Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 12, 2026

A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents
Published on: July 10, 2017
Age, the stress process, and physical distress: the role of distal stressors
Objectives:
This article examines the nature of distal stressors over a 15-year period and the extent to which they contribute to the explanation of additional variation in the life stress model.
Methods:
The study uses data collected from a community sample of adults to test specific hypotheses.
Results:
Findings show that (a) distal stressors significantly increase variance explained in physical symptoms and maintain a direct effect on physical symptoms, (b) recent stressors mediate the effects of distal stressors on distress, and (c) social resources have direct and mediating effects on physical distress. Variations exist for different age groups or life stages.
Discussion:
The implications of the findings are discussed in the context of life course, theoretical issues of temporality, types of stressors, and the role of social resources. The major conclusion is that there are multiple pathways to distress that differ for different stages in the life course.
Related Concept Videos
Psychological Responses to Stress
Types of Stressors
Catastrophes
Catastrophes refer to large-scale, unpredictable events that create overwhelming stress and a sense of threat. Examples include natural disasters like...
Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle
Stress and Mental Health
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Physiological Foundation of Stress
Role of the Sympathetic Nervous System
Adrenaline triggers the...
Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis

