Factors That Affect the Physical and Mental Health of Vulnerable Groups

Dear Colleagues,

Vulnerable groups have always existed in all societies and times in history; however, they have been quite invisible. Current society is not conducive to these groups because we are in the midst of considerable uncertainty regarding world events that paralyze everything, such as pandemics (SARS-CoV-2), natural disasters (tsunamis), attacks between countries (wars and attacks of different kinds), or questioned technological advances (Artificial Intelligence).

What has been carried out on the subject is interesting, but it suffers from a too-deterministic and localized approach. We should opt for a more global and interdisciplinary perspective, which generates synergies between different work areas.

This Special Issue studies the physical and mental health of vulnerable groups, identifying the variables that affect each case and context. Moreover, it aims to help, in an interdisciplinary manner, to capture experiences that unite the concepts of health–vulnerability–well-being; analyze the state-of-the-art methods; and dare to innovate ways to prevent, treat or eradicate some of the negative situations experienced by these collectives.

I am pleased to invite you to contribute your studies and experiences. Original research articles and reviews are welcome in this Special Issue. Research areas may include the following:

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of already-published articles contribute constructively to the development of strategies to address the physical and mental health of the vulnerable.

New perspectives towards solutions to specific cases, commitments to innovative ideas in health—addressing aspects that provide it, such as sexual education, specific needs, and specific groups (such as children, women, LGTBI or LGTBQ groups)—and situations that cause exclusion (such as immigration, wars, etc.), which demand global intervention, starting with both physical and mental health.

Validation studies of methodologies used that provide positive results towards the stated objective. Importantly, psychometric studies allow for the adaptation or development of tools that measure psychophysiological characteristics or traits that affect people’s vulnerability to a greater extent as well as the psychometric characteristics of evaluation instruments that are already used.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. María-Luisa Rodicio-García
Dr. María Penado Abilleira
Guest Editors

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• vulnerable groups
• physical health
• mental health
• personal welfare
• gender
• LGTBI
• LGTBQ