CHAPTER 1

Introduction:
Stress is the bodys reaction to a challenge. It is the state of mental tension and worry
caused by environmental factors, though it is often perceived to be detrimental to ones wellbeing, stress is also a vital warning system, producing the fight-or-flight response.
According to ULifeline (2016), when the brain perceives any form of stress, it starts
flooding the body with hormones like epinephrine, norepinephrine, cortisol and adrenaline. This
creates a variety of reactions such as an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Furthermore,
these factors boost the perception of the mind and allow the person to focus more on the task at
hand. In addition, there are various health benefits with a little bit of stress. Researchers believe
that some stress can help to fortify the immune system and improve the cardiovascular system.
Stress is vital for survival, but continuous prolonged stress can be detrimental to ones
health. Emotional stress that stays around for weeks or months can weaken the immune system
and cause high blood pressure, fatigue, depression, anxiety and even heart disease, it can also
weaken the nervous system and cause a disruption in serotonin and dopamine levels, which
would lead to slower thinking, perception and judgement, disrupt the sleep-wake cycle and poor
memory. Prolonged or chronic stress not only affects a person physically and physiologically, but
it also affects him/her cognitively, behaviorally and emotionally. The aforementioned can also be
equally deleterious to ones health and well-being.
According to Cohen (2016), in a survey conducted at many colleges in the United States,
80% of college students say they often or sometimes feel stressed, 34% of college students report
feeling depressed at least at one point, 20% of college students say they feel stressed most of the

time. 10% of college students contemplated on committing suicide, 13% of college students
have been diagnosed with depression, anxiety or other mental health condition.
The researchers focused on the physiological side effects of stress and the major illnesses
that could later develop in life when one is subjected under continuous and prolonged stress. The
researchers would like to address the increase of chronic stress among college students.
Continued chronic stress has become a common problem affecting college students all over the
world and can lead to major deleterious physiological ailments that may develop later in life.
The researchers conducted this study because chronic stress among the college student
population is overlooked, most people would only dismiss this problem as if it were already a
norm when one is studying in college; the researchers would like to say otherwise, chronic stress
is a major problem that is affecting the majority of the student population causes major illnesses
that develop later in life. Chronic stress not only affects a person physiologically, but
emotionally, behaviorally and cognitively as well, which magnifies the risk of developing major
illnesses later in life.
The researchers would like to understand the physiological processes of the body
subjected under chronic stress and how it can lead to major illnesses that may develop later in
life and help uncover any ambiguity regarding the phenomenon.
The researchers found it necessary to conduct this study because chronic stress is
prevalent among college students, considering the aforementioned information about the effects
of stress, this would later result to premature death. The researchers would also like to raise
awareness on the severity of experiencing chronic stress and its major implication in order to
help alleviate the number of people suffering from major illnesses later in life because of chronic
stress experienced at such young age. This study will also help the students be informed about

the major implications of chronic stress and help cope and prevent it themselves, in order to
prevent their possible impending illnesses.
The researchers would like to evaluate the stress levels of a select population of the BS
Biology program students of the University of Santo Tomas College Of Science and correlate
them with the major side effects of chronic stress and the major diseases it could lead to in later
stages of life.
Statement of the Problem:
Management and discerning stress is important to the development, biologically and
psychologically, to a person. In the University of Santo Tomas, College of Science Biology,
stress is handled day to day by the students. But it is handled very poorly, in a sense that most
students are overwhelmed by the workload, as well as other factors that affect stress in their
lives.
Stress can lead to a myriad of diseases as well as damaging in the cognitive performance
of an individual. It is also linked to many psychological effects, like depression, that could
severely impact an individual, may also affect the people around the individual. It also affects
their immune system, hormonal levels, and many aspects in their physiological state.
The main questions of our study are the following:

What are the physiological implications of stress in the human body in young adults
1. Problems it pose to the cardiovascular system
2. Problems it pose to the basic physiological processes in the body
3. Problems it pose to the nervous system

