Stressful Experiences Research Articles

Sex-dependent effects of acute stress in adolescence or adulthood on appetitive motivation.

Intensely stressful experiences can lead to long-lasting changes in appetitive and aversive behaviors. In humans, post-traumatic stress disorder increases the risk of comorbid appetitive disorders including addiction and obesity. We have previously shown that an acute stressful experience in adult male rats suppresses motivation for natural reward. We examine the impact of sex and age on the effects of intense stress on action-based (instrumental) and stimulus-based (Pavlovian) motivation for natural reward (food). Rats received 15 unsignaled footshocks (stress) in a single session followed by appetitive training and testing in a distinct context. In Experiment 1, stress occurred in either adolescence (PN28) or adulthood (PN70) with appetitive training and testing beginning on PN71 for all rats. In Experiment 2, stress and appetitive training/testing occurred in adolescence. Acute stress in adolescent females suppressed instrumental motivation assessed with progressive ratio testing when testing occurred in late adolescence or in adulthood, whereas in males stress in adolescence did not suppress instrumental motivation. Acute stress in adulthood did not alter instrumental motivation. In contrast, Pavlovian motivation assessed with single-outcome Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer (SO-PIT) was consistently enhanced in females following adolescent or adult stress. In males, however, stress in adolescence had no effect, whereas stress in adulthood attenuated SO-PIT. Acute stress in adolescence or adulthood altered instrumental motivation and stimulus-triggered Pavlovian motivation in a sex and developmentally specific manner. These findings suggest that the persistent effects of acute stress on Pavlovian and instrumental motivational processes differ in females and males, and that males may be less vulnerable to the deleterious effects of intense stress during adolescence on appetitive motivation.

The influence of self-efficacy and experience of Sri Lankan teachers on their experience of occupational stress and resilience

Back ground: The study focussed on the teaching community of Sri Lanka which examined, sense of efficacy, stress, years in service and resilience. Aims: There were two objectives in the study. First objective was to examine whether there was a relationship between a teacher’s sense of efficacy and the perceived occupational stress. Second objective was to understand whether a teacher’s years in service had an impact on their resilience. Method: A questionnaire with few demographic questions and three scales which assessed their sense of efficacy, occupational stress and resilience were presented via Qualitrics. Participants were attracted through a social media advert. Approval was granted to conduct the study under reference number UG7496 by the ethics panel of Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences. A quantitative research was conducted and the collected data was analysed using SPSS. Results: A total number of 113 responses were collected where 89 responses were used for analysis. Spearman’s correlation tests were carried out, and the computed results indicated a moderate negative relationship between teacher’s sense of efficacy and occupational stress, r=-0.56, n=89, p<.001. Further, a strong positive relationship was indicated between years in service and resilience of a teacher, r=0.70, n=89, p<.001. Conclusions: Both hypotheses which were tested were supported by the obtained results. Therefore, it was suggested that teachers with greater sense of efficacy perceived less occupational tress and teachers with more work experience had higher levels of resilience.

A Screening Instrument for Trauma-Related Behavior Among Young Primary School Students: Development and Validation of the RaPTOSS

AbstractThis article reports on the development and psychometric evaluation of a new teacher observation instrument to systematically assess young primary school students’ well-being and detect potential indicators of psychological trauma, the RaPTOSS: Risk and Protective factors Trauma Observation School Situations. The RaPTOSS is developed specifically for preschool and early primary school teachers, because of the limited abilities their young students have to verbally reflect and report on their well-being and stressful experiences. We examined the factor structure, internal consistency, convergent validity and criterion validity of the RaPTOSS in a sample of 406 4- to 8-year-old regular education students. Exploratory factor analyses yielded a four-factor structure for the risk items with the following factors: Withdrawn, Dysphoria, Destructive and Inattentive. The protective factor items revealed a four-factor structure closely aligning the theoretical factor structure: Safety and Relations, Self-Image, Everyday Life and Self-Regulation. All factors exhibited good to excellent internal consistency. Correlations between the RaPTOSS and existing measures of psychosocial well-being without a specific focus on trauma-related behavior demonstrated good convergent validity. Criterion validity was supported, as indicated by moderate to large positive correlations between teacher worries about a student and RaPTOSS risk factors, and moderate to large negative correlations between teacher worries and RAPTOSS protective factors. We conclude that the RaPTOSS is a promising measure for trauma-informed teaching and research, although future research is needed to establish its psychometric qualities in specific samples such as children diagnosed with PTSD and refugee children.

