Analysis Of Individual Risk Factors For Stress
Work, school, family, friends, interests, hobbies, recreation, community, church — there are many important elements in a satisfying life. Damaging stress often comes from letting one element — especially school or work — get blown out of proportion. Stress often forms from various factors, whether it being major life events, daily frustrations or ongoing stresses, it often can be detrimental to one’s health and wellbeing. Behavioral risk and unhealthy lifestyles often arise from the stressors, thus taking a toll on the human body and the mental process of a person. Stress and risk factors may potentially destroy one’s physical and mental health.
Max’s job is a major factor that adds stress to his life, thus leads to a variety of behavioral risk factors. Max’s job involves him working irregular hours that varying from week to week. In addition, Max’s job status restricts him from making decisions that involve his day-to-day workload. Research has suggested that people are less stressed when they have a sense of control throughout their daily lives. Lacking control has been found to cause an inability to cope, resulting in a greater level of stress, thus affecting the psychological and psychological well-being of a person. Max’s job is a major factor that adds stress to his life, thus leads to a variety of behavioral risk factors. If Max continues to lack the competence to cope with his work environment, he may cause more stress and a decline in his health due to it. Max may cope better and more effectively if he finds a satisfying job where he has more control over the choices he makes. In sum, Max is at risk of stress and disease because he works numerous hours while receiving low compensation at a place where he has little control.
Another risk factor for stress and disease is that he is the sole provider for his family, increasing his feeling of financial strain. Though Max wants to provide for his wife and kids obstacles that are out of his control, impeding his motive and goal to be the sole provider. Max’s frustration was met when his car broke down and had to rely on his wife for rides to and from work. Max’s growing level of stress may have altered his behavior to be more hostile. Relying on his wife for financial support or even just a ride may have caused him to feel more stressed. Studies have suggested that hostile individuals tend to react more intensely to a stressor than other individuals do. Hostile people also tend to create more stress in their own lives because of their negative attitudes and behavior. Additional research has found that hostile individuals are more likely to develop heart disease than those who were not as hostile. Thus ultimately, affecting their well-being and health.
Factors that buffer Max against stress and help him to cope is social support and frequently exercising. Max is an individual with friends and family who he feels he could rely on. Those with close, supportive relations have better immune responses and better health. Family and friends could allow max to express and talk about the various stressors that have been happening in his life. Max should continue to exercise regularly, as this has many benefits for one’s health. Regular exercise reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and alters hormones, circulation, muscle tone, and a number of other aspects of physical functioning.
In conclusion, the amount and sources of stress differ for everyone. Whether the source of stress comes from work, or not being able to pay bills, stressful occurrences can happen to everyone. Although, more and more people have begun to find ways to cope with the (unavoidable) stress in their daily lives. However, in order for Max to recover from his stressful life style, he should begin to recognize and accept his limits. If max does not change the stressors in his life his health and wellness and even life is at risk.