What are the main causes of stress

2. Sociological causes
These questions will allow the researchers insight into how stress affects the human body,
specifically young adults, and what causes such changes.
Significance of the Study:
This study is being conducted in order to discern the common problems of students in
the University of Santo Tomas, College of Science Biology, in regard to stress. To be able to help
and guide both students and professors so that they may be able to provide better results in
academia. Identifying the main cause for stress in students will help facilities such as the
guidance counselors. This research also provides insight in the day to day lives of students in the
college, and for those who will take up the course in the future.
The beneficiaries of this study are first and foremost the students. To be able to identify
their endeavors, so that proper authority, or professionals, are able to have a clear understanding
on where the stress may be coming from when students are unable to express it by themselves.
This is to discern specific struggles that the students may be facing and to categorize their
concerns and predicaments.
Second beneficiary is the school, specifically, University of Santo Tomas, College of
Science, BS Biology. They will benefit in terms of taking care of their students efficiently, as
well as being able to address the students concerns. There may also be a result of getting higher
scores in academia if the school understands the predicament of their students.
This study will also be beneficial to the future researchers. Stress has many branches of studies,
scientists and future scientists are arguably one of the most constantly stressed people in todays
day and age. This study will be a good reference for other schools and institutions that are in the
field of science.

Definition of Terms:

Chronic Stress - Chronic stress is the response to emotional pressure suffered for a
prolonged period over which an individual perceives he or she has no control.

Hormones - a regulatory substance produced in an organism and transported in tissue

Epinephrine (Adrenalin) - Is a hormone that stimulates increase in heart rate.

Norepinephrine (Noradrenalin) - Is a hormone that stimulates decrease in heart rate.

Cortisol - Is a hormone that influences, regulates or modulates many of the changes that
occur in the body in response to stress.

Serotonin - Is a chemical responsible for mood balance, a low amount causes depression

Dopamine - is a neurotransmitter that helps control the brain's reward and pleasure
centers, also helps regulate movement and emotional responses.

Immune System - Is the system responsible for the bodys defence mechanism towards
diseases.

Cardiovascular System - Is the system in the human body that permits transport of
nutrients, hormones, wastes and gases around the entire body.

Nervous System - The system that is responsible for coordinating its actions and
transmits signals to and from different parts of its body.

Circadian Rhythms Psychological and behavioral changes in the body that occur on
roughly a 24 hour cycle; sometimes called the body clock

Homeostatis Is the equilibrium between elements maintained by physiological

CHAPTER 2
Discussion:
According to Goldberg (2016), the human body is capable of experiencing stress. There
are different kinds of stress, and the human body is designed to react to them. Stress can either be
positive or negative for the person. Positive stress is called eustress. Situations with regard to
positive stress keep the person alert and ready for danger. Negative stress on the other hand is
distress. These are challenges that occur continuously without having the time to relax or have
the sense of relief. This results to an overworked person and an experience of tension.
Physical symptoms can be experienced because of distress. These include headaches,
stomachaches, an increase in blood pressure, pain in the chest, and sleeping problems. Stress can
worsen these symptoms, and can lead to various diseases.
The use of alcohol, drugs, and tobacco to relieve stress can cause stress to become
harmful. Instead of relaxing the state of the person, these substances keep the stressed state, and
cause more problems. (Goldberg, 2016)
According to Bushak (2014), the mind influences our body in our everyday lives. We can
use our willpower to do tasks that seem unavoidable. Together with depression and anxiety,
stress also has effects that are negative physiologically. Increase in heart rates or palpitations can
be seen on stressful days. Acute stress can cause the secretion of various hormones like
adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol. Because of the increase in these hormones, there will be
an increase in the heart rate, and the dilation of blood vessels, increasing blood pressure.

