Resistance Stage: What is its primary function?

• A. To Prolong the Alarm Reaction
• B. To Counteract the Physiological Changes That Happened During Alarm Stage
• C. To Cause Exhaustion
• D. To Improve Digestion

Answer: (B)

In the resistance stage the body works to adapt to ongoing stress by counteracting the changes produced in the alarm stage. Its main function is to counteract those physiological changes and maintain function while the stressor persists, using hormonal and metabolic adjustments to keep vital systems operating and move the body back toward balance. This stage tries to sustain performance and resource use so you don’t slip into full exhaustion if the stress continues.

If the stressor remains, the body continues to mobilize resources to resist, which can eventually deplete energy stores and lead to exhaustion. The other options don’t fit this process: prolonging the alarm reaction keeps the body in high arousal rather than promoting adaptation, exhaustion is the later outcome, and digestion is typically reduced during stress rather than improved.