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Stressful life events are commonly seen as independent variables, called stressors, that lead to a number of negative outcomes. However, this bivariate relationship is too simplistic. Stress is a process that takes place in context, and the amount of stress actually perceived is different from the objective magnitude of a stressor. Characteristics of the taxing event, such as intensity, duration, predictability, and controllability, have some bearing on the way this actual event is cognitively appraised by individuals, along with other determinants, such as personality, social networks, and coping resources or vulnerabilities. A distinction is the one between normative and non‐normative events, another one between natural and technological disasters. We characterize the impact of natural and human disasters and address their health‐hazard potential. Further, we discuss events that are characterized by personal harm and loss, such as conjugal bereavement and criminal victimization . Finally, we address the stress of immigrants and refugees. Most individuals who experience stress do not develop illness. But the cumulative exposure to aggravating daily hassles over a long time may have detrimental health effects. Extreme stressors can create both acute and prolonged distress and ailments.

The CO-CREATE project focuses on the need for research on obesity prevention in adolescents to move away from studies of single interventions, toward the investigation of systems-based research incorporating youth involvement. This paper provides an overview of the project, presenting the objectives, design, and novel methodologies applied, as well as findings to date and anticipated outcomes. Adolescents (16-18 years old) in five European countries participated. Methods applied in the project include monitoring and benchmarking of policies, systematic literature

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