The privilege and the pressure: judges’ and magistrates’ reflections on the sources and impacts of stress in judicial work

There is growing evidence that judges and magistrates experience both high stress and high satisfaction in their work; however, the subjective experience of judicial stress and the cultural and professional factors shaping that experience remain largely unexamined. This qualitative study builds upon earlier quantitative research with the Australian judiciary, by exploring judges’ and magistrates’ perceptions of the sources and impacts of judicial stress and their ideas for court responses. Thematic analysis of 59 in-depth interviews with judicial officers from five Australian courts revealed eight themes pertaining to the better understanding and management of occupational stress within the judiciary. Implications for courts and individual judicial officers are discussed.

Developmental stage‐dependent effects of perceived predation risk on nestling tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor)

AbstractThe risk of predation directly affects the physiology, behavior, and fitness of wild birds. Strong social connections with conspecifics could help individuals recover from a stressful experience such as a predation event; however, competitive interactions also have the potential to exacerbate stress. Few studies have investigated the interaction between environmental stressors and the social landscape in wild bird populations. In 2 years of field studies, we experimentally simulated predation attempts on breeding female tree swallows (Tachicyneta bicolor). At the same time, we manipulated female breast plumage color, a key social signal. Simulated predation events on tree swallows early in the nestling period reduced young nestlings' mass by approximately 20% and shortened telomere lengths. Ultimately, only 31% of nestlings in the predation group fledged compared with 70% of control nestlings. However, the effects of experimental manipulations were timing dependent: the following year when we swapped the order of the experimental manipulations and simulated predation during incubation, there were no significant effects of predation on nestling condition or fledging success. Contrary to our expectations, manipulation of the social environment did not affect the response of tree swallows to simulated predation. However, manipulating female plumage during the nestling period did reduce nestling skeletal size and mass, although the effects depended on original plumage brightness. Our data demonstrate that transient stressors on female birds can have carry‐over effects on their nestlings if they occur during critical periods in the breeding season.

Heterogeneous trajectories of perceived stress and their associations with active leisure: a longitudinal study during the first year of COVID-19

IntroductionThere is a plethora of literature on the dynamics of mental health indicators throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, yet research is scarce on the potential heterogeneity in the development of perceived stress. Furthermore, there is a paucity of longitudinal research on whether active leisure engagement, which typically is beneficial in reducing stress, might have similar benefits during times of major disruption. Here we aimed to extend previous work by exploring the dynamics of change in stress and coping, and the associations with active leisure engagement over the first year of COVID-19.MethodsData from 439 adults (Mage = 45, SD = 13) in Estonia who participated in a longitudinal online study were analyzed. The participants were assessed at three timepoints: April–May 2020; November–December 2020; and April–May 2021.ResultsMean stress and coping levels were stable over time. However, latent profile analysis identified four distinct trajectories of change in stress and coping, involving resilient, stressed, recovering, and deteriorating trends. Participants belonging to the positively developing stress trajectories reported higher active leisure engagement than those belonging to the negatively developing stress trajectories.DiscussionThese findings highlight the importance of adopting person-centered approaches to understand the diverse experiences of stress, as well as suggest the promotion of active leisure as a potentially beneficial coping resource, in future crises.

