Stress and Physiological Indicators

Most adults spend the majority of their waking hours at work and engaged in activities that can be very stressful. Recent evidence suggests that the experience of stressors at work may predict the development of costly and deadly health conditions like cardiovascular disease. Thus, it is important to understand how work stressors relate to and predict the underlying physiological drivers of disease. This entry will explore how stress at work is related to physiological indicators, including how work stress is conceptualized and how researchers can measure physiological indicators. Although stress can impact multiple physiological systems, including immune, endocrine, and cardiovascular systems, particular attention will be paid to the relatively easily measured and disease-relevant indicators of cortisol and blood pressure.