Chronic Social Stress and Psychological Distress in Russia

The socio-economic changes in Russia during the last
two decades have been associated with a sharp decline
of the health indicators in general population.
Consequently, a number of national and international
research studies have turned the attention to the
determinants of health in post communist transition.
Despite the stress-poor health relationship
identified, studies which have examined the link
between chronic social stress and mental health in
Russian population are scarce. The current study is
part of an international research project on chronic
social stress and psychological distress, which was
initiated at the University of Bergen, Norway. The
main aim of the Russian study was to explore the
relationship between chronic social stress, social
support, coping resources and distress among Russian
adults. This book provides information on the study
background and its theoretical framework, the
hypotheses and methodology of the investigation. The
findings of the research were discussed and compared
with the results of the previous investigations in
Norway and Romania.

Autorentext

Svetlana V. Konstantinova, M.D., Moscow Medical Academy, Russia;M.Phil. and Ph.D., University of Bergen, Norway. Researcher inpublic health and preventive medicine; coordinator, WHO-CINDI inRussia.Delia Bancila, PhD. - health promotion, social and cross-culturalpsychology, postdoctoral researcher - University of Bergen, Norway.

Klappentext

The socio-economic changes in Russia during the lasttwo decades have been associated with a sharp declineof the health indicators in general population.Consequently, a number of national and internationalresearch studies have turned the attention to thedeterminants of health in post communist transition.Despite the stress-poor health relationshipidentified, studies which have examined the linkbetween chronic social stress and mental health inRussian population are scarce. The current study ispart of an international research project on chronicsocial stress and psychological distress, which wasinitiated at the University of Bergen, Norway. Themain aim of the Russian study was to explore therelationship between chronic social stress, socialsupport, coping resources and distress among Russianadults. This book provides information on the studybackground and its theoretical framework, thehypotheses and methodology of the investigation. Thefindings of the research were discussed and comparedwith the results of the previous investigations inNorway and Romania.