FREE ESSAY ON STRESS AND ILLNESS

STRESS AND ILLNESS

The Effects of Stress on Physical Illness 
April 17, 2000
#38
Abstract
Research has shown a connection between stress and physical illness. Furthermore, who
becomes ill under pressure may be regulated by other factors such as personality type.
The purpose of this project was to determine if there is a relationship between stress
and illness. Another motive for this project was to investigate whether or not
correlations between illness, personality type, and/or stress is evident. 
Twenty-one students in the Writing of Agriculture and Natural Resources class at the
University of Florida were surveyed on their perceived level of stress and physical
health. The questionnaire also analyzed their actual life stress level and level of
extroversion. The questionnaire was evaluated and classified by personality types,
health, and stress levels.
This study was expected to reveal that people who experience higher levels of stress
would also experience higher rates of physical illness compared to people with lower
levels of stress. The rates of illness in people who experience higher levels of stress
may vary between perceived stress (how stressed one actually feels) and actual stress (as
defined by specific life events). Specifically, people who report higher levels of
perceived stress will experience higher rates of physical illness regardless of the
number of actual stressful life events experienced (actual stress). In addition,
personality types, such as people who are characteristically introverted (people who tend
to keep to themselves) will tend to manifest signs of stress through physical symptoms
more so than people who are characterized as extroverts (more social outgoing).
The results of my survey suggested that a correlation exists between stress and illness;
and illnesses were exacerbated when the subjects indicated a characteristically
introverted personality. There was further indication that subjects with an extroverted
personality had signs of stress related illnesses. Overall, ninety-nine percent of the
students who responded to the questionnaire revealed they had relatively high levels of
stress and experienced various poor health frequently.
Introduction
Stress and illness are no strangers to many. As many as 25 percent of the US population
suffers from the negative effects of stress, and approximately 50 percent of all general
medical patients are suffering from stress related problems (Everly, 1989). Several
studies conducted confirm that stress is positively correlated with incidences of
physical illness (DeVito, 1994). It is also becoming common knowledge that many physical
diseases are either related to or can be exacerbated by excessive stress. Stress
reduction is becoming a part of treatment and prevention of many diseases. Even insurance
companies are paying for programs such as ones that reverse heart disease, which include
learning stress reduction techniques . 
Many studies have tried to link and explain the role of the immune system in the human
stress response. The issue has even been given its own term, psychoneuroimmunology,
meaning the study of the "direct causal relationship between stress and illness" (DeVito,
1994). For example, a study looking at wound repair in caregivers vs. non-caregivers
found that caregivers, who were under significantly more stress than non caregivers, took
an average of nine days longer to heal than non caregivers (Keicolt-Glaser, Marucha,
Malarkey, Mercado, and Glaser, 1995). This study cited differences in the chemical
immunological responses between the two groups.
There is no single recipe for managing stress, but utilizing fundamental coping
mechanisms can help calm your mind. We cannot change who we are, our jobs, or families,
but we can change our perceptions. The first step is to become more aware of the
situation and environment. What causes your stress? How do you respond? By answering
these questions, you can begin to modify your situation. 
Some suggestions to reduce stress are to exercise; it strengthens the heart and lungs
while bathing the brain in endorphins to reduce pain. You can also practice stress
management techniques ranging from prayer, to biofeedback, to simple walks on the beach
to feel inner peace. Relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, and investing in
hobbies and leisure activities can do the same and more.
Literature Review
My review of the current literature indicated a link between stress and illness. However,
it was unclear whether or not illness is more likely to be related to perceived stress,
rather than actual life events which are considered stressful. 
Personality may also factor in the relationship between stress and illness. Correlations
between illness, personality type, and/or stress have been found. For example, the Type A
personality has been associated with a higher incidence of heart disease. Neuroticism has
also been linked to higher incidences of stress related illness (Hoffman, Levy-Shiff, and
Malinski, 1996). An investigation published in the Journal of the American Medical
Association found that a lack of diverse social contacts was correlated with greater
risks of colds. This risk outweighed other factors such as smoking, low vitamin C intake
or elevated stress hormones ("Harvard Health Letter", 1998). People who are more likely
to have social contact probably score higher on scales of extroversion, which indicate an
outgoing, sociable personality. Studies of extroversion have shown that this trait may
ameliorate the negative effects of stressful events (Hoffman, Levy-Shiff, and Malinski,
1996). Therefore, it is the opinion of this author that people who score higher on the
aspect of extroversion will experience fewer physical ailments related to life stress
than people who are less extroverted.
However, can it be said with certainty that everyone or even most people who experience
severe stress can expect to fall victim to stress? The answer is not so cut and dry.
Evidence suggests that other factors such as perception of the stressful event and
personality type may also play a role in the stress-illness connection. Persons who
perceive they are under more stress may react to it more strongly than persons who do not
necessarily perceive the same situation stressful. The perception of stress is what
causes the body to prepare for an emergency by producing certain hormones such as
adrenaline, which has an effect on a broad rage body systems (DeVito, 1994). I
Methods/Materials
Students in the Writing for Agriculture and Natural Resources class were needed to
complete a questionnaire to initiate this project. The survey examined 21 subjects of a
variety of ages gathering specific information about the relationships between actual
stress (as defined by life events that have occurred over the past year), perceived
stress (how stressed you actually feel), physical illness, and the personality dimension
of extroversion-introversion. 
The survey began by asking demographic information such as age and sex. The next series
of questions consisted of 11 personality-type questions to which the subjects were to
respond with a yes/no answer. A total score of 11 points were possible. A high score
indicated an extroverted personality, and a low score indicated an introverted
personality. Subjects were to also indicate how stressed they perceived themselves as
being in the past six months by choosing a number from a one to ten scale. An answer of
ten would indicate extreme stress and therefore a high level of perceived stress. An
answer of zero would indicate that the subject has experienced no stress over the past
six months. Subjects answering the questionnaire were also asked how often they
experience physical illness and how often they have had to miss work or school because of
it.
