Women's Health Professional

Today's Date: Monday, February 08, 2010

Women Take The Brunt Of The Worry, Causing Stress

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

More than two-thirds of American women interviewed for a survey released by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) say that the nation’s sagging economy has negatively affected their lives or the lives of their loved ones. The findings also indicate women may be neglecting their own needs while focusing on other concerns.

Women ranked the ability to provide food, clothing and education for their families, relationships with family and friends, and personal finances such as mortgages and retirement savings, as more important than their own mental and physical health, according to the phone-based survey.

“Losing a job or taking a wage cut creates an ongoing source of anxiety for families. Women are particularly affected because they are often juggling the stress of their workplace demands with those of running a household and keeping their families healthy,” said APA President Dr. Nada L. Stotland.

“While this survey focused on women, the answers we found can be indicative of the health and well-being of the entire family. The challenge for each of us is to find effective ways to cope with the stress caused by the economic crisis. Reaching out to a support network can help.”

While women across the country are greatly affected by these difficult times, the APA wanted to look at how the economic crisis was impacting communities more acutely affected by the stress and anxiety from job loss and wage cuts. Results from a telephone survey conducted in Clinton County, Ohio – where DHL’s cutbacks have eliminated more than 5,000 jobs in recent months, and the unemployment rate among the county’s roughly 43,000 residents to an estimated 10.5 percent in February – show that women in this hard-hit community encounter greater levels of stress that seen in women nationally.

More than half of women in Clinton County say they are worried that they or a family member will lose a job in the near future compared with 40 percent nationally. And nearly two-thirds of women in Clinton County say the economy has had “a negative impact” on their mental health, versus just over half of women polled nationwide, APA said.

Moreover, when compared with women nationally, the women of Clinton County are much more likely to be experiencing greater levels of stress – 45 percent vs. 33 percent, frustration – 38 vs. 27 percent, anxiety – 34 percent vs. 24 percent, irritability – 35 percent vs. 23 percent, and insomnia or oversleeping – 29 percent vs. 20 percent.

These feelings are natural, considering the reality of life in Clinton County: 30 percent of women in this hard-hit region say that wage cuts have affected their family, compared to 21 percent nationally. In addition, the incidence of job loss in the family is 9 percentage points higher in Clinton County than the national average, APA said.

“Even if people are working, it’s emotionally draining to live with a constant fear of losing a job,” said Ohio Psychiatric Physicians Association President, Dr. Joseph Locala.

While women in communities across the country are facing the stresses brought on by the economic crisis, this survey demonstrated that women tend to be resilient and resourceful. Seventy-six percent of women polled nationally say they are participating in more positive activities than they were six months ago, including spending time with family or friends, praying or attending religious services, exercising, watching television, reading, or listening to music.

“Women will take care of their families before making sure they have what they need to stay healthy. If at all possible, they should avoid spending cuts on activities and resources that can help maintain their own health,” Stotland said.

“For instance, keep up the gym membership, even if it means you can’t give your kids the latest electronics. Take time to exercise and eat right. The bottom line is that taking care of your mental health is necessary to your ability to care for your family,” said Stotland.

The survey also found that the majority of women view getting mental health care as a positive action. Eighty-five percent see the benefit in receiving support from a mental health professional for emotional or mental health concerns, and view it as a sign of strength. In addition, 80 percent of women are confident they could find mental health resources should they or family members require the services.

For more information, visit: www.psych.org.

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