A–Z Glossary

Negative affect

Negative affect is an unpleasant emotional tone that may appear as irritability, criticism, sarcasm, impatience, withdrawal, or tension.

← Back to A–Z Glossary

Search results for: Negative affect

How stress affects parenting

How stress affects parenting

Stress is not just a feeling: it is a body-brain state Stress begins as an adaptive physiological response. When the brain appraises a situation as demanding or threatening, the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis become more active. Heart rate may increase, muscles tense, breathing becomes shallower, and cortisol and catecholamines help mobilize energy. […]