STRESS
What is stress?
A psychological and physiological response to perceived demands or threats
Which EU country reported the highest stress levels?
Greece
What was the aim of the Faresjö study?
To compare stress levels (including cortisol) between Greek and Swedish young adults.
Which group had higher perceived stress?
Greek
Name one strength of the study.
Use of both biological and self-report measures.
Name one type of stress
Acute, chronic or daily
Which country reported the lowest stress levels and how much percent?
United Kingdom (12%)
What biological hormone of stress did the researchers measure and how?
Cortisol levels in hair samples
Which group had lower cortisol levels?
Greek
Name one limitation of the study sample.
Not representative — only university students; gender imbalance
What determines whether something causes stress
The individual’s perception or interpretation of the situation
What percentage of Europeans overall reported stress at work?
22%
Name one type of questionnaire used in the study
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) or the Perceived Self-Rated Stress Scale
Name one negative life factor that Greek participants reported more often
More serious life events, lower hope, higher anxiety, higher depression, more smoking.
Why can’t this study establish causation?
Because it is correlational
What is one factor that causes two people to experience different levels of stress in the same situation
Differences in appraisal, coping resources, or personal circumstances
Which group of countries reported higher stress: pre-2004 EU members or the 10 new 2004 EU members?
The new 2004 EU members (30% vs 20%).
What type of research design was used in the study?
Cross-sectional comparison between two countries
What was the unexpected main finding in cortisol levels?
Greeks reported higher stress but had lower cortisol
Give one alternative explanation for lower cortisol levels in Greek students
Climate affecting hair growth, differences in sunlight exposure, or other environmental factors
Why can chronic stress lead to LOW cortisol instead of high cortisol?
Long-term stress can suppress HPA , lowering cortisol
What major factor explains why Greece had the highest stress levels in the EU
The economic crisis increased national stress across work and daily life
Why did Faresjö use both questionnaires and hair cortisol?
To measure stress both subjectively and biologically
How do the cortisol results relate to General Adaptation Syndrome?
Lower cortisol suggests the exhaustion phase caused by chronic stress
What is a key limitation of comparing Greek and Swedish cortisol levels?
Environmental factors like climate may affect hair cortisol independently of stress