Stress vs. Tension: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Stress refers to mental or emotional strain, while tension is the physical strain or tightness in materials or muscles.
Key Differences
Stress often implies a psychological or emotional state of anxiety, pressure, or strain, typically resulting from demanding circumstances. Tension, in contrast, usually refers to a physical state of being stretched tight, such as muscles under strain or the tightness in a rope or cable.
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Dec 07, 2023
Stress can manifest in various ways, including feelings of overwhelm or difficulty in coping with mental or emotional challenges. Tension, on the other hand, is often felt as a physical sensation, like the stiffness in the body or a sense of rigidity in materials.
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Dec 07, 2023
In the context of materials science, stress is a force exerted per unit area within materials, leading to deformation. Tension, in this context, specifically refers to a force that attempts to elongate the material.
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Dec 07, 2023
When discussing human experience, stress is often associated with psychological states like worry or burnout. Conversely, tension might be used to describe physical conditions, such as muscle tension resulting from stress or overexertion.
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Dec 07, 2023
Stress and tension, while often interconnected, particularly in human physiology and psychology, are distinct concepts. Stress is more about the mental and emotional impact, whereas tension is about physical states or forces acting on objects.
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Dec 07, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Nature
Psychological/emotional strain or pressure.
Physical strain or tightness.
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Manifestation
Feelings of anxiety, overwhelm, or burnout.
Muscle stiffness, physical rigidity.
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Context in Science
Force per unit area causing deformation.
Force elongating or stretching a material.
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Dec 07, 2023
Physical Response
Can lead to mental fatigue or anxiety.
Results in physical tightness or discomfort.
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Dec 07, 2023
Relation to Health
Linked to mental health issues like depression.
Often associated with physical ailments.
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Dec 07, 2023
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Stress and Tension Definitions
Stress
Stress is the psychological tension from demanding circumstances.
Finals week always brings a lot of stress due to the heavy workload.
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Nov 25, 2023
Tension
In a psychological context, tension is the feeling of strain or anxiety.
The tense silence in the room was indicative of the underlying tension.
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Nov 25, 2023
Stress
Stress is a state of mental or emotional strain.
Constant deadlines at work can cause significant stress.
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Nov 25, 2023
Tension
Tension can describe a relationship strained by conflict or disagreement.
There's been a lot of tension between the co-workers lately.
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Nov 25, 2023
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Tension
Tension refers to the state of being stretched tight.
The tension in the rope was evident as it strained under the weight.
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Nov 25, 2023
Tension
Tension is the physical condition of being tight or rigid.
Yoga helps in releasing muscle tension after a long day at work.
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Nov 25, 2023
Stress
The emphasis placed on the sound or syllable spoken most forcefully in a word or phrase.
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Oct 19, 2023
Stress
The relative force of sound or emphasis given a syllable or word in accordance with a metrical pattern.
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Oct 19, 2023
Stress
The internal distribution of force per unit area within a body subject to an applied force or system of forces.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tension
Mental, emotional, or nervous strain
Working under great tension to make a deadline.
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Oct 19, 2023
Stress
The internal resistance of a body to such an applied force or system of forces.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tension
Barely controlled hostility or a strained relationship between people or groups
The dangerous tension between opposing military powers.
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Oct 19, 2023
Stress
A condition of extreme difficulty, pressure, or strain
"He presided over the economy during the period of its greatest stress and danger" (Robert J. Samuelson).
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Oct 19, 2023
Tension
A balanced relation between strongly opposing elements
"the continuing, and essential, tension between two of the three branches of government, judicial and legislative" (Haynes Johnson).
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Oct 19, 2023
Stress
A condition of physiological or psychological disturbance to the normal functioning or well-being of an organism, occurring as a response to any of various environmental or psychosocial stimuli. Signs and symptoms of stress in humans include increased blood pressure, insomnia, and irritability.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tension
The interplay of conflicting elements in a piece of literature, especially a poem.
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Stress
A stimulus or circumstance causing such a condition
Couldn't stand the stresses of the job and quit.
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Tension
A device for regulating tautness, especially a device that controls the tautness of thread on a sewing machine or loom.
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Oct 19, 2023
Stress
To give prominence of sound to (a syllable or word) in pronouncing or in accordance with a metrical pattern.
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Oct 19, 2023
Stress
(Informal) To subject to physiological or mental stress or strain. Often used with out
The pressure of the deadline is really stressing me out.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tension
The condition of being held in a state between two or more forces, which are acting in opposition to each other.
