{"id":341,"date":"2013-08-08T20:31:08","date_gmt":"2013-08-08T20:31:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/secd-intro\/?page_id=341"},"modified":"2025-07-07T21:32:36","modified_gmt":"2025-07-07T21:32:36","slug":"bd-2-2-stress","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/secd-intro\/bd-2-2-stress\/","title":{"rendered":"BD 2.2 Stress"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/files\/2011\/10\/vaccination_Tanzania-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photographer: Zahur Ramji \/AKF<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How does stress affect child development? Can some stress be good? What does &#8220;toxic stress&#8221; mean?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We often hear about the negative effects of stress on human health. On this page, you will look more closely at how stress affects early brain development and the longterm outcomes for various types of stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We all&nbsp;experience stressful situations and our bodies react to these&nbsp;situations. The magnitude of the stressor along with support systems, if any, around us influence the long term impact of stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the next video from Tajikistan, watch as young Yusuf gets his first needle at the local health centre.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-thumbnail-Z1OHKwt wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-thumbnail\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"video-thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/secd-intro\/files\/2022\/05\/146326448.jpg\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span><span class=\"tap-description\">First needle (2:12)<\/span>      \n         \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: auto;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\"><iframe frameborder=\"0\" webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/146326448?api=1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-reflect-Z15PSHL wp-block-lazyblock-reflect\"><div class=\"reflect\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How did Yusuf respond when his mother was able to pick him up after getting&nbsp;the needle? How did he react when she put him down to dress him?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What does this scene tell you about the role of his mother in helping him to handle this stressful event?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Who was more stressed, Yusuf or his mother?<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For Yusuf, the pain of the needle activated a biological and behavioural stress reaction.\u00a0Dr. Megan Gunnar is a\u00a0professor and former director of the Institute of Child Development at the University of Minnesota who\u00a0studies the biology of stress and how it affects brain development and behaviour. In the following clip, Gunnar explains how she studies stress by collecting spit, and we see children playing &#8220;the tasting game&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript-Z2fMxRi wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Gunnar &#8211; measuring stress (2:46)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/90182228?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div><br>\n      <p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/transcript-gunnar-measuring-stress\/\" target=\"_blank\">Gunnar &#8211; measuring stress &#8211; Text Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the next video, she explains the two parts of the mammalian stress system.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript-Z1jyFiJ wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Gunnar &#8211; stress biology (3:15)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/90193868?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div><br>\n      <p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/transcript-gunnar-stress-biology\/\" target=\"_blank\">Gunnar &#8211; stress biology &#8211; Text Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the next clip, Gunnar discusses the difference between <strong>stressors<\/strong> and <strong>stress,<\/strong> and she describes what chronic activation of the stress system means for early brain development.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript-ZIAQoe wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Gunnar &#8211; stressors vs. stress (3:43)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/90193901?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div><br>\n      <p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/transcript-gunnar-stressors-vs-stress\/\" target=\"_blank\">Gunnar &#8211; stressors vs. stress &#8211; Text Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-reflect-UjEuR wp-block-lazyblock-reflect\"><div class=\"reflect\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Why is it important for people who work with young children and families to understand how stress pathways develop?<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-key-full-20RomN wp-block-lazyblock-key-full\"><div class=\"key-full\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The National Scientific Council on the Developing Child (2014) defines these types of stress activation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Toxic stress<\/strong> &#8211; when there is strong, frequent or ongoing activation of the stress system. This typically happens when there are chronic stressors, the child has no control over what is happening, and\/or when there is no caring adult available to provide support.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tolerable stress<\/strong> &#8211; these stress responses can affect brain development but the potential for harm is reduced because tolerable stress is usually of shorter duration than toxic stress. The presence of a caring adult can also make a stress response tolerable instead of toxic.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Positive stress<\/strong> &#8211; brief, manageable stress responses that are part of daily life. Supportive relationships can help children learn to cope with situations such as fears and frustrations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the next video, Gunnar discusses when stressors are likely to cause toxic stress and the effect on child development.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript-ZqoRuh wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Gunnar &#8211; toxic stress (1:58)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/90193923?