The article which follows is the second in our series of ‘conceptual’ reviews, which provide a forum for leading researchers of stress and well-being to present an overview and critique of a specifi ed area of stressrelated research. The overarching goals of this section of the journal are to (a) review extant theories and research on stress and health, (b) offer an opportunity for new conceptual frameworks to be articulated and critiqued and (c) develop and promote theoretical frameworks associated with stress, health, coping and well-being.