Final answer:
Life stress has been shown to play a significant role in making individuals susceptible to both psychological disorders and physical illnesses. Various studies have documented the link between stressful life events and health problems, highlighting the need for effective stress management to prevent and treat such conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Turner & Lloyd's 2004 study encompasses the influence of life stress on the predisposition to health disorders. Research supports the assertion that stress can indeed contribute significantly to both mental and physical health conditions.
Mazure (1998) explicitly links life stressors as risk factors in depression, suggesting that people who experience intense or chronic life stressors are at a greater risk of developing depressive disorders.
Furthermore, stress can affect overall health, leading to an increased likelihood of physical illness. The concept of a disease-prone personality hypothesizes that certain personality traits, like depression, anger, and anxiety, can make individuals more susceptible to illness. Chronic stress, as well as certain personality traits, have been linked to higher morbidity and mortality rates.
Studies such as those by Holmes and Rahe, using tools like the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS), have examined the correlation between stressful life events and health, indicating that significant life changes, even positive ones, can trigger stress responses that may lead to illness.
Moreover, considerable evidence suggests that extreme or prolonged stress can exacerbate or trigger various psychological disorders, and can also promote the development and progression of physical diseases, such as heart diseases post-9/11 or work-related stress correlating with increased incidence of the common cold.
In summary, life stress has a documented role in placing individuals at risk of developing both psychological disorders and physical illnesses. This information emphasizes the importance of stress management and intervention in preventing and treating health issues.