stressprone

Stressprone is an informal term used to describe people who are more susceptible to stress or who show heightened emotional and physiological responses to stressors. It is not a formal diagnosis in DSM-5 or ICD-11, but appears in psychology and popular discourse as a descriptor of stress reactivity patterns.

People labeled stressprone may have higher baseline arousal and stronger HPA axis responses, along with traits such as neuroticism or trait anxiety. Environmental factors, including chronic work demands or exposure to adversity, can amplify risk. The concept emphasizes a continuum rather than a binary category.

Assessment relies on related measures rather than a dedicated instrument for stressprone status. Researchers use perceived stress scales, trait anxiety inventories, and physiological indicators like cortisol or heart rate variability, while clinicians consider sleep, medical conditions, and functional impairment.

Management focuses on reducing stress exposure and strengthening coping. Interventions include cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based practices, sleep optimization, regular exercise, and social support. In workplaces, adjustments to workload and resilience training may be beneficial.

Critics warn that labeling someone as stressprone can promote stigma or self-fulfilling prophecies. The term is descriptive rather than diagnostic and is used to summarize patterns of stress reactivity in research and self-help contexts.