STRESS, COPING, AND RESILIENCE: INTEGRATING PSYCHOLOGICAL AND NEURO-SCIENTIFIC INSIGHTS FOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Abstract

Stress is an inevitable aspect of human life, arising from internal and external demands that challenge an individual’s homeostasis. Coping refers to the cognitive, emotional, and behavioural strategies individuals employ to manage stress, while resilience denotes the capacity to adapt and thrive despite adversity. This chapter synthesizes classical and contemporary perspectives on stress, coping, and resilience, integrating psychological theories with neuroscientific evidence. It reviews key mechanisms, including the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, neural circuits of emotion regulation, and cognitive appraisal processes. Lifespan considerations highlight developmental differences in stress response and resilience capacity. The chapter also contrasts psychologist and neuroscientist perspectives, providing a comparative framework to understand conceptual and biological approaches. Special attention is given to the relevance of stress and resilience research in occupational therapy, demonstrating how interventions can target coping strategies and neurobiological adaptation to improve functional outcomes. Future directions emphasize digital health monitoring, personalized resilience interventions, and cross-cultural applications. By linking theoretical, empirical, and clinical insights, this chapter provides a comprehensive understanding of how humans experience, regulate, and adapt to stress across the lifespan.