DISENTANGLING THE STRESS LABYRINTH - INTERPRETING THE MEANING OF THE TERM STRESS AS IT IS STUDIED IN HEALTH CONTEXT

Stress has been a ubiquitous concept in health research. We compare st ress theories with the operationalization of stress in health research . Although scientific investigation is ideally based on theoretical pr inciples, stress research is seen as often atheoretical or misapplying theories. Major conceptualizations of stress are considered and promi nent research avenues in health psychology are analyzed as to the exte nt they mirror, diverge from, or inform stress conceptualizations. A c entral conclusion of the paper is that perceived and objective stresso rs are not only both valid construels of stress, but that they operate differently on psychological and physiological systems.