Population-level stressors - such as pandemics or war - affect entire communities simultaneously, providing unique opportunities to study individual differences in stress responses. While stress is a well-established trigger for psychopathology, these large-scale events reveal variability in psychological outcomes among affected individuals. Our research investigates how social-emotional factors, particularly emotion regulation capabilities and relationship quality, can either buffer against or amplify the impact of major stressors on mental health. Understanding these protective and risk factors is crucial for developing targeted interventions that can enhance resilience in vulnerable populations.