Stress in Context: Social Determinants, Coping, and Policy Implications in a Representative Austrian Sample

Le résumé fourni par la source

Stress is a near-universal experience with profound health implications, yet population-level data on its prevalence and effective coping strategies remain limited. This preregistered study examined the prevalence of stress, coping behaviours, and their differential impact on well-being in a representative sample (N = 1,099) from Austria, a high-income country with a robust social safety net. Using validated scales alongside novel stress and coping inventories, we found that 7% of participants reported extreme stress, with self-imposed pressure, constant availability, and social relationships emerging as dominant stressors. While better social integration predicted higher well-being, it did not buffer the effects of stress. Conversely, self-selected coping strategies (e.g., gardening, yoga) significantly mitigated the impacts of stress (p < 0.001). Women reported higher stress levels, underscoring the need for gender-sensitive interventions. Results suggest that in high-resource contexts, public health policies should integrate structural supports with individualized coping tools to address stress holistically.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.