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Coping with Anxiety and Psychological Distress

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 3154

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
Interests: anxiety; psychotherapy; multicultural considerations

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Anxiety is often characterized by an intolerance of uncertainty and a mistrust in one’s ability to effectively address and resolve various stressors. In today’s fast-paced world, individuals are frequently confronted with an array of challenges that can exacerbate feelings of anxiety and psychological distress, including complex societal changes, political unrest, natural disasters, and the psychological impacts of aging. Understanding how to cope with these challenges is crucial for promoting mental health and well-being.

This Special Issue aims to explore the multifaceted nature of anxiety and its relationship to a wide range of stressors. We invite contributions that focus on effective therapeutic interventions—whether they be cognitive–behavioral approaches, integrated therapies, or innovative therapeutic practices—as well as in-depth case studies that illustrate the real-life implications of anxiety and coping mechanisms.

We are particularly interested in research that highlights the human experience with regard to the following topics: parenting and stress, the unique challenges faced by aging populations, the psychological impact of climate-related disasters, and political instability. The interplay between environmental factors and mental health is evolving, making it imperative to enhance our understanding of how such stressors influence psychological distress.

We welcome articles that utilize varied methodologies, including qualitative research, quantitative analysis, and interdisciplinary approaches, to deepen our understanding of coping with anxiety. By advancing our knowledge in this vital area, we can better equip individuals and communities to navigate these challenging times.

We look forward to your contributions.

Dr. Lindsey M. West
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • anxiety
  • psychological distress
  • coping strategies
  • intolerance of uncertainty
  • therapeutic interventions
  • cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
  • integrated psychotherapy
  • parenting and anxiety
  • aging and mental health
  • natural disasters
  • climate change
  • political unrest
  • case studies
  • mental health interventions
  • community resilience
  • environmental stressors
  • social support
  • innovative therapeutic practices
  • psychological well-being
  • stress management

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

9 pages, 265 KB  
Article
Exploring the Link Between Stress and Working Memory in Adults
by Constança Carvalho, Cláudia Reis and Margarida Serrano
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(12), 1773; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22121773 - 24 Nov 2025
Viewed by 1769
Abstract
Background: Working memory (WM) is essential for reasoning, learning, and everyday cognitive tasks and can be influenced by stress. This study investigated the relationship between perceived stress and auditory working memory in 24 adults (16 women, 8 men; median age = 22). Methods: [...] Read more.
Background: Working memory (WM) is essential for reasoning, learning, and everyday cognitive tasks and can be influenced by stress. This study investigated the relationship between perceived stress and auditory working memory in 24 adults (16 women, 8 men; median age = 22). Methods: Participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and a pseudoword span task assessing auditory memory under phonologically demanding conditions. Results: Participants with higher stress levels exhibited greater variability and a decline in performance across pseudowords sets, particularly in the final set. Correlational analyses revealed that higher PSS-10 scores were significantly associated with lower accuracy on the most demanding memory set (r = −0.467, p = 0.021) and with younger age (r = −0.489, p = 0.015). These findings suggest that elevated stress may impair auditory working memory, with younger adults reporting higher perceived stress. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of considering stress levels in cognitive assessments and supports the hypothesis that stress negatively affects working memory efficiency, particularly in tasks requiring phonological processing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coping with Anxiety and Psychological Distress)
19 pages, 539 KB  
Article
Long-Term Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Emotional Regulation, Psychological Symptoms, and College Adjustment
by Barbara M. Gfellner and Ana I. Cordoba
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(11), 1731; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22111731 - 15 Nov 2025
Viewed by 950
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic was responsible for an unprecedented increase in psychological problems among post-secondary students worldwide. Drawing on data from a repeated cross-sectional (RCS) project, this study investigated changes in psychological symptoms, emotional regulation (cognitive reappraisal and emotional suppression), and academic, social, and [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic was responsible for an unprecedented increase in psychological problems among post-secondary students worldwide. Drawing on data from a repeated cross-sectional (RCS) project, this study investigated changes in psychological symptoms, emotional regulation (cognitive reappraisal and emotional suppression), and academic, social, and personal–emotional college adjustment, and associations between these variables among students in two countries during the phases of lockdown (2021), lifting of restrictions (2022), and the endemic phase (2023). University students in Canada (n = 1014) and Spain (n = 447) completed online surveys during these periods. Students in both countries reported significant declines in perceived COVID-19 stress across the pandemic phases. In comparison with pre-pandemic rates, elevated psychological symptoms remained constant. There were some country differences, but sex differences were consistent. Psychological symptoms mediated the association between cognitive reappraisal and the adjustment measures among Canadian students during each pandemic period. Alternatively, they mediated the linkages of maladaptive emotional suppression with academic, social, and personal–emotional functioning of Spanish students at every phase, but only during the lifting of restrictions and the endemic phase for Canadian students. The results indicate the complexity of country and context in the role of emotional regulation during uncontrollable conditions and provide directions for intervention in stressful situations, including adjustment to university and future disastrous environmental events. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coping with Anxiety and Psychological Distress)
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