Mental Stress and Behaviour Problems Among Special Groups: Social Resources, Influences on Health, and Reducing Health Inequities

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Background

Mental stress is an old concept in physiology and psychology. It has been given a brand-new meaning and significance in public health in recent years. Studies have shown that mental stress has become a serious global public health issue, accentuated by the recent Covid epidemic. The stimulus, stress and behavioral response model proposes that various stimuli induce stress and behavioral responses, which in turn, may lead to health problems. A wealth of existing literature, including pathbreaking research by western scholars, such as Richard Wilkinson, supports the view that social inequalities contribute to a heightened levels of mental stress, poorer health and behavioral problems (MSBP). In recent decades, many countries, especially some developing countries, have experienced rapid economic development and social change. While such developments have produced higher living standards, compared to western countries, links between social inequalities and health have been relatively neglected. These include an imbalance between urban and rural development, rampant corruption, a widening gap between rich and poor, and an unfair competition. More attention, therefore, needs to be paid to the MSBP among socially disadvantaged groups. The information obtained from this study could be helpful to inform health policy, plan prevention strategies, and design and implement appropriate, targeted interventions to help control excessive mental stress and reduce health inequities.

Socially disadvantaged groups are at high risk for stress-related health inequities in rapidly changing societies. Approaches to address this problem need to be based on high-quality scientific research to understand root causes and determine effective approaches to reduce stress-related health problems. However, prior research on this issue has been fragmented and often lacked a comprehensive overview. Much of the research has involved simple descriptions, with the conclusions drawn are often partial and difficult to apply in practice.

This Research Topic has four main objectives. The primary research goal is to estimate MSBP status among socially disadvantaged groups. Secondly it aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the social and behavioral mechanisms leading to MSBP in these groups. A third goal is to examine the impact of MSBP on health and mental wellbeing. The final objective is to disseminate knowledge of holistic, multidisciplinary approaches to policy application, and to assist in the design and implementation of effective intervention programs. We believe that these measures are needed to reduce health inequities among disadvantaged groups, and contribute to the goal of ‘Health for All’.

This Research topic will explore the causes and impact of MSBP in population respective among vulnerable groups. We welcome submissions in the following subtopics, but not limited to:

1. MSBP status and individual and contextual factor under the social ecological model.
2. Mental stress, behavioral problems, and health.
3. Identify and control of health-risk mental stress.
4. MSBP model under China culture context.
5. Policy studies of MSBP.
6. Uncertainty stress studies, including the status, population mechanism, coping, and influencing on health.
7. Mental stress management program design and effect assessment.
8. MSBP status and model during COVID-19 epidemic.

Special thanks to Dr. Dan Wu and Dr. Sihui Peng for their support in developing and assisting in this Research Topic.

Keywords: Mental stress, social determinants of health, Socially disadvantaged people, Policy, mental health promotion, stress management

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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