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In today's modern world, an example of stress would be finishing eating the handful of Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches to move on in an episode of Fear Factor, or trying to get your cheese soufflé to rise in the final 20 seconds of Hell's Kitchen. Another example of stress may be trying to survive the first week, known as hell week, of Navy Seal training.

In each of these examples, the situation, the other players, Gordon Ramsey or the drill instructor may not have as big a role in your stress level as one might think. Your genetic makeup may be the factor in determining your success or failure.

At least it is according to science. 

In a new study conducted by Timothy Judge, professor of management at the University of Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business, work stress, job satisfaction and health problems due to high stress have more to do with genes than environment.

The lead author of "Genetic influences on core self-evaluations, job satisfaction, work stress, and employee health: A behavioral genetics mediated model," published in Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Judge studied nearly 600 twins -- some identical, some fraternal -- who were born together and reared separately. He found that being raised in the same environment had very little effect on personality, stress and health. Shared genes turned out to be about four times as important as shared environment.

"This doesn't mean we shouldn't do things as employers or individuals to avoid stressful jobs," Judge says. "However, we also shouldn't assume that we're 'a blank slate' and therefore be overly optimistic about what the work environment can and can't do as far as stress is concerned. More of it has to do with what's inside of us than what we encounter outside in the work environment."

Professor Judge's study maintains that managing and handling stress are more of a function of our genes (and our genetic predisposition) than the environmental stimuli itself. It may mean that the most effective combat soldiers may be born rather than molded. Certain people, who have a certain genetic predisposition, may simply be better suited to certain high stress jobs than others.