Hair steroid before and after COVID-19 in preschoolers: the moderation of family characteristics

BackgroundFrequent or prolonged exposure to stressors may jeopardize young children’s health. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with disruptions in daily routines and social isolation resulting from public health preventive measures, have raised concerns about its potential impact on children’ experienced stress, particularly for young children and vulnerable families. However, whether the pandemic was accompanied by changes in physiological stress remains unknown as perceived stress is not a good proxy of physiological stress. This study examined if preschoolers showed increasing hair steroid concentrations following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and whether family characteristics may have exacerbated or buffered these changes. Methods136 preschoolers (2–4 years) provided hair for steroid measurement (cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), cortisone, cortisol-to-DHEA ratio, cortisol-to-cortisone ratio) in October-November 2019 (T0) and in July-August 2020 (T1). A 2-centimeter hair segment was analyzed, reflecting steroid production over the two months leading up to collection. Family income, conflict resolution and lack of cohesion, as well as parents’ COVID-19 stress were reported by parents. Linear mixed models for repeated measures and Bayes factors were used. ResultsNo significant changes were noted from before to after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic for most hair steroids. However, a moderating role of family conflict resolution was noted. Children living with parents with a better ability to resolve conflicts had lower levels of DHEA compared to those who had more difficulty managing conflicts. Additionally, lower levels of family cohesion and income were linked to some steroids, especially DHEA, suggesting that these factors may relate to children’s physiological stress. Finally, boys had higher DHEA levels than girls. ConclusionOur findings suggest that stress biomarkers were comparable from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic. This observation holds true despite the pandemic being perceived by many as a novel, unpredictable, and potentially threatening event. Findings further suggest that family characteristics are associated with hair steroid, especially DHEA, which deserves further investigation.

Fluctuations in emotion regulation as a mechanism linking stress and internalizing psychopathology among adolescents: An intensive longitudinal study

Stressful life events (SLEs) are tightly coupled with the emergence of anxiety and depression symptoms among adolescents, but the mechanisms underlying this relationship remain poorly understood. We investigated within-person fluctuations in emotion regulation as a mechanism linking SLEs and internalizing psychopathology in an intensive longitudinal study. We examined how monthly fluctuations in SLEs were related to engagement in three emotion regulation strategies—acceptance, reappraisal, and rumination—and whether these strategies were associated with changes in internalizing symptoms in adolescents followed for one year (N = 30; n = 355 monthly observations). Bayesian hierarchical models revealed that on months when adolescents experienced more SLEs than was typical for them, they also engaged in more rumination, which, in turn, was associated with higher anxiety and depression symptoms and mediated the prospective relationship between SLEs and internalizing symptoms. In contrast, greater use of acceptance and reappraisal selectively moderated the association between stressors and internalizing symptoms, resulting in stronger links between SLEs and symptoms. These results suggest that emotion regulation strategies play different roles in the stress-psychopathology relationship. Understanding how changes in emotion regulation contribute to increases in internalizing symptoms following experiences of stress may provide novel targets for interventions aimed at reducing stress-related psychopathology.

Adolescent Residential Mobility and Life Satisfaction in Emerging Adulthood

Moving in adolescence could be a stressful experience, potentially disturbing development into adulthood. This study investigated the relationship between residential mobility in adolescence and life satisfaction in young adulthood, focusing on moving timing, frequency, and distance, using (retrospective) longitudinal German survey data (N = 2998, mean age = 20.18, 45.8% boy, 6.8% first-generation immigrant, 31.0% children of immigrants). Moving twice or more in adolescence was linked to lower life satisfaction in young adulthood, even after controlling for family background characteristics. Moving distance was unrelated to life satisfaction. Exploratory analyses showed that particularly for children of immigrants, frequent moving was related to lower life satisfaction. Since frequent moving in adolescence was more common in disadvantaged families, frequent moving could reinforce social inequalities into young adulthood.

A latent profile analysis of bi+ women’s minority stress experiences: Associations with partner gender.

A latent profile analysis of bi+ women’s minority stress experiences: Associations with partner gender.

