4 semester hoursUndergraduateSeminarNUpath CENUpath WI
Examines the lifelong impact of stress on physical and mental health, with particular attention to the role of cortisol from the prenatal period through adulthood. Considers how stress during different life stages influences health and development, the distinction between adaptive and harmful stress responses, and the consequences of chronic stress. Explores current research alongside public health perspectives to highlight biological, psychological, and social dimensions of stress. Analyzes interventions aimed at reducing or managing stress and considers how scientific findings are represented in media and policy. Provides an integrative framework for understanding stress as both a biological process and a public health challenge.