Table 3.

The Multidimensional Nature of the So-Called “Stress Response”: Diversity and Multiplicity

Stressors	Stress Responses
Main target of exposure to stressor	Physical function, cognitive function, emotional regulation, social integration, development, maturation
Duration of exposure to stressor	Acute, single, repeated, prolonged, chronic
Severity of stressor	Mild, moderate, severe, life threatening
Timing of exposure to stressor	Predictable, unpredictable, dependent on biological time of day, early life, adult life, late life
Type of response to stressor	Homeostatic (adaptive, return to baseline set point); allostatic (maladaptive, variable set point)