The Influence of the Teacher’s Psycho-Physiological States on the Development of Professional Competencies in the Course of the Military Aggression

The aim of the article is to determine the specifics of the impact of the correctional programme of psycho-physiological conditions on the development of the professional competence of general secondary school teachers. The Diagnostics of Mental States of the National Academy of Sciences and the Impact of Event Scale - Revised (IES-R) were used to obtain reliable data on the psycho-physiological state of the individual. A specialized online test for teachers was used to obtain data on the teachers’ competence aimed at determining informational competence, testing to determine the teacher’s subject methodical competence, observation of communicative competence. A formative experiment was planned and conducted. It was established that average indicators of psycho-physiological state prevail among teachers. The positive impact of the developed corrective programme on the teachers’ activity and mood was proved. It was concluded that the change in the psycho-physiological states of “invasion” and “avoidance” significantly depends on current social conditions, in particular, on the stability of the safety component. It was found that the correctional programme levelled the connections between the teachers’ subject methodical competence and the current psycho-physiological state. It was established that the teachers’ communicative competence continues to correlate after the completion of the programme with psycho-physiological comfort and general emotional background. In general, we can talk about the relative effectiveness of the developed corrective programme. The obtained results can be used to optimize programmes of continuous postgraduate education in the context of the development of resistance to the stresses of wartime. The prospects for further research are expanding the arsenal of methods for studying the teachers’ psycho-physiological state and clarifying gender differences in the teachers’ experience of stress. Received: 2 February 2024 / Accepted: 25 April 2024 / Published: 5 May 2024

Increasing the Resilience of Mothers With Preterm Infant: The Effect of Kangaroo Mother Care

Objective: Having a preterm infant is a stressful experience for parents, especially for mothers. This study was conducted to identify the effect of kangaroo mother care on the resilience of mothers with preterm infant hospitalized in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Materials and methods: In this randomized controlled trial study, 60 mothers with preterm infant hospitalized in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit were randomly selected and allocated to intervention and control groups (30 per group) ,in Fatemiyeh Hospital, Hamadan, Iran. Data collection tool included demographic information and Conner & Davidson Resilience Questionnaire (CD-RISC), which were completed by mothers before and after the intervention. Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) as an intervention was run in at least one hour daily for a week in the intervention group. The mother-infant pairs in the control group only received conventional method of care (CMC). Results: There was a significant increase in the total resilience score of the mothers in the KMC group (from 58.87±14.71 to 69.67±14.50) after intervention (P<0.001); however, resilience score decreased significantly in the mothers of CMC group (from 57.77±13.33 to 51.63±12.20). Conclusion: Kangaroo mother care could increase the resilience of mothers of preterm infants. Therefore using this approach as a complementary, effective, Low-cost, non-invasive care is recommended to maintain and promote the health of mothers with preterm infant.

The effect of financial stress on inhibitory control and economic decisions

Financial scarcity, both real and imagined, is associated with impaired executive functions and present-focused economic decisions. What is the mechanism that connects the lack of financial resources to these cognitive and behavioral effects? The present work will test the hypothesis that the experience of financial stress contributes to these deficits by reducing executive functions related to self-control and causing present-focused, real-world economic decisions. In a preliminary experiment (N = 215), we found support for the hypothesis that financial stress (as compared to social stress) causes a reduction in inhibitory control performance. In the registered study, we recruited participants (N = 1014) from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds and assessed inhibitory control before and after a financial stress manipulation, and economic preferences. The results did not support the hypothesis that momentary financial stress reduces inhibitory control or alters time preference. However, chronic financial stress was associated with reduced inhibitory control and VWM, and real-world economic decisions. Several interactions between SES and the effect of conditions highlight the relevance of a person's SES in the association between affective experiences and cognitive and behavioral responses. We discuss the implications of this work for future study of the association between SES, executive function, and economic decisions.

