the InMind blog

Special issue of In-Mind: Adapting to life transitions and critical life events

• written by Charikleia Lampraki, Lukas Repnik, Jana Dreston & Stella Wernicke

Editorial Assistant: Maren Giersiepen.

Life is marked by transitions. Some are expected, such as entering adulthood, becoming a parent, or retiring. Others are abrupt, disruptive, or unwanted, such as bereavement, serious illness, divorce, unemployment, forced migration, or caregiving burdens. These experiences often challenge people’s routines, identities, relationships, and expectations for the future.

For this special issue, In-Mind invites contributions on the adaptation to life transitions and critical life events. We are interested in accessible, evidence-based articles that explain how people respond to major changes in life, why adaptation differs between individuals and groups, and which psychological and social processes shape adjustment over time.

We welcome abstracts from across psychology, including developmental, social, clinical, health, cultural, and organizational perspectives. After selection, authors will be invited to submit articles which will be written for an educated non-specialist audience and will combine scientific rigor with clarity and real-world relevance.

Possible topics include

• transition to adulthood 
• parenthood and family transitions 
• partnership formation, separation, and divorce
• bereavement and loss 
• migration, displacement, and acculturation 
• unemployment and career disruption 
• serious illness, disability, and recovery 
• caregiving transitions 
• retirement and later-life adjustment 
• resilience, coping, and self-regulation 
• identity development and change
• inequalities in adaptation across social and cultural contexts 

We are especially interested in contributions that address questions such as:

• What makes major life transitions psychologically challenging?
• Why do some people adapt more successfully than others?
• Which emotional, cognitive, and social mechanisms support adjustment?
• How do transitions create both risks and opportunities?
• What can research tell us about supporting people through change? 

Scope and framing

The special issue is centred on adaptation broadly understood. This includes, but is not limited to, wellbeing, mental health, stress, identity, relationships, everyday functioning, and long-term development. We particularly welcome submissions that go beyond a narrow “wellbeing only” perspective and highlight the complexity of psychological adaptation. This special issue aims to show that life transitions are not simply moments of change, but key psychological turning points that can reveal both vulnerability and resilience. We look forward to contributions that help readers better understand how people navigate major life changes across the lifespan.

Format of the articles and the journal

In-Mind Magazine is dedicated to making relevant psychological research accessible and engaging for everyone. The authors should be active researchers in any field of psychology, or related disciplines. Student submissions are also accepted but with co-authorship by an active researcher. Previous experience in science communication is beneficial but not required. For this special issue, interdisciplinary collaborations with researchers in related disciplines such as sociology, developmental studies, mental health nursing, public mental health are encouraged but remain optional. Submissions should be short review articles of a maximum of 2,000 words with about 15 references. Please format the manuscript according to our author guidelines. As with all In-Mind articles, contributions will be peer-reviewed and should be:

• scientifically grounded
• engaging and accessible
• relevant to a broad audience
• clear in their practical and societal significance 

Ideas for effective science communication in writing can be found here: König, L. M., Altenmueller, M. S., Fick, J., Crusius, J., Genschow, O., & Sauerland, M. (2025). How to Communicate Science to the Public? Recommendations for Effective Written Communication Derived From a Systematic Review. Zeitschrift für Psychologie, 233, 40-51. https://doi.org/10.1027/2151-2604/a000572

Timeline for the special issue

Please submit your abstract (max. 400 words) until July 31, 2026, using this online form. Authors who are invited to contribute a full-length article will be notified in the first week of August and can then submit their manuscript until September 30, 2026. These submissions will undergo anonymized peer review by at least two independent experts to evaluate their scientific quality. The editors will provide feedback on comprehensibility, language, and suitability for a science-communication journal. The special issue will be published in winter 2026–27.

Editors

• Dr. Charikleia Lampraki (University of Geneva)
• Lukas Repnik (Medical University of Graz)