What defines a stressor?

A stressor is defined as a real or imagined demand placed on an individual that can trigger stress responses. This definition encompasses various factors, including situations, events, or even thoughts that create pressure or challenge one's mental and emotional stability.

The concept highlights that stressors can be both tangible — such as deadlines or conflicts — or intangible, such as anxiety about future events or self-imposed expectations. Recognizing the nature of stressors is crucial for understanding how stress affects an individual and for developing effective coping strategies.

While chronic illnesses, physical symptoms of stress, and emotional responses are related to the effects of stress, they do not capture the essence of what a stressor is. A stressor specifically refers to the source or trigger that leads to the stress experience, rather than the consequences or manifestations of that experience.