Stress, Development, and Mental Health

The experience of stress is prevalent even in childhood. Whether and to what extent stress has a lasting impact on development and mental health depends on various factors, such as the time and duration of its occurrence, the severity of the stressor or stressors, and the coping resources available to a child or adolescent. Current findings point to specific links between underlying dimensions of early stress and developmental outcomes. Positive mental health could be an essential resource for dealing with stress and strain during development. The contributions in this issue address current research gaps in stress experiences, development, and mental health in childhood and adolescence.