To protect us from occurrences that may harm the body physically, our body increases in
the secretion of adrenaline that will initiate the contraction and tensing of our muscles. It will
make the muscles of the person to react reflexively when danger suddenly arrives. Though it may
protect the person from harm, the tensing of the muscles provides much pain if prolonged.
Migraine may be caused from the tension from our neck, head, and shoulders.
When anxiety or stress occurs, focus on breathing is advised. Strengthening of muscles
paired with breathing exercises that will make the person to meditate, is a good way to alleviate
chronic stress. People who suffer breathing illnesses, like asthma and emphysema, are more
likely to suffer during stress. Some instances prove that stress may lead to the development of
asthma.
The sympathetic nervous system (SNS), responsible for the fight or flight response of
the body, is activated during stressful moments. The SNS causes the changes in the body
systems. The stress hormones released, to the increase of the heart rate are the responsibility of
the SNS. This makes the effect of chronic stress a long term state. The ups and downs of
responses to stress can drain the body of the person.
The digestive system is also affected by stress. Nausea and the so called butterflies in
the stomach are nervous sensations in response to stress. The tensing of the muscles may lead to
abdominal pain. It is proven that chronic stress may also cause ulcer in the long run. Absorption
of nutrients is also affected by the stressing of the body. Problems with bowel movement like
diarrhea and constipation depend on the stress level of the person.
Prolonged stress can greatly affect the body systems of the person. Stress ultimately leads
to an increase in gaining illnesses and complications inside the human person. (Bushak, 2014)

According to Han et. al. 2012, a complex condition with the factors of emotion, cognitive
and biology is stress. Long term and short term disabilities result from excessive stress. The
central nervous system then is activated. The response of the body differs depending on the type
of stress experienced.
An important component of homeostatis is sleep. Disorders may occur when there is a
disturbance is the psychological, medical, and social factors. The human body systems play an
important role in adapting in the different, changing, and challenging society and environment.
Defensive processes are done by the body to achieve and maintain homeostatis. Failure in the
defense may cause insomnia, the inability to sleep. Circadian rhythm of the body continues
without outside factors from the beginning, and naturally is 24 hours. Sleepiness at night can be
explained by the fatigue acquired through the different activities done that day. Sleep can then be
delayed via stimuli.
Managing daily habits can avoid insomnia caused by stress. Management can be divided
into two types, mental and physical aspects. The person should change his/her aspect in cognitive
processing to a more positive point of view to reduce stress. By balancing work and rest, the can
maintain internal balance. Having regular and balanced meals with proper exercise will induce
body relaxation and rest. It could control respiration and the tensing of the muscles.
Excessive stress tends to cause harm on humans. It simulates the nervous system and
activates its defense system. Physiological responses to stress differ depending on cognitive form
of the stress to the person. These responses cause the responses of the neuro-endocrine system
and the behavior of the person.
Termed as physiological insomnia, chronic insomnia is a clinical problem. Stress
concerning this involves a series of factors regarding the daily activities of a person.

Understanding perpetuating factors is important in treating insomnia caused by stress. (Han, Kim
& Shim, 2012)
Academic stress is mental distress with respect to some anticipated frustration associated
with academic failure or even unawareness to the possibility of such failure. Students have to
face many academic demands, for example, school examination, answering questions in the
class, showing progress in school subjects. Understanding what the teacher is teaching,
competing with other classmates, fulfilling teachers and parents academic expectations. These
demands may tax or exceed available resources of the students. As a consequence, they can be
under stress, since the demand is related to achievement of an academic goal. So, academic
related to the achievement of an academic goal. Bisht 1989) has defined academic stress as a
demand related to academics that tax or exceed the available resources (internal or external) as
cognitively appeared by the student involved. According to her, academic stress reflects
perception of individuals academic frustration, academic conflict, academic pressure and
academic anxiety. She has given the definition of four components of academic stress as follows:
Academic Frustration:- Academic frustration is a state caused by harm of some academic goals.
Academic Conflict:- Academic Conflict is the result of two or more qua] hut in compatible
response tendencies to academic goals. Academic Pressure:- When the student is under heavy
demands of time and energy to meet academic goals. And Academic Anxiety:- Apprehension of
harm to some academic goals. Academic Stress is an important factor accounting for variation in
academic achievement. It also contributes to major mental health hazards, problems both
physical and mental stress related diseases. Stress makes a significant contribution to the
prediction of subsequent school performance and act as a negative predictor of academic
performance in school children (Ender et at. 1994) shows the components of Academic Stress.

