Over the course of a lifetime, it is almost inevitable to experience stressful events. Many people even experience traumatic events. Nevertheless, what is perceived and appraised as stressful is subjective. This subjectivity should also be reflected in interventions aiming to support and improve coping with stressful and traumatic life events. This refers not only to the design of interventions per se, but also to the conditions under which the interventions are applied. Thus, the aim of the present dissertation is to examine what conclusions can be drawn for the design of future interventions aiming to reduce psychological distress. This is based on the results of three projects on psychological interventions to support coping with psychological distress due to an accident or the COVID-19 pandemic. The results are structured along the transactional stress theory.

Possible implications for the design of future interventions include, for example, clarifying perceptions of a stressor among the target population and other stakeholders prior to the intervention. Furthermore, recruitment interventions should be selected based on the characteristics of the stressor, stressor perceptions, and external circumstances. Assessing and, if possible, addressing participants’ pre-existing coping strategies and personal resources can also contribute to the success of an intervention. Further implications are discussed.