Stresshistorien

Stresshistorien refers to the historical study of stress, examining how the concept of stress has developed across science, medicine, and society. It considers how definitions of stress have shifted from external pressures to the body's adaptive processes, and how cultural, social, and political contexts shaped research and public understanding.

Early Modern and early 20th century: The idea of stress as pressure or strain appears in physics and engineering; in physiology, Walter Cannon in the 1910s introduced the concept of the fight-or-flight response and homeostasis, emphasizing rapid mobilization of energy and resources in response to threats. In the 1930s Hans Selye described a nonspecific stress response and the General Adaptation Syndrome, with stages Alarm, Resistance, and Exhaustion, using experiments on animals to show that diverse stressors produced similar physiological changes.

Mid-century developments: The 1950s-1970s linked stress to the endocrine system, particularly the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and cortisol release. The idea broadened to include psychological dimensions; the terms eustress and distress distinguished positive from negative stress, and psychosocial factors began to be considered in health outcomes.

Late 20th century to present: The allostasis framework (Sterling and Eyer, 1988) and the later concept of allostatic load (McEwen and Stellar, 1993) shifted focus to the cumulative burden of chronic stress on biological systems. There is increased attention to coping, resilience, social support, and lifestyle, as well as to public health and workplace stress. Methodologies expanded to include biomarkers, longitudinal studies, and ecological momentary assessment.

Today, the stresshistorien encompasses scientific theories, measurement tools such as the Perceived Stress Scale, and cultural debates about stress in modern life. It highlights the interplay among biology, psychology, and society in shaping how stress is experienced, perceived, and managed.