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Oct 19, 2023
Stress
To undergo physiological or mental stress, as from working too much. Often used with out.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tension
A feeling of nervousness, excitement, or fear that is created in a movie, book, etc.; suspense.
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Oct 19, 2023
Stress
(biology) A physical, chemical, infective agent aggressing an organism.
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Tension
State of an elastic object which is stretched in a way which increases its length.
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Stress
(biology) Aggression toward an organism resulting in a response in an attempt to restore previous conditions.
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Tension
Force transmitted through a rope, string, cable, or similar object (used with prepositions on, in, or of, e.g., "The tension in the cable is 1000 N", to convey that the same magnitude of force applies to objects attached to both ends).
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Oct 19, 2023
Stress
The internal distribution of force across a small boundary per unit area of that boundary (pressure) within a body. It causes strain or deformation and is typically symbolised by σ or τ.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tension
Voltage. Usually only the terms low tension, high tension, and extra-high tension, and the abbreviations LT, HT, and EHT are used. They are not precisely defined; LT is normally a few volts, HT a few hundreds of volts, and EHT thousands of volts.
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Oct 19, 2023
Stress
Force externally applied to a body which cause internal stress within the body.
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Tension
To place an object in tension, to pull or place strain on.
We tensioned the cable until it snapped.
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Stress
(uncountable) Emotional pressure suffered by a human being or other animal.
Go easy on him, he's been under a lot of stress lately.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tension
The act of stretching or straining; the state of being stretched or strained to stiffness; the state of being bent strained; as, the tension of the muscles, tension of the larynx.
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Oct 19, 2023
Stress
A suprasegmental feature of a language having additional attention raised to a sound, word or word group by means of of loudness, duration or pitch; phonological prominence.
Some people put the stress on the first syllable of “controversy”; others put it on the second.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tension
Fig.: Extreme strain of mind or excitement of feeling; intense effort.
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Oct 19, 2023
Stress
The suprasegmental feature of a language having additional attention raised to a sound by means of of loudness and/or duration; phonological prominence phonetically achieved by means of dynamics as distinct from pitch.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tension
The degree of stretching to which a wire, cord, piece of timber, or the like, is strained by drawing it in the direction of its length; strain.
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Oct 19, 2023
Stress
(uncountable) Emphasis placed on a particular point in an argument or discussion (whether spoken or written).
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Tension
The force by which a part is pulled when forming part of any system in equilibrium or in motion; as, the tension of a srting supporting a weight equals that weight.
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Tension
A device for checking the delivery of the thread in a sewing machine, so as to give the stitch the required degree of tightness.
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Tension
Expansive force; the force with which the particles of a body, as a gas, tend to recede from each other and occupy a larger space; elastic force; elasticity; as, the tension of vapor; the tension of air.
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Oct 19, 2023
Stress
(transitive) To apply force to (a body or structure) causing strain.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tension
The quality in consequence of which an electric charge tends to discharge itself, as into the air by a spark, or to pass from a body of greater to one of less electrical potential. It varies as the quantity of electricity upon a given area.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tension
Feelings of hostility that are not manifest;
He could sense her latent hostility to him
The diplomats' first concern was to reduce international tensions
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Tension
(psychology) a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense;
He suffered from fatigue and emotional tension
Stress is a vasoconstrictor
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Oct 19, 2023
Stress
(transitive) To emphasise (a syllable of a word).
“Emphasis” is stressed on the first syllable, but “emphatic” is stressed on the second.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tension
The physical condition of being stretched or strained;
It places great tension on the leg muscles
He could feel the tenseness of her body
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Oct 19, 2023
Tension
A balance between and interplay of opposing elements or tendencies (especially in art or literature);
There is a tension created between narrative time and movie time
There is a tension between these approaches to understanding history
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Oct 19, 2023
Stress
(transitive) To emphasise (a point) in an argument or discussion.
I must stress that this information is given in strict confidence.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tension
(physics) a stress that produces an elongation of an elastic physical body;
The direction of maximum tension moves asymptotically toward the direction of the shear
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Oct 19, 2023
Tension
The action of stretching something tight;
Tension holds the belt in the pulleys
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Stress
Pressure, strain; - used chiefly of immaterial things; except in mechanics; hence, urgency; importance; weight; significance.
The faculties of the mind are improved by exercise, yet they must not be put to a stress beyond their strength.
A body may as well lay too little as too much stress upon a dream.
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Tension
In physics, tension is the force transmitted through a string, rope, or wire.
The engineer calculated the tension needed to support the bridge.
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Nov 25, 2023
Stress
The force, or combination of forces, which produces a strain; force exerted in any direction or manner between contiguous bodies, or parts of bodies, and taking specific names according to its direction, or mode of action, as thrust or pressure, pull or tension, shear or tangential stress.
Stress is the mutual action between portions of matter.
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Oct 19, 2023
Stress
Force of utterance expended upon words or syllables. Stress is in English the chief element in accent and is one of the most important in emphasis. See Guide to pronunciation, 31-35.
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Oct 19, 2023
Stress
The relative prominence of a syllable or musical note (especially with regard to stress or pitch);
He put the stress on the wrong syllable
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Oct 19, 2023
Stress
(psychology) a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense;
He suffered from fatigue and emotional tension
Stress is a vasoconstrictor
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Oct 19, 2023
Stress
(physics) force that produces strain on a physical body;
The intensity of stress is expressed in units of force divided by units of area
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Oct 19, 2023
Stress
Special emphasis attached to something;
The stress was more on accuracy than on speed
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Oct 19, 2023
Stress
Difficulty that causes worry or emotional tension;
She endured the stresses and strains of life
He presided over the economy during the period of the greatest stress and danger
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Oct 19, 2023
Stress
To stress, single out as important;
Dr. Jones emphasizes exercise in addition to a change in diet
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Oct 19, 2023
Stress
Put stress on; utter with an accent;
In Farsi, you accent the last syllable of each word
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Oct 19, 2023
Stress
In physics, stress is the internal distribution of force per unit area.
The stress on the bridge’s beams increases with added weight.
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Nov 25, 2023
Stress
Stress can refer to emphasis in speech or writing.
The word record has different stress depending on its use as a noun or verb.
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Nov 25, 2023
Stress
Stress is the force that causes an object to deform.
The metal rod was tested for its ability to withstand stress.
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Nov 25, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can stress be positive?
Yes, stress can be positive, known as eustress, which can motivate and energize individuals.
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Dec 07, 2023
How does stress affect health?
Chronic stress can lead to numerous health issues, including heart disease, depression, and a weakened immune system.
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Dec 07, 2023
What is tension?
Tension is the state of being stretched tight, either physically in materials or psychologically.
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Dec 07, 2023
Is tension always negative?
While often uncomfortable, tension can be a normal response to stress and is not always negative.
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Dec 07, 2023
What is stress?
Stress is a state of mental or emotional strain, often caused by challenging situations.
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Dec 07, 2023
Can tension be a symptom of stress?
Yes, physical tension, especially in muscles, can be a direct symptom of mental or emotional stress.
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Dec 07, 2023
How can tension be relieved?
Physical tension can be relieved through relaxation techniques, exercise, and massage.
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What are stress management techniques?
Techniques include relaxation methods, time management, counseling, and physical activities.
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What are common causes of muscle tension?
Muscle tension is commonly caused by stress, overuse, or injury.
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Dec 07, 2023
Can tension affect mental health?
Yes, chronic tension, especially if related to stress, can impact mental health.
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Dec 07, 2023
What causes stress?
Stress can be caused by a variety of factors, including work, relationships, and financial pressures.
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Dec 07, 2023
Can stress be managed?
Yes, stress can be managed through various techniques like mindfulness, exercise, and proper time management.
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Dec 07, 2023
How does physical activity help with stress?
Physical activity releases endorphins, which are natural mood lifters, helping to reduce stress.
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Dec 07, 2023
Can relaxation techniques help with both stress and tension?
Yes, techniques like deep breathing and meditation can help alleviate both stress and tension.
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Dec 07, 2023
How do stress and tension interact?
Stress can lead to tension, particularly muscle tension, as a physical response.
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Dec 07, 2023
What are signs of stress?
Signs include irritability, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, and changes in appetite.
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Dec 07, 2023
Is it important to address stress and tension?
Yes, addressing both is crucial for overall health and well-being.
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Dec 07, 2023
What are signs of tension?
Signs of tension include muscle stiffness, headaches, and a feeling of tightness in the body.
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Dec 07, 2023
Is there a connection between stress and chronic diseases?
Yes, chronic stress is linked to several diseases, including hypertension and heart disease.
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Dec 07, 2023
How can workplace stress be reduced?
Reducing workplace stress can involve better time management, creating a supportive environment, and ensuring work-life balance.
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Dec 07, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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