Stress is an experience common to all of us, it comes in various forms and dimensions and is highly relevant to (mental) health: stress is known to promote vulnerability to, or exacerbate symptoms of, almost all mental disorders and thus has been treated as a common risk factor. Several influencing factors on the stress response have been identified, thus one major challenge for contemporary stress research is to explain and model individual differences in and trajectories of stress vulnerability across the lifespan. Within the symposium we want to present data across the lifespan, starting with the peripartum period and fetal programming. C. Buss will provide evidence in support of alterations in maternal-placental-fetal endocrine and immune biology being likely biological mediators that provide cues about maternal stress to the fetus with the potential of altering the developmental trajectory of its brain. Turning towards childhood and adolescence, S. Walitza will present recent data acquired during the COVID-19 pandemic on juvenile vulnerability as well as stress and coping strategies affecting depression and anxiety. N. Ali will then present findings from research on chronic stress and its impact on fatigue and bodily symptoms as well as psychological outcomes in adults. Effects of chronic stress will be presented within the context of laboratory stress paradigms, daily life studies and a brief outlook on the effects of interventions will be given. Finally, S. Heinzel will present prospective data from the CORO-TREND study which gathered longitudinal data on depressivity, health and life-style factors in 800+ elderly individuals for over 12 years showing how stress levels and psychosocial factors changed throughout the pandemic situation. Further, the role of resilience and coping as well as stress as a mediator for depression and other diseases in the elderly will be highlighted.