Stress and Poverty: A Cross-Disciplinary Investigation of Stress in Cells, Individuals, and Society

Stress is a deviation from what feels normal and healthy, created by social or economic factors and can become chronic. This book explores how poverty leads to destructive toxic stress, affecting cognitive and social functioning, brain development, and premature aging. The sciences can inform our understanding and response to stress, and something can be done about it on a personal and structural level.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 234 pages
Publication date: 24 July 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Stress, a ubiquitous and heavily overused term, pervades our lives, seemingly afflicting everyone at all times. Delving into the multifaceted meanings of stress in the realms of natural science and the humanities, this comprehensive book explores the cellular origins of stress and its profound connection to the human experience. It examines the psychological and physiological manifestations of stress, shedding light on when we perceive it and when our brains exhibit physiological signs of its presence. Stress, as a deviation from what is considered normal and healthy, can be triggered by various social and economic factors, leading to its chronic nature, which has far-reaching consequences for individuals and society as a whole.

Focusing specifically on poverty as a chronic inducer of stress, the book delves into the intricate factors that contribute to its development. These include the lack of pressure-free time, the hardships and unpredictability of everyday life, and a general lack of protection. The resulting toxic stress not only affects cognitive and social functioning but also has profound implications for brain development during childhood and can lead to premature aging.

To address these pressing concerns, the book seeks to unravel the role of the sciences in understanding and responding to stress. It explores how scientific knowledge can inform our understanding of stress's causes, consequences, and potential interventions. It also examines the role of personal actions, as well as structural and policy changes, in addressing toxic stress on both individual and societal levels.

Written with a broad audience in mind, this book is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in stress, its origins, and its relationship to poverty. It provides a comprehensive and interdisciplinary perspective, drawing on insights from various fields to offer a holistic understanding of this complex phenomenon. By exploring the causes, consequences, and potential solutions to stress, this book empowers individuals and communities to take proactive measures to mitigate its impact and promote well-being.

Weight: 397g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030777401
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021