Stressvolle

Stressvolle is a Dutch adjective meaning "full of stress" or "stressful." It is used to describe situations, experiences, or environments that involve high demand, time pressure, or emotional strain. Common phrases include stressvolle situatie (a stressful situation), stressvolle week (a stressful week), and stressvolle werkomgeving (a stressful work environment).

Etymology and form: The word is formed from stress, borrowed from English, combined with vol meaning “full of.” In Dutch, the attributive form before a noun typically takes an -e ending, so stressvolle situatie is standard usage. The base adjective stressvol exists as well and can be used in other syntactic contexts.

Usage in psychology and society: Stressvolle situations are frequently discussed in psychology as potential sources of acute or chronic stress. Repeated exposure to stressvolle circumstances can affect mood, cognition, and physical health, particularly when coping resources are limited. Societal and organizational contexts address stressvolle work environments with wellness programs, workload management, and interventions aimed at reducing stressors and improving resilience.

Related terms: Stress is the physiological and psychological response to perceived challenges. Dutch terms such as stressor (stressor) and coping (coping) are commonly used alongside stressvolle to describe causes, responses, and management of stress. The concept often intersects with discussions of burnout, well-being, and work-life balance.

See also: stress, burnout, well-being, coping.