Pre-Pandemic Factors Associated with Pandemic Impact and Psychosocial Distress Among Mothers of Young Children

ObjectiveTo describe COVID-19 pandemic impact among mothers of young children (0-8 yrs.) and assess pre-pandemic factors associated with greater pandemic impact and psychosocial distress. MethodsMothers from three US birth cohorts (n=301, mean child age 2.4 years) reported on demographics and psychosocial distress (anxiety, perceived stress, financial stress) before the pandemic (2/2015-2/2020). During the pandemic (7/2020-6/2021), they completed a supplemental survey about the impact of the pandemic on their families (Coronavirus Impact Scale) and psychosocial distress. Multivariable linear and ordinal logistic regression were used to evaluate pre-pandemic factors associated with pandemic impact overall and by domain. ResultsCompared to pre-pandemic reports, maternal anxiety symptoms increased by 9.4%, perceived stress increased by 13.3%, and financial stress increased by 41.7%, of which all were statistically significant changes. Participants reported the most severe pandemic impact in family routines (72.4%), experiences of stress (40.2%), and social support (38.6%). Mothers with some college or a 4-year degree experienced higher overall pandemic impact compared to mothers with the least and highest education. Pre-pandemic distress was not associated with pandemic impact however, mid-pandemic, all three distress measures were significantly positively associated with overall CIS, with the largest effect size noted for perceived stress (B=1.36, 95% CI: 0.90,1.82). ConclusionsWhile, on average, mothers of young children experienced worsening psychosocial stress during the COVID-19 pandemic, pre-pandemic psychosocial stress alone was not prospectively associated with greater pandemic impact, suggesting that the COVID-19 pandemic may have both elaborated existing systemic social inequalities and created new burdens. What’s NewWhile mothers of young children experienced worsening psychosocial distress during the pandemic, pre-pandemic psychosocial distress alone was not associated with greater family pandemic impact. The pandemic may have both exacerbated existing systemic social inequalities and created new burdens.

Stress-related eating in pregnancy? An RCT examining links between prenatal stress and food choices

BackgroundDiet quality during pregnancy is important for maternal health and offspring development. However, national dietary recommendations are not always met. A potential barrier for healthy food choices might be the experience of stress. Previous literature in non-pregnant populations suggests a negative effect of acute stress on diet quality. This preregistered study is the first to test whether an acute stressor leads to unhealthy food choices in pregnancy and examine the moderating role of stress, depressive and anxiety complaints in daily life. MethodPregnant women (N = 110, 3rd trimester) completed online self-reported surveys measuring stress, depressive and anxiety complaints in daily life. Hereafter, participants were invited for a laboratory visit, in which they were exposed to the Trier Social Stress Test or a control task. After this manipulation, self-reported and actual food choices and food intake were assessed. At the end of the visit, a hair sample was collected. Throughout the visit, visual analogue scales on negative affect were completed and saliva samples were collected. ResultsThe stress group experienced significantly more psychological stress than the control group during the experimental manipulation. Main regression analyses showed that the acute laboratory stressor did not cause unhealthy food choices in the third trimester of pregnancy. In fact, the stress group chose fewer unhealthy foods and consumed fewer kilocalories compared to the control group. Additionally, the findings point at a moderating role of depressive and stress complaints in daily life on food choices within the control group: higher scores were related to more unhealthy food choices and more kilocalories consumed. DiscussionAs this was the first study to test the effect of an acute stressor on food choices in pregnant women, more research is needed to obtain a better understanding of stress-related eating in pregnancy. This knowledge may inform future interventions to support pregnant women in improving their diet quality.

Evaluation of Anxiety Levels and Related Factors in Parents of Preterm Infants Hospitalized in NICU

