Comparison on Consequences of Stress on Modern and Past Life - Literature review Example

Comparison on Consequences of Stress on Modern and Past Life al Affiliation Comparison on Consequences of Stress on Modern and Past Life According to Vrijkotte et al (2000), stress can be defined as the physical or emotional tension. It is a feeling that is experienced when an individual is of the view that the demands are far above the resources that they can mobilize to handle the situation. In their works, Vrijkotte, Van Doornen and De Geus, reasoned that modern life is more stressful than the past. Modern life is associated with several stressful situations, majority of which are based on the health of individuals (Vrijkotte, et. al, 2000). Vrijkotte, et. al, (2000) continue to assert that “the preset world is marked by increased cases of stress that is evident in nearly every activity that we undertake.” This work will show the causes and effects of stress to describe how stress levels have risen over the last three decades. It will expose some of the underlying factors associated with stress and its impact on people. This will focus on two countries namely China and United Kingdom. Relevant to the above, the paper will focus on comparison of three aspects of stress based on the modern and past life. Some of these aspects will comprise of work-related stressors, financial-based stressors, as well as stress associated with family issues. The paper will also explore health-related issues relevant to stress in the lives of human beings. In this respect, the paper will explore the effects of stress on digestive problems as well as heart diseases. Modern life is seen as more stressful as compared to the past. This can be viewed in terms of the health related issues that bedevil the current world, the financial issues, family issues, as well as the health related issues (Russell, 2013). These issues have been attributed to the increasing cases of stress related problems in the current society. It is of crucial significance to note that the level at which each aspect of the modern life mentioned above affects the lives of human beings differs considerably from each other. For instance, the consequences of health related stressors may greatly vary from the consequences of other aspects like family issues as well as financial issues. However, it is of critical significance to acknowledge the fact that these aspects of stress are greatly interlinked. Therefore, however much their consequences may vary, they contribute massively in making the modern life more stressful as compared to the past life. The issue of work has been shown to be one of the causes of stress in the modern world. This issue has been one of the problems that have bedeviled the society in various perspectives as compared to the past. The issue of work as an aspect of stressor in the current world can be viewed in different perspectives. In connection to the above, it is of crucial significance to note that the issue of work can take the form of those who are employed, as well as those who are not employed (Russell, 2013). Taking into consideration the people who are employed in the current world, it is critical to note that the workload in some firms as well as companies have always been overwhelming. The increasing levels of workloads have been associated with several mental, as well as psychological stresses in the lives of human beings in the current or modern world. Too much work has also been associated with exhaustion, boredom as well as tiredness in the lives of human beings. This has greatly influenced the productivity of people (Miller, 2013). On the other perspective, it is important to explore the stressful effects of work relevant to those who do not have any employment. In China and United Kingdom, there are great populations of people who are not employed. However, it is also important to note that the living standard in those countries is also very high. Therefore, managing to live well in these two countries has always been a problem to the unemployed lot (IBS, 2014). In the modern world, the increased population has presented considerable challenges in getting employment. This is opposed to the past when the population was not too large. Searching for jobs in the current world is very stressful. This may be very depressing when the person seeking for employment has a family to maintain. Several researches conducted in China and United Kingdom have shown that the psychological stress emanating from lack of employment has been associated with heightened impacts of diseases including diabetes as well as high blood pressure in human beings (IBS, 2014). This situation has worsened in the modern world as opposed to the past life. Russell, (2013) said that unemployment is indeed a very stressful experience as one has to struggle with many issues in a bid to ensure that life continues despite the present situation. Job gives people identity, influence how we see ourselves and how we are perceived by other people. Apart from the inability to meet the financial demands, unemployment leads into low self-esteem and self-confidence, loss of social class with who to identify and associate with (Russell, 2013).In a bid to overcome this form of stress, Russell argues that one need not to be ashamed of the situation which may lead into avoiding the company of other people or keeping off from social gathering as that will just make the condition worse. The WorkStress.net website indicates that in the modern life, work stress is most likely to manifest in to instability within the family as opposed to the past life. As a result of the stressing circumstances at the work place, people are likely to extend such stressful situations to their families back at home. This may be reflected through being very arrogant to the family members, uncontrolled anger, increased temper and communication barriers (WorkStress.net., 2014). Parents who are stressed at work are likely to abuse their children and unable to understand their needs leading to their poor growth and development. Financial instability as well as increasing cases of money problems has also been linked to stressful situations in human life (Bentley, 2014). In modern world, the economy has been dealt a major blow. This has affected a number of people and has been responsible for several financial-related stressors in human beings. In the modern world, the financial instability, as well as other cases of financial problems has been linked to the issue of increasing unemployment rates, increased dependence as well as other social factors. The financial instability has also been occasioned by the volatile economic conditions in the current world as opposed to the past (Miller, 2013). This is strongly attributed to increased cases of psychological stresses, mental stresses as well as emotional imbalance in a number of people. These have had negative consequences on the people in various measures. In both United Kingdom as well as China, the issue of financial instability has been attributes to the cause or roots of several domestic squabbles. For instance, stress emanating from low income, loss of jobs, as well as lack of employment has been responsible for several incidences of domestic violence in these two countries (IBS, 2014). Other than financial problems as well as work-related problems, it is important to note that family related issues may also result to different forms of stress. Most stressful circumstances experienced in domestic set ups are always occasioned by money issues. These problems have been so much on the increase in the modern life as opposed to the past. This is due to the nature of the modern social, political as well as economic challenges that affect the whole world. Increasing cases of financial problems have been realized in China due to lack of employment emanating from rapid population growth (Bentley, 2014). These have massively affected the people in considerable measures. It is of crucial significance to note that stresses in life are always associated with a number of diseases. However, the impact that these stresses have always vary in magnitude relevant to the nature of the diseases. Relevant to the above, it is important to note that diseases like high blood pressure as well as diabetes are always worsened by the stresses in life. Stresses in life are always considered as some of the causes of high blood pressure. However, more stress in life is likely to worsen the health condition of those suffering from this disease. It is estimated that approximately 16 million people in United Kingdom are affected with high blood pressure. On the same note, it is estimated that approximately 330 million of people in China are affected by high blood pressure (Marsden, 2014). In summary, it is critical to note that modern life is more stressful as compared to the past life. This can be manifested in the work-related issues, health related issues, as well as, financial related issues. With the current population growth and the challenging and dynamic economic situations, the modern life has proved more unwelcoming compared to the past. The rates of unemployment, health related issues as well as domestic squabbles have been on the increase in the modern world following the stressful situations attributed to them. This has been experienced in both China as well as United Kingdom. References Bentley, S. (2014,). Chinese Medicine for Stress Relief. Retrieved from http://blog.aoma.edu/blog/bid/257511/Chinese-Medicine-for-Stress-Relief Family problems causing stress. (2007, November 30). Retrieved from http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/interactive/discussion/family-problems-causing-stress-t13854-f35.html on 19th May 2015. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) - Causes . (2014, September 25). Retrieved from http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Irritable-bowel-syndrome/Pages/Causes.aspx on 19th May 2015. Marsden, R. (2014, June 23). Proof that stress really does cause heart attacks: Adrenaline can increase white blood cell production which can cause ruptures. Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2665424/proof-stress-really-does-cause-heart-attacks-Adrenaline-increase-white-blood-cell-production-cause-reptures.html on 19th May 2015. Miller, D. (2013, May 16). Advertising man, 24, dies of heart attack brought on by overwork after staying at the office until 11pm each night in China. 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