Is There Any Level of Stress Exposure That Is Beneficial?

Exposure to a modicum of stress-neither too much nor too little-may confer an adaptive advantage in the face of subsequent stress. This study tests whether there is a "sweet spot" of stress exposure in childhood.

The analysis uses data from the prospective, longitudinal, representative Great Smoky Mountains Study. Childhood emotional symptoms and exposure to 32 different stressful events were assessed with a structured diagnostic interview in individuals aged 9 to 16 years (6,674 total observations). Three definitions of "moderate stress" were derived based upon the type of the prior event, the number of prior stressful events, and the severity of the stressful events. A series of planned post hoc comparisons tested whether prior exposure to moderate stress was advantageous when dealing with recent stressful life events.

The majority of participants reported no/low stress (67.8.5%-77.5%). Moderate stress or exposure to one stressful event was reported at between 14.8% and 26.0% of all childhood observations. In all models, both recent stress and past stress were independently associated with current emotional symptoms. Planned post hoc comparisons, however, suggested no evidence of an advantage of prior exposure to moderate stress in participants' response to recent stressful events. Findings were most consistent with a risk saturation effect.

In this cohort study, there was no evidence of an adaptive level of prior stress exposure consistent with concepts of steeling or stress inoculation. Rather, both past and current stressful events affect current functioning up to some point beyond which there is little additional vulnerability.

We worked to ensure sex and gender balance in the recruitment of human participants. We worked to ensure race, ethnic, and/or other types of diversity in the recruitment of human participants. We actively worked to promote sex and gender balance in our author group.