Exploring the Impact of Stress on Women's Mental Health

Stress is a critical factor influencing the mental health of women worldwide. It is typically defined as a state of worry or mental tension often in reaction to a life change or a challenge. Women's stress, ranging from perceived acute stress to chronic stress and stress in response to critical life events, can result in mental health issues such as depressive symptoms, anxiety, and increased levels of stress hormones. With one in five women experiencing mental disorders, understanding the causes is essential. Women face unique and complex stressors stemming from physiological changes, social inequalities, violence, migration, and trauma. The effects are profound during key life phases, including pregnancy and postpartum, where untreated stress can have long-lasting consequences for both mother and child.


This Research Topic seeks to compile a diverse range of studies exploring the impact of stress on women's mental health. We aim to delve into psychobiological and socio-cultural perspectives, examining how stress interacts with reproductive health issues, environmental challenges, and societal pressures.

Researchers are welcomed to contribute original studies and reviews that address:

-The role of stress in reproductive and perinatal mental health
-The impact of violence and trauma-related stress
-Environmental stressors related to climate change and disasters
-Migration, displacement, and their effects on stress levels

By gathering insights from different regions and cultures, this collection aims to advance our understanding of stress and develop effective interventions for improving women's mental health.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: mental health, maternal mental health, prenatal depression, prenatal stress

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.