Background: The hospitalization of preterm infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is generally an unexpected event that can be stressful experience for families and especially for parents. Objective: To assess the anxiety levels in parents with preterm infants hospitalized in NICU and determine its association with clinical and sociodemographic variables. Method: This prospective, follow up–cohort study was conducted at the NICU of a tertiary maternity hospital in Athens, Greece during 18/12/2019 to 31/12/2022. A total of 120 parents, whose infants had birth weight (BW)<1750 grams (g) and gestational age (GA)<34 weeks (w) were involved. The data collected by a demographic form and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Scale (STAI). Results: Our data showed that the STAI score for state anxiety to mothers was significantly higher in the 1st assessment (Mean±SD:52.2±11.9) than 2nd (Mean±SD:47.8±12) and 3rd (Mean±SD:49±10.3). The STAI score for trait anxiety was similar, in particular it was significantly higher in the 1st assessment (Mean±SD:46.6±14.6) compared to 2nd (Mean±SD:41.9±14) and 3rd (Mean±SD:42.8±13). Also, the STAI score for state anxiety to fathers was significantly higher during the 1st assessment (Mean±SD:47.1±12.2) compared to the other two assessments (Mean±SD:42.8±9.8 & Mean±SD:41.7±9.1 respectively), while trait anxiety didn’t show significant variability. Conclusion: Our findings suggested that the premature birth and infant’s hospitalization might have a negative effect on parents’ emotional state. Identifying which mothers and fathers are at risk immediately after birth and during NICU stay could help to direct specific interventions that can prevent them of stressful feelings.

A qualitative study exploring experiences of racial minority stressors in pharmacy education and practice

Abstract Introduction Despite 49.1% of registered pharmacists in the UK identifying Black, Asian, or from a Minority Ethnic (BAME) background, senior management roles within pharmacy are dominated by white males.[1] People from BAME communities may experience racial minority stressors. Racial minority stressors are behaviours which range from unconscious bias, micro-aggression, and overt racism (macro-aggression). However, there is little evidence describing experiences of racial minority stressors in pharmacy practice and education. Aim To explore experiences of racial minority stressors in pharmacy education and practice. Methods A convenience sample of pharmacy students, trainees and pharmacists were recruited via email and social media posts to voluntarily take part in interviews and focus groups. Inclusion criteria were: be over 18 years old, conversant in English, capacity to give consent to take part in research and be either a pharmacy student, trainee or registered pharmacist. The only exclusion criterion was where the inclusion criteria were not met. Interviews and focus groups were held online using Microsoft Teams. A topic guide was generated from key themes in the literature and used during data collection to explore experiences of racial minority stressors in education and practice. Interviews and focus groups were transcribed verbatim and inductively analysed using thematic analysis underpinned by a phenomenological approach. Ethical approval was obtained from Newcastle University Ethics Committee. Results Forty-five participants were recruited. Six focus groups and sixteen one-to-one semi-structured interviews were conducted. The sample was varied, with 56% (n=25) students and 33% (n=15) registered pharmacists from community, hospital, primary care, academia and an additional 11% (n=5) still in foundation training in these sectors. The sample included a diversity of racial identities, including 40% (n=18) South Asian, 27% (n=12) White, 15% (n=7) Black, 7% (n=3) Chinese 7% (n=3) Arab, 2% (n=1) mixed, and 2% (n=1) not disclosed. Three themes were identified – Theme 1) Experiences of racial minority stress, Theme 2) Making sense of racial minority stress, and Theme 3) Responding to racial minority stress. Participants experiences of stressors were based on personal characteristics (for example skin colour, dialect, religious dress) which made them feel susceptible to judgement, racist comments and microaggressions in education and practice. Participants required time to make sense of, interpret, and understand experiences of racial minority stress. This was influenced by the sources of stressors, which included patients, the public, and colleagues as well as institutions and policies. Participants responded by ‘ignoring’ stressors from patients and the public which were thought to be due to ignorance or ill-health and ‘masking’ negative feelings if sources of stress were colleagues or institutions due to fear of negative impacts on training and career progression. Conclusion This study shows dealing with microaggressions, racial minority stress and judgement in pharmacy education and practice is a burden experienced by people from BAME backgrounds. This may contribute to the professional attainment gap in pharmacy, as these experiences are an additional burden that pharmacists, trainees, and students must bear compared to their non-BAME counterparts. Further research is needed to explore interventions to reduce minority stress.

The moderating role of conscientiousness in the temporal association of stress on sleep.

