According to Chong, Tsunaka, Tsang, Chan, and Cheung (2011) the negative
impact of stress is a global health issue. In both adolescents and adults "unmanaged
stress is believed to be a contributing and/or causal factor in the development of mental
health and behavioral problems" (Khalsa, 2011, p. 2). Other researchers, such as Li and
Goldsmith (2012) explained that, "stress, if left untreated can have unfavorable effects on
the body that may progress into chronic conditions" (p. 21). Further, Chong et al. (2011)
summarized the impact of stress, as follows:
Stress is a universal problem that has a detrimental effect on the mental,
physical, and psychological health of individuals. Unmanaged stress may reduce
an individual's immune function and increase his or her vulnerability to chronic
pain, lung cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Additionally, it has a negative
impact on quality of life. (p. 32)
Elevated levels of stress and stress exposure have been linked to myriad
deleterious health outcomes (Kinser and Lyon, 2014). Specifically, Kinser and Lyon
(2014) indicated that depression is one of the most costly and debilitating mental health
conditions facing the U.S. healthcare system today. According to Kinser and Lyon
(2014), "depression is a leading cause of disability and disease worldwide and in the
United States, affecting millions of individuals worldwide" (p. 665). Moreover, Kinser
and Lyon (2014) highlighted the relationship between stress and depression by having
said "it is well established that psychological stress plays an integral role in depression
2
and that depression has numerous negative health outcomes" (p. 665). Recently, many
other authors have provided further analysis of the impact of stress.