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div><br>\n      <p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/transcript-gunnar-toxic-stress\/\" target=\"_blank\">Gunnar &#8211; toxic stress &#8211; Text Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now watch as Gunnar describes how the prefrontal cortex is affected in an environment of threat and how that helps explain why children who experience chronic stress may struggle in school or in other contexts where they are expected to focus their attention, think and control their actions.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/files\/2012\/03\/brainSlide300x230.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2207\" title=\"brainSlide300x230\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:7px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript-1GQTAd wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Gunnar &#8211; prefrontal cortex (2:00)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/90193819?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div><br>\n      <p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/transcript-gunnar-prefrontal-cortex\/\" target=\"_blank\">Gunnar &#8211; prefrontal cortex &#8211; Text Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The most damaging source of stress for children is ongoing abuse and\/or neglect. The Bucharest Early Intervention Project (BEIP) is a longitudinal study based on severely neglected Romanian orphans who were institutionalized from birth and later moved into nurturing homes. The study is outlined by Dr. Charles Nelson,\u00a0a professor at the Harvard School of Public Health,\u00a0in the following clip.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript-Z19Up81 wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Nelson &#8211; Bucharest early intervention project (6:42)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/90191539?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div><br>\n      <p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/transcript-nelson-bucharest-early-intervention-project\/\" target=\"_blank\">Nelson &#8211; Bucharest early intervention project &#8211; Text Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Ecology of Childhood module includes updates on this research study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Defining different types of stress activation can help caregivers understand that when children&nbsp;experience stress, the caregiver&#8217;s presence and support can help to reduce the negative impact on brain development. Review your understanding of the three types of stress activation:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-interact-2hGDkz wp-block-lazyblock-interact\"><div class=\"interact-link context-container\">\n  <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/hscsr.rrc.ca\/secd\/interactions\/intlIntro-stressAndDevtBrain\/stressAndDevtBrain.html\" class=\"tap-container interact\">\n    <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n    <div class=\"tap-content\">\n      <span class=\"tap-label\">INTERACT<\/span>\n      <span class=\"tap-description\">Types of stress activation<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/a>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is no doubt that toxic stress can have devastating effects on children. Dr. Michael Yellow Bird, Dean of the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Manitoba, presents a practical and hopeful message about the &#8220;healing power&#8221; of some everyday experiences. He explains how traditional activities such as movement and dance affect our brains and alleviate stress. As you listen to the next two videos, think about what Dr. Yellow Bird&#8217;s message means to you and to children in your life.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript-ZxC68h wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Yellow Bird &#8211; healing power of movement and dance (2:36)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/745514129?api=1   \" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div><br>\n      <p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/transcript-yellow-bird-healing-power-of-movement-and-dance\/\" target=\"_blank\">Yellow Bird &#8211; healing power of movement and dance &#8211; Text Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript-Z7FDgo wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Yellow Bird &#8211; healing power of the land (2:07)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/745513656?api=1        \" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div><br>\n      <p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/transcript-yellow-bird-healing-power-of-the-land\" target=\"_blank\">Yellow Bird &#8211; healing power of the land &#8211; Text Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-reflect-Z2ivfhu wp-block-lazyblock-reflect\"><div class=\"reflect\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Which of Dr. Yellow Bird\u2019s messages resonate with you, and ways you can manage stress in your own life?&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How can you apply his suggestions to your work with children?<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the next page, you will learn about memory and how researchers study it. Memory is an important aspect of thinking and learning.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How does stress affect child development? Can some stress be good? What does &#8220;toxic stress&#8221; mean? We often hear about the negative effects of stress on human health. On this page, you will look more closely at how stress affects early brain development and the longterm outcomes for various types of stress. We all&nbsp;experience stressful [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-341","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/secd-intro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/341","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/secd-intro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/secd-intro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/secd-intro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/secd-intro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=341"}],"version-history":[{"count":46,"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/secd-intro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/341\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8330,"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/secd-intro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/341\/revisions\/8330"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/secd-intro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=341"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}