Personality traits have been associated with sleep problems and stress experience. However, their impact on objective sleep and the temporal relationship of stress on sleep has remained elusive. This study examined whether daytime stress predicts sleep the following night, and the moderating role of neuroticism and conscientiousness in this relationship. To introduce stress variability in natural daily stressors, we measured college students (N = 92) during exams (e.g. high academic stress) and at the start of new course period (e.g. low academic stress). Both objective (actigraphy) and subjective sleep, and daily self-reported stress, were measured for 14 days and personality traits once. Reported daily stress was significantly higher in the exam period compared with baseline, suggesting that our natural manipulation did indeed result in variation in stress levels. Intra-individual daily variations in stress were not associated with the following night's sleep timing, duration or fragmentation, implying that more stress during the day did not affect sleep the following night. Higher levels of neuroticism were associated with poorer daily subjective sleep quality and higher stress levels over the complete period. Neuroticism did not moderate the temporal association of stress on sleep. Conscientiousness moderated the association between intra-individual stress and sleep fragmentation, and intra-individual stress and wake-up time. This implied that highly conscientious participants experienced less sleep fragmentation and woke-up earlier after more stressful days. These results suggest an interconnected relationship among stress, sleep and personality. Focusing on one aspect, like handling stress or enhancing sleep quality, might yield positive effects on the rest.

Social Support Postpartum: Bengali Women from India on Their Coping Experiences following Childbirth

Undertaken in Kolkata, India, our study aimed to explore the experiences of Bengali middle-class women on perceived stressful events, social support, and coping experiences following childbirth. Becoming a mother following childbirth is a shared phenomenon irrespective of culture, social strata, or country, while stress during the postpartum period or depression is not. Discrete medical intervention does not sufficiently address the complexities of postpartum experiences since influencing factors also include economic, political, cultural, and social backgrounds. Adopting a feminist and phenomenological approach, individual in-person interviews were conducted with twenty women recruited via snowball sampling. Our findings revealed that events experienced as stressful may lead to poor postpartum well-being. Underpinned by gendered discourse and biases, stressful events included familial imperatives for a male child, poor social and emotional support from the family, mostly partners and fathers, and systemic workplace barriers. The women in our study commonly resided with their mothers postpartum. They expressed feeling sheltered from these experiences, cared for, and supported. We discuss the women’s experiences from a feminist pragmatic worldview, which advocates for a flexible feminism recognizant of the unique and nurturing relationship experiences between Bengali middle-class women and their mothers. In conclusion, we advocate for culturally sensitive, women-centered postpartum care practices that may entail the inclusion of intergenerational care during this critical phase of maternal well-being. These insights underscore the necessity of tailoring postpartum support systems to align with the cultural and familial contexts of the individuals they serve.

How to Create Healthy, Stress-Resilient Post-Pandemic Cities

This article analyzes the correlation between the city size, population density and character of three Polish cities and the following aspects: (1) inhabitants’ subjective stress level and its change during the COVID-19 pandemic, (2) sources and effects of their stress during the pandemic, (3) ways of reducing stress by residents and the role of greenery in this respect and (4) directions of changes in the structure of post-pandemic cities desired by their residents. The main research method was geo-surveys, the results of which were developed using statistical analysis and GIS methods. On the basis of the constructed scale, respondents subjectively assessed the level of experienced stress and its change during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research shows that none of the considered features of cities (including size measured by the number of inhabitants) are related to the level of pandemic stress of their inhabitants. All of them, on the other hand, are correlated with the directions of urban spatial development desired by the residents, conducive to stress reduction. Furthermore, the size of the city and its character affect the subjectively perceived change in stress levels during the pandemic (compared to the stress level before pandemic). Some of the effects of pandemic stress and ways of reducing it depend on the character of the city. The stress experienced by the inhabitants is the lowest in cities with the largest share of green areas in the spatial structure (especially with forest complexes and naturally shaped areas of river valleys), where an effective system of greenery has been adopted (the Howard’s garden city model), and at the same time with dominant single-family housing. The research results were used to indicate new directions for shaping post-pandemic cities that are more resistant to stress and thus healthier for their residents.