Welcome Page

Welcome notes

Welcome to the 46th STAR Conference in Zagreb, Croatia!

As the President of the Stress, Trauma, Anxiety and Resilience Society (STAR), I am honored to welcome you to our International STAR Conference. This event presents a unique opportunity to share insights, research, and innovative practices in our fields. The vibrant city of Zagreb, with its rich cultural heritage, provides the perfect setting for meaningful discussions and networking.

I encourage you to engage with fellow participants, actively participate in conversations, and build lasting connections. Thank you for being part of this significant event. I look forward to the fruitful exchanges and progress we can achieve together!

Welcome to the conference!

Paulina Arenas-Landgrave

STAR President

Dear colleagues and friends,

It is our great pleasure and honour to invite you to the 46th STAR Conference – Digital Minds, Human Hearts: Resilience in the Time of Anxiety and Disruption, which will take place in Zagreb, Croatia, from September 22 to 24, 2026.

After a pause in our annual conferences, and ten years since STAR last met in Zagreb, we are delighted to return—both to this city and to our shared tradition of coming together to reflect, exchange ideas, and strengthen our professional community. This return feels particularly meaningful at a time when many of us are navigating complex personal, professional, and societal challenges.

The STAR conferences have long provided a unique international forum for sharing theoretical, empirical, and applied developments in the fields of stress, trauma, anxiety, and resilience. Throughout its history, STAR has remained committed to fostering interdisciplinary dialogue, supporting early-career scholars, and strengthening the connection between research, clinical practice, and lived experience.

Contemporary life is marked by rapid change, uncertainty, and increasing demands across multiple domains. Individuals, families, and communities are continuously adapting to shifting social, technological, and environmental conditions, often accompanied by heightened stress and vulnerability. At the same time, these challenges invite new perspectives on coping, resilience, and well-being. The 2026 conference aims to provide space for reflection and discussion on these issues, bringing together diverse approaches and insights that are central to the mission of STAR.

Participants will have the opportunity to engage with the field through keynote addresses by internationally renowned speakers, symposia, and paper sessions. Equally important to us is maintaining STAR’s strong tradition of collegial exchange and networking—creating a conference atmosphere that supports both professional development and meaningful human connection.

Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, offers an ideal setting for this experience. Often described by visitors as a city that combines the vibrancy of a European capital with the warmth and charm of a small town, Zagreb is known for its green spaces, walkable centre, and rich cultural life. It is a city that has managed to preserve its identity and soul while continuing to evolve.

The conference venue will be the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, with the Department of Psychology serving as the host department. The Department is the leading centre for psychology education and research in Croatia, with a strong academic tradition spanning over 80 years. The University of Zagreb, founded in 1669, is the oldest and largest university in South-Eastern Europe and a central institution in the region’s academic and cultural life.

We warmly invite you to join us at the 46th International STAR Conference, to take part in inspiring scientific discussions, learn from distinguished colleagues, and experience the welcoming academic atmosphere of the University of Zagreb and the city itself.

We look forward to seeing you in Zagreb in 2026.

Nataša Jokić-Begić
President of the Organizing Committee