壓力是個人遭受挫折及生活事件所導致的一種心理感受及生理變化。個人長期遭遇重大挫折及生活事件，會累積重大壓力；若自我強度低、缺乏社會支援、有偏差的認知型態，又不能採取積極有效的對策來解決問題，輕者會有不良適應現象，如吸毒，重者產生身體或心理疾病，最嚴重的是自殺。研究結果顯示壓力確實會影響身、心健康，但它受許多中介變項的影響。這些變項包含了人格特質、社會支援、因應方式、認知型態。人格特質指的是自我強度、焦慮感、A型性格。因應方式則包括以逃避、拖延、或積極態面對問題。認知型態指的是內控型或外控型歸因的方式。

In this paper stress is defined as a disturbing condition. Those who encounter deep frustrations and life events may get high stress. The people with week ego-strength, lacking of social support, adopting unsuitable coping skill, may get physical or mental illness. This research has some conclusions. Firth, stress can cause physical or mental illness. Secondly, ego-strength、social support、coping skill are variances between stress and health..