A February 2024 study by the University of Bath said,

  • “We found a convincing link between mental and physical ill-health, and the way a person typically views stressful situations,”

  • “The more you’re able to appraise a stressful situation as a challenge, the more likely you are to report good health and wellbeing.”

  • “Researchers have speculated for the past 15 years that people who repeatedly believe they don’t have the resources to cope in stressful situations are putting their health at risk, but we believe this is the first time the theory has been properly tested, leading to us finding a link between stress appraisals and health.”

  • “Most people will fluctuate in the way they appraise a situation, depending on the details of the specific situation, however, some people are far more likely to appraise all stressful situations as a threat, and this study shows that this tendency is associated with poorer health and wellbeing.”