Stress, Adaptation and Causal Pathways to Mental Health Disparities

Abstract The present article addresses the evolutionary dimension of stress process, specifically focusing on the conceptual division into ontologically ‘ancient’ and ‘modern’ stressors. A study conducted in Kyiv, Ukraine (n = 208) in 2020 examined the relationships between both stressor types and measures of short- and long-term mental health outcomes for both positive and negative sides of mental health spectrum. Three empirical observations are noted. (1) Modern stressors but not ancient stressors had a significant effect on depression measure, despite being rated as less severe stressors by the participants. (2) Neither type of stressors was found to affect flourishing. (3) High current socioeconomic status and high degree of social cohesion attenuated the effects of modern stressors (but not that of ancient stressors) on depression; at the same time, socioeconomic status did not diminish the participants’ perceived stress levels. The theoretical implications for the adaptationist perspective on stress, mental health and health disparities are discussed.