Academic pressure is a significant source of stress for much school students (Hashim, 2003;
Olpin, 1997; Tyrrell, 1992). Identified sources of academic-related stress have included fear of
falling behind with coursework, finding the motivation to study, time pressures, financial
worries, and concern about academic ability (Tyrrell, 1992). Additionally, students report stress
over struggling to meet academic standards, time management worries, and concerns over grades
(Olpin, 1997). Additionally, these sources may exist easily throughout the span of college
students academic careers and may result in school students experiencing a great deal of stress
during their school career. If prevention efforts are to be developed to assist students in dealing
with and avoiding academic-related stress, a greater understanding of the relationship among
school students use of coping strategies, social support, experiences of being parented, and
academic-related stress needs to be gained.
High school students cite day to day stresses of school (e.g. tests, grades, home work,
academic and achievement expectations) among their greatest stressors (Crystal et at., 1994; de
Anda et at. 2000; Ohman and Jarvis, 2000) Types of school- related stresses include, interactions
with teachers and balancing ones leisure time with school True et at 2007) earlier inventories of
school- related stressor indicated nine types, including inadequate instructional methods, teacher
students relationships, heavy academic workload, poor physical classroom environments and
disorganization surrounding academic assignments and schedules (Burnett & Fanshawe, 1997)
one specific academic stressor involves standardized testing, which is increasingly common in
American schools (McNamara 2Q00) This is particularly true for 1B students who are required
to complete end of-course exams to obtain 1B diploma. Many times these students also take
Advanced Placement (AP) exams because some academic institutions award university- level
credit for only the higher level (intensive, 2 year) 1B course examinations (Matthes, 2004). ISSN

(Print):

2328-3734,

ISSN

(Online):

2328-3696,

ISSN

...

(n.d.),

from

http://iasir.net/AIJRHASSpapers/AIJRHASS14-150.pdf
Logans (2010) study found that chronic pain affects up to 25% of children and
adolescents (McGrath et al., 2000) with a significant subject of this group experiencing
functional disability across many domains in their lives including emotional functioning, family
and peer relationships, and school functioning (Gauntlett-Gilbert & Eccleston, 2007; Palermo,
2000; Perquin et al., 2000)
The early deaths in Europe are related with mental and stress disorders according to the
World Health report. For the transforming societies of Central-Eastern-Europe (CEE) these are
important factors. In the region, premature morbidity and mortality risk are factored by
depression, feeling of hopelessness and loss of control according to a previous research. (Kopp,
2008, p. 238)
Adolescents in Sweden as subject to compulsory school attendance, they have to interact
with teachers and classmates on a daily basis. Therefore, it is reasonable to consider strained
social relations in school as psychosocial stressors, which may negatively affect the health of
adolescents, according to Bergh (2010). (p. 699)
According to Derman (2013), acute and chronic psychological stress is increasing in
prevalence in the world today.
Having a strenuous job do not increase the risk of getting brain cancer. Instead, lowering
of chance of acquiring this illness was found. Job stress reduced the risk greatly which shows
that job strain is not associated with the leveling of hormones. (Schernhammer, 2004)
Psychological risk factors are seen to be greater during an economic decline than having

to force signs of recessions only. It is to be expected that stress in working is more significant
during a recession in society. By these psychosocial factors, a higher level in stress and its effects
can be predicted. (Houdmont, Kerr & Addley, 2012)
Stress is experienced when a person feels that the environmental demand exceeds his
capabilities, resulting in biopsychological charges that may make him/her of risk for disease.
Effects may vary from one person to another. (Niabi; H. et. al., 2013)
According to Haviland as cited by the Schneidermann et. al. 2005, the most commonly
studied stressors in children & adolescents are exposures to abuse e.g. sexual, physical,
emotional, & familial. It provides an excellent insight with the consequences of the
aforementioned.
The General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) is one way of quantifying the physiological
response to stress. It starts with the alarm phase, where you recognize the stimulus and decide
you need to tackle it. This activates the sympathetic nervous system and deactivates the
parasympathetic nervous system. It releases glucocorticoids, the stress hormone and the
biological marker of stress. Once you have appraised the situation and decided what to do, you
enter the resistance phase, in which the body mobilizes its resources to return to equilibrium: it
releases adrenaline, it keeps consciousness going, it prepares whatever physiological response
you need. Once you've handled the stressor, you enter the exhaustion phase. You realize you've
expended a lot of resources trying to keep yourself in equilibrium during the resistance phase,
and it's been physiologically expensive for you. You're beat. This phase is associated with the
negative effects of stress: getting sick, sleeping too much, and so on.
Stimuli are not inherently stressful. We interpret and appraise them, and then decide what
we're going to do about them. So let's say you walk into this room and you see a snake. The first