After collecting, it was sorted, categorized, and analyzed to determine whether it
supported the theory that stress causes illness. 
The remainder of the information gathered for this project was in the form of both
secondary and primary research - using the internet and the library.
Findings/Results
Twelve females and nine males responded to the 30 questionnaires that were distributed.
The level of extroversion was the dividing point for the comparative analysis. Of the
students surveyed, 80 percent were characterized as having an extroverted personality.
Table 1 shows the results of the report including introversion-extroversion scale, a
scale for all subjects responding to the survey, perceived stress, and total number of
physical symptoms. The respondents were categorized into these groups according to the
characteristics and answers given. More than half of all respondents experience high
levels of perceived stress, actual stress, and physical illness. People who were
categorized as introverts had a comparatively higher rate of stress and illness than
those that are characterized as extroverts.
Table 1. Compares the % of individuals who have either a characteristically introverted
or extroverted personality; with their levels of perceived and actual stress, and number
pf physical symptoms of illness. Also shows % for all subjects surveyed.
Introversion Extroversion All Subjects
Perceived Stress 70% 35% 53%
Actual Stress 53% 49% 51%
Total Number of Physical Symptoms 69% 42% 56%
Conclusion
Statistical analysis supported the theory that stress causes illness. In addition, stress
levels were higher in those people that indicated an introverted personality type. The
study indicates a relationship between stress and illness, and that this relationship was
strongest between how stressed one feels and illness. This held true for all subjects as
a group. 
The overall results of the questionnaire should be perceived with several uncertainties.
One of the reasons for the uncertainties is the possibility that each subject did not
answer each question as honestly as possible. For example, on each question of one of the
surveys, a respondent circled the first answer of each question. Due to the formality of
the questionnaire, the evidence provided by the subject would not be conclusive in any
way. Another reason to view the results as doubtful is due to incomplete information. Two
of the twenty-one individuals surveyed failed to complete crucial information on the
questionnaire. These are just two vital scenarios that can cause misconceptions when
reviewing the overall results and conclusions of this study.
Taking in account the stress levels of the individuals who responded to the survey, more
than half do not find ways to relieve their stress. There does not appear to be in any
one survey, a particular event that is causing stress related illnesses. As for all
subjects, actual life stressors played a larger role in physical illness than how
stressed one felt. 
Although the group as a whole had factors that produced a relationship between stress and
illness, people who displayed characteristics of an extroverted personality type had a
weakened relationship between actual stress and illness. This group also had fewer
physical symptoms of illness.
The group that was characterized as an introverted personality type scored the highest in
all categories relating to stress and illness. They represented statistics that proved
that they had cases of higher physical symptoms of illness, higher perceived stress
levels and higher actual stress levels. This was not surprising considering all the
literature that supports this conclusion. 
In this study, the theory that stress causes illness proved to be correct. Of the 21
subjects surveyed, there proved to be an overall correlation between stress and physical
illness. The relationship held stronger for those who are of an introverted personality
type. Although the percentages were overall low for all categories, this was because not
enough people responded to the study. The sample size was insufficient since 30 copies of
the questionnaire were given out and only 21 responded. Even though these limitations are
evident, the results still concluded that stress causes illness and is more evident in
those people who are characterized as having an introverted personality type. 
There are many ways to reduce stress, although it cannot be eliminated. Many individuals
surveyed for this project did not take measures to reduce stress, such as an hour of
relaxation, meditation, or exercise. Decreasing stress can help moderate the frequency
and degree of illnesses that are generating from being highly stressed. All that is
really needed to begin reducing stress is some quiet time for yourself - time to collect
your thoughts and think about your well-being. Once you can find the time for
stress-relief, the frequencies of illnesses can be decreased.
References
Can Stress Make You Sick? (1998, April). Harvard Health Letter, 23.
DeVito, P. (1994, July). The Immune System vs. Stress. USA Today Magazine, 123.
Hoffman, M. A., Levy-Shiff, R., & Malinski, D. (1996). Stress and Adjustment in the
Transition to adolescence: Moderating Effects of Neuroticism and Extroversion. Journal of
Youth and Adolescence 25, 161-175 
Keicolt-Glaser, J. K., Marucha, P. T., Malarkey, W. B., Mercado, A. M., Glaser, R.
(1995). Slowing of Wound Healing by Psychological Stress. The Lancet, 346.
http://www.goodhealth.com/gh_mag/febmar98/reduction.html
http://well-net.com/stress/SRDPromo2.html 
http://www.reflexology.org/aor/refinfo/refwork.htm 
http://www.cybervitamins.com/stress.htm 
Bibliography
References
Can Stress Make You Sick? (1998, April). Harvard Health Letter, 23.
DeVito, P. (1994, July). The Immune System vs. Stress. USA Today Magazine, 123.
Hoffman, M. A., Levy-Shiff, R., & Malinski, D. (1996). Stress and Adjustment in the
Transition to adolescence: Moderating Effects of Neuroticism and Extroversion. Journal of
Youth and Adolescence 25, 161-175 
Keicolt-Glaser, J. K., Marucha, P. T., Malarkey, W. B., Mercado, A. M., Glaser, R.
(1995). Slowing of Wound Healing by Psychological Stress. The Lancet, 346.
http://www.goodhealth.com/gh_mag/febmar98/reduction.html
http://well-net.com/stress/SRDPromo2.html 
http://www.reflexology.org/aor/refinfo/refwork.htm 
http://www.cybervitamins.com/stress.htm