Stress can arise from hereditary conditions which cause the central nervous system to be strained easily. It can also be a type of learned behavior, for example, those with parents who are stressed easily. Stress can also result from being in nerve-racking situations such as having a stressful career or experiencing familial problems.
Age can have a big impact on the likeliness of stress, for example, the transition from childhood to adulthood, when hormonal changes and a new role in society. Reaching the age of menopause can also cause stress, while men are also affected by hormone changes in older age, although less so than women. Reaching this age can cause an increase in worry and a low mood, as well as making both genders more susceptible to being easily offended.