Which theory describes stress as a process including internal and external demands and resources?

• A. Stress as stimulus (Holmes and Rahe)
• B. Stress as response (Selye)
• C. Stress as transaction (Lazarus)
• D. Stress as a process including internal and external demands and resources (Pearlin)

Answer: (D)

Stress is best understood as a process that unfolds over time, shaped by the ongoing interaction between what a person must handle and what they have available to cope with it. Pearlin’s approach centers on this dynamic, looking at how external demands (like role strain, financial pressures, stigma, or caregiving responsibilities) combine with internal resources (such as self-efficacy, coping skills, and emotional regulation) and external supports (support from family, friends, or health services). The model highlights how these demands and resources influence appraisal, coping efforts, and ultimately health and functioning, with stress potentially spreading from one life domain to another over time (stress proliferation). This framework also emphasizes that resources can buffer the impact of demands, or, if lacking, amplify stress, which is especially relevant in chronic situations like HIV/AIDS where caregiving, treatment adherence, stigma, and social support dynamically interact. In contrast, viewing stress merely as a stimulus focuses on events that occur, and viewing stress as a physiological response emphasizes the body’s reactions; while Lazarus’ transactional view centers on appraisal and coping, Pearlin adds the broader social-contextual process and the role of resources in shaping how stress is experienced and managed.