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Related Concept Videos

Psychological Responses to Stress01:20

Psychological Responses to Stress

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Psychological responses to stress encompass the various cognitive and emotional reactions individuals experience when faced with challenging or threatening situations, such as a job loss. Prolonged exposure to stressors can disturb emotional balance, increasing negative emotions (e.g., anxiety and sadness) and diminishing positive emotions (e.g., joy and satisfaction). These persistent emotional shifts are associated with an increased risk of both physical illness and mental health issues, such...
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Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle01:27

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Stress is a multifaceted response to events perceived as challenging or threatening, highlighting physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral reactions. Physically, stress can lead to fatigue, sleep disruptions, and various health issues such as frequent colds, chest pains, and nausea. Emotionally, it can manifest as anxiety, depression, irritability, and anger triggered by both minor and major life events. Cognitively, it may result in difficulty in concentration, memory, and...
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The stress response system, also known as the fight-or-flight response, is the body's automatic physiological reaction to perceived threats. Hans Selye introduced the concept of General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) to describe the predictable pattern of changes that occur in response to stress. GAS consists of three sequential stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. This model helps explain how chronic stress can contribute to health problems.
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Types of Stressors01:23

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A stressor is any event, condition, or stimulus that triggers stress and causes a physical or psychological response in the body. Stressors can be categorized into three main types: catastrophes; significant life changes; and daily hassles, including social stress. Each can be detrimental to physical and mental well-being.
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Every organism has an optimum temperature range within which healthy growth and physiological functioning can occur. At the ends of this range, there will be a minimum and maximum temperature that interrupt biological processes.
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Stress triggers a coordinated physiological response involving the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This dual activation ensures that the body is prepared for both immediate and prolonged stress management. The process begins with the perception of a stressor. This initial phase activates the SNS, leading to the rapid release of adrenaline (epinephrine) from the adrenal glands.
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Updated: Apr 10, 2026

Measuring Biophysical and Psychological Stress Levels Following Visitation to Three Locations with Differing Levels of Nature
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Measuring Biophysical and Psychological Stress Levels Following Visitation to Three Locations with Differing Levels of Nature

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Stress Response to Nature Exposure Real Versus Virtual.

Joan E Cowdery1, Jeffrey Schulz1, Lynne Shetron-Rama1

  • 1Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI, USA.

Health Education & Behavior : the Official Publication of the Society for Public Health Education
|April 8, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Virtual reality (VR) nature exposure can reduce stress, similar to real nature. However, real nature settings significantly lowered post-exposure stress more than VR, suggesting both aid stress management.

Keywords:
environmentphysiological stress responsepsychological stressvirtual reality

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Psychology
  • Human Health
  • Virtual Reality Technology

Background:

  • Exposure to nature positively impacts mental and physical health, reducing stress.
  • Accessibility barriers limit many individuals' access to natural environments.
  • Virtual reality (VR) offers a potential alternative for nature-based interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the effects of real-world nature exposure versus VR nature exposure on stress levels.
  • To investigate physiological and self-reported stress responses to different nature exposure modalities.

Main Methods:

  • Pilot study utilizing a two-treatment crossover design.
  • Participants experienced both a real natural setting and the same setting via VR.
  • Measured outcomes included blood pressure, heart rate, cortisol, and perceived stress.

Main Results:

  • Both real and virtual nature exposure significantly decreased perceived stress and blood pressure.
  • Post-exposure acute stress was significantly higher after VR exposure compared to real nature exposure.
  • Virtual reality nature exposure may be a viable option for individuals with limited access to natural environments.

Conclusions:

  • Both real-world and virtual reality nature experiences show potential as stress management techniques.
  • While both modalities reduce stress, real nature exposure resulted in lower post-exposure acute stress.
  • VR can serve as a valuable tool for stress management, particularly for those unable to access natural settings.