Researchers
Co-Researchers: Aleksandra Gruszka-Gosiewska, Dorota Czyżowska, Dorota Więziak-Białowolska, Weronika Kałwak, Anna Bańbura-Nowak, Anna Wendołowska, Katarzyna Sitnik-Warchulska, Małgorzata Opoczyńska-Morasiewicz, Karolina Bonarska
Goal of the project
The proposed project focuses on describing a new phenomenon which is called cumulative stress syndrome. It affects generations of people living in the accumulated stress of recent years, which is a result of negative global phenomena that have affected societies (pandemic, war in Europe, refugee migration, climate crisis and related economic crisis). We want to describe the new psychopathological symptoms associated with the cumulative stress syndrome. We also want to study the changes in the quality of mental health, psychosocial resources/risk factors and protective factors of the cumulative stress syndrome. By doing so we want to develop standards for effective prevention.
The novelty of the project
In our opinion, the phenomenon of cumulative stress goes beyond the classifications of stress reactions used so far, and the available epidemiological data are not sufficient to determine the factors of impact of cumulative stress in 2020-2023 on the mental health. What is needed is a comprehensive understanding of risk factors and protective factors, the path leading to the development of symptoms (not observed before), and coping strategies among generations living under cumulative conditions of stress.
As it was not studied before, it will be innovative to the scientific world how young people, especially at the stage of life "emerging adults" will cope with the psychosocial burden of ongoing accumulated stress and the growing polycrisis. Therefore, the proposed research project is based on an interdisciplinary approach in which methods from the fields of psychology, medicine, epidemiology and social sciences will be combined. (pandemic, war, refugee migration, economic crisis). The project will focus on studying the crisis from the human (psychological-individual), institutional and ecological perspective.