Stress and Anxiety

The selection of peer-reviewed chapters brings together current research on how stress and adversity shape psychological well- being. Emerging from the scientific community STAR, the volume examines the complex pathways through which experiences interact with emotional regulation, social support, coping, mentalization, and resilience. The chapters address a wide range of contemporary issues, including life satisfaction, trauma recovery, academic burnout, marginalisation, disability, pregnancy-related health anxiety, and the mental-health consequences of the COVID-19 lockdown. The volume also explores the broader systems in which psychological distress unfolds, including families, schools, communities, and the cultural context that shape how adversity is experienced and understood. The contributors highlight the emotional and cognitive processes that can either exacerbate distress or foster resilience and healthier adjustment. By placing individual experience within their broader cultural, and institutional contexts, this collection advances a nuanced understanding of mental health in a rapidly changing world. It will serve as a valuable resource for researchers, clinicians, educators, counsellors, and students in psychology, psychiatry, education, and social work.