Poverty and Stress Among Women in Their Childbearing Years

Psychosocial stress is associated with poor health for women and adverse reproductive health events, including preterm delivery and low birth weight. In this study we examine the social and economic correlates of stress among women in their childbearing years. Data comes from a population-based telephone interview health survey of 2,002 women aged 18 to 45 in Central Pennsylvania. Multiple linear regression models were estimated. The most common source of stress in these women's lives was “Money worries like paying bills” - Nearly two-thirds overall reported at least some stress (41.2%), moderate stress (14.3%) or severe stress (11.7%) during the previous year due to money worries, and among women in poverty more than 80% reported at least some stress (39.3%), moderate stress (18.0%) or severe stress (25.8%) due to money worries. Controlling for demographic and other variables, factors found to add to stress in women's lives included having one or more medical conditions, difficulty accessing medical care and being unemployed. Factors that decreased stress levels in women's lives were having children living at home (particularly young children), strong social support and high self-esteem. The results of this study suggest that improving access to health insurance and employment opportunities for women in their childbearing years could ameliorate significant sources of psychosocial stress and potentially improve health and well-being.