What does cumulative stress refer to?

Cumulative stress is defined as stress that accumulates over a period due to ongoing pressures, challenges, or minor irritations rather than from a single event. This type of stress can lead to significant mental and emotional exhaustion as individuals struggle to manage these overlapping stressors over time. The prolonged exposure to stressors can overwhelm coping mechanisms, ultimately affecting mental health, leading to symptoms like anxiety, depression, or burnout.

In contrast, the other options describe different concepts of stress or effects. A refers to acute stress, which arises from a specific incident and often results in an immediate response, while C describes a transient stress response that resolves quickly. D focuses only on the physical health implications of stress, neglecting the broader psychological impacts that cumulative stress can have.