thing you have to do is appraise the situation, and the primary mechanism for appraisal is: am I
in danger? If your primary appraisal says that this is not a bad thing, then you're okay. Maybe it's
just an adorable picture of a snake.
But if it is dangerous, you engage in secondary appraisal and determine what to do. And
you basically have two options: you can run away (the flight response) or you can face it head on
(the fight response).
Once you've gone through these appraisal steps, how much stress the situation causes you
is related to your perceived control over the situation. Typically, perceived control decreases
stress. But when it comes to perceived control, there are a couple of caveats. Some people need
control, and others find it even more stressful to be in control of a situation. Say you're in a class
that has a group project, and you're the group leader. It's your job to make sure that the 5 other
people in your group submit their materials on time, and you're the one the teacher will hold
responsible. So, does that cause you more stress or less stress? Explain why, and give an example
from real life. Discussion: Stress | Stress | Introduction to Psychology ... (n.d.). from
https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/brain-and-cognitive-sciences/9-00sc-introduction-to-psychology-fall2011/stress/discussion-stress/
Stress is epidemic in the western world. Over two-thirds of office visits to physicians are
for stress related illness. Stress is a major contributing factor either directly or indirectly, to
coronary artery disease, cancer, respiratory disorders, accidental injuries, cirrhosis of the liver
and suicide; the six leading causes of death in the United States. Stress aggravates other
conditions such as multiple sclerosis, diabetes, herpes, mental illness, alcoholism, drug abuse,
and family discord and violence.

The stress epidemic is an extremely costly one. The medical costs alone have been
estimated in the United States at well over 1 Billion dollars per year. Stress costs industry
approximately 150 billion dollars per year in increased health insurance outlays, burnout,
absenteeism, reduced productivity, costly mistakes in the office and on the shop floor, poor
morale, high employee turnover, as well as family, alcohol and drug related problems.
Stress is a state of tension that is created when a person responds to the demands and
pressures that come from work, family and other external sources, as well as those that are
internally generated from self-imposed demands, obligations and self-criticism.
Stress is both additive and cumulative. It adds up over time until a state of crisis is reached and
symptoms appear. These symptoms may manifest themselves psychologically as irritability,
anxiety, impaired concentration, mental confusion, poor judgment, frustration and anger. They
may appear as physical symptoms. Common physical symptoms of stress include: muscle
tension, headaches, low back pain, insomnia and high blood pressure. Untreated, these symptoms
may lead to physical illness and sometimes death. From A Discussion of Stress. (n.d.), from
http://www.stressfree.com/stress.html
Only 3 percent of doctors visits involve discussions on how to reduce stress. For some
comparison, nutrition counseling happened in 17 percent of visits, physical activity counseling
happened in 12 percent of visits, and weight counseling occurred in 6 percent of visits, the study
found.
Its a shockingly small percentage when one considers that nearly a quarter of Americans
have reported feeling extreme stress, according to a recent American Psychological
Association poll. Stress has been linked to any number of chronic health issues, including

diabetes, cancer, asthma and heart disease, and researchers said that an estimated 60 to 80
percent of doctors visits involved some stress-related health issue.
The study examined 34,000 visits to 1,263 physicians between 2006 and 2009.
Researchers looked to see if physicians shared information on stress reduction tools like
meditation, exercise and yoga. Out of the 34,000 visits, a little more than 1,000 visits involved
stress-management advice, the study found.
The low rate of [stress] counseling points to potential missed opportunities, suggesting
that physician counseling about stress has not been incorporated into primary care to the extent
of other types of counseling, according to the researchers. Reduce Stress: Discussions On Stress
Management Not Likely (n.d.), from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/21/reducestress_n_2171110.html