, typically resulting in damage or injury. Accident is a big source of stress not only for
victim but all family members and friends. A disease is an abnormal condition that affects the body and
mind of an organism. Chronic disease often results to stress. for example- diabetes, cardiovascular
disorders, cancer, ulcer etc.
Financial
Financial stress is a sadly widespread experience. According to a poll, roughly 7 in 10 respondents are
"very stressed" about money, and only 1 in 10 report that they are not stressed about finances and
the proportion of people stressed about money is only going up. This is pretty significant because
financial stress is linked to health problems like depression and sleep problems. With the rising cost of
gas and food, the mortgage crisis, and the new bank troubles we're seeing, many Americans are feeling
the crunch of financial stress.







Organizational factors contributing to stress




Stress warning sign and symptoms