Women’s Stress Levels Way Up

Do women experience stress? Absolutely. Do women experience more stress than men? Research says yes. And this stress has real effects on your physical health, your mental health, and your relationships.

The Women-and-Stress Connection

Women are experiencing increased stress levels, and those levels continue to rise. The Hologic Women’s Health Index’s 2021 global report shared that women in 2021 were more stressed, worried, angry, and sad than they were in 2020, or at any point in the past decade. Of the women surveyed, 43% experienced worry, 41% experienced stress, 32% experienced sadness, and 26% experienced anger for a significant portion of the day.

If you feel overwhelmed or isolated by some or all of the previously-mentioned emotions, know that you are not alone in feeling more stressed than ever. Learning the source of your stress can help you identify your next steps in stress management for women.

Sources of Stress for Women

Many women’s stress levels come from balancing home and work. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that women spend more time doing household tasks and caring for family members than men, even when both are employed full-time.

And outside of the clear, measurable time spent on household tasks and childcare, Cornell University’s Evidence-Based Living explains that there is a huge amount of mental work that goes into being a