217593 Perceived stress and the impact on health among adults in the US

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Abiola Keller, PA-C, MPAS, MPH , Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
Kristin Litzelman, BA , Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
Lauren E. Wisk, BS , Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
Erika Rose Cheng, BS , Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
Torsheika Maddox, MS , Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
John Bowser, MS , Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
Whitney P. Witt, PhD, MPH , Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
Background: The relationship between stress and health has been well established. However, less is known about the perceived effect of stress on health. We sought to determine the sociodemographic, health behavior, and healthcare factors associated with perceiving that stress affects health.

Methods: Data are from the 1998 National Health Interview Survey, where adults were asked about the level of stress they experienced and to rate the effect of stress on their health. Logistic regression was used to examine the independent contribution of sociodemographic, health behavior, and healthcare factors on the perceived impact of stress on health.

Results: 55.2 % of adults reported experiencing stress, with more than half indicating stress affected their health. In multivariate analysis, Hispanics (OR=1.22, 95% CI 1.07, 1.39), adults ages 35-44 (OR=1.16, 95% CI 1.04, 1.29), and those with a usual source of care (OR=1.23, 95% CI 1.09, 1.38) were more likely to report health effects of stress. Participation in the paid workforce (OR=0.86, 95% CI 0.76, 0.98), being married (OR=0.81, 95% CI 0.73, 0.91)), being moderately or very active ( OR=0.83, 95% CI 0.74, 0.92 and OR=0.79, 95% CI 0.72, 0.87, respectively), and having health insurance (OR=0.74, 95% CI 0.65, 0.84) were associated with a decreased likelihood of reporting that stress impacts health.

Conclusion: Most US adults report experiencing stress and more than half of them perceive subsequent heath effects. Particular subpopulations are more likely to perceive health effects of stress, indicating disparities. Important protective factors were also identified, which present promising avenues for interventions.

Learning Areas:
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify the number of US adults reporting stress. 2. Determine if and to what extent US adults reporting stress perceived that stress affected their health. 3. Among US adults, identify the sociodemographic, health-behavior, and healthcare factors associated with the perception of stress affecting health.

Keywords: Stress, Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I participated in the study described in the abstract as a doctoral student in the Department of Population Health Sciences in the School of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I am concurrently pursuing a Master of Public Health at the University of Wisconsin- Madison.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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