stressor

A stressor is a chemical or biological agent, environmental condition, external stimulus or an event seen as causing stress to an organism. Psychologically speaking, a stressor can be events or environments that individuals might consider demanding, challenging, and/or threatening individual safety.

Events or objects that may trigger a stress response may include: environmental stressors (hypo or hyper-thermic temperatures, elevated sound levels, over-illumination, overcrowding) daily "stress" events (e.g., traffic, lost keys, money, quality and quantity of physical activity) life changes (e.g., divorce, bereavement) workplace stressors (e.g., high job demand vs. low job control, repeated or sustained exertions, forceful exertions, extreme postures, office clutter) chemical stressors (e.g., tobacco, alcohol, drugs) social stressors (e.g., societal and family demands)