Which statement best contrasts eustress and distress?

Which statement best contrasts eustress and distress?

• A. Eustress is positive and motivating; distress is negative and potentially harmful.
• B. Eustress and distress are both negative.
• C. Eustress lasts longer than distress.
• D. Distress never affects health.

Answer: (A)

Eustress vs distress describes how stressors are perceived and how they affect us. Eustress occurs when a situation is seen as a challenge within our coping abilities and it tends to energize, focus, and motivate us to perform better. Distress happens when the stressor feels overwhelming or threatening, leading to negative emotions and potentially harmful effects on health and functioning. Because of this difference in impact, the statement that best contrasts them is that eustress is positive and motivating, while distress is negative and potentially harmful. The other choices mischaracterize the relationship—eustress isn’t always negative, its duration isn’t the defining contrast, and distress can and does affect health.

Eustress vs distress describes how stressors are perceived and how they affect us. Eustress occurs when a situation is seen as a challenge within our coping abilities and it tends to energize, focus, and motivate us to perform better. Distress happens when the stressor feels overwhelming or threatening, leading to negative emotions and potentially harmful effects on health and functioning. Because of this difference in impact, the statement that best contrasts them is that eustress is positive and motivating, while distress is negative and potentially harmful. The other choices mischaracterize the relationship—eustress isn’t always negative, its duration isn’t the defining contrast, and distress can and does affect health.