A Century of Stress

This article is part of the A Century of Change series, which examines how long-term changes in daily life influence metabolic health over time.

Early 20th century: physical strain and recovery

In the early 1900s, stress was often tied to physical demands and tangible challenges. Farming, manual labor, and trades created predictable cycles of exertion followed by rest. Financial uncertainty, illness, and environmental hardship were real concerns, but stressors were usually immediate and situational.

Importantly, stress responses tended to resolve. Physical effort provided a natural outlet, and daily life included clear boundaries between work, rest, and social connection. This rhythm closely matched the body's stress-response physiology, allowing regular return to baseline.

Mid-20th century: social change and sustained pressure

As industrialization and urbanization expanded, the nature of stress began to shift. Work became more structured, less physical, and increasingly tied to schedules, productivity targets, and social expectations. Psychological strain grew alongside economic growth and cultural change.

During this period, scientific interest in stress increased. Researchers such as Hans Selye described stress as a biological response to demands placed on the body, highlighting the effects of prolonged activation. These insights contributed to a broader understanding of how repeated stress exposure influences long-term physiological patterns, including those discussed in explanations of chronic disease.

Late 20th century: acceleration and cognitive load

Technological advances further reshaped stress exposure. Cars, televisions, computers, and increasingly fast-paced work environments improved efficiency while reducing physical activity and increasing mental demand. Information became more abundant, and expectations for responsiveness grew.

Stress shifted from short-lived challenges to ongoing background pressure. Many people experienced sustained low-grade tension without clear resolution or recovery. This pattern placed greater strain on regulatory systems involved in energy balance, inflammation, and hormonal signaling.

Modern environments and continuous stimulation

In the modern era, stress is often tied to constant connectivity. Digital communication, notifications, and rapid information cycles blur the boundaries between work and rest. Emotional stressors such as comparison, uncertainty, and information overload are woven into daily routines.

Unlike earlier forms of stress, these pressures rarely trigger physical release or natural recovery. The nervous system may remain activated for long periods, interacting with eating patterns, movement levels, and sleep quality to influence overall metabolic stability.

Stress within a broader lifestyle context

Stress does not act in isolation. Its effects depend on how it interacts with other aspects of daily life, including food availability, physical activity, and social support. This interaction is why stress features prominently alongside eating and movement in discussions of modern health.

Frameworks such as the Four Foundations of Wellness place stress within a larger system that includes nourishment, movement, breathing, and mental habits. In this context, stress is understood as something to be managed over time rather than eliminated.

What a century of stress change reveals

The last hundred years show that stress itself is not new, but its form has changed. When stress becomes continuous, abstract, and disconnected from physical release, the body is asked to operate under conditions it was not designed for.

Understanding how stress evolved helps explain why calm, recovery, and emotional regulation are now recognized as essential components of long-term health. In a world that rarely slows down, restoring balance often begins with awareness of how modern stress differs from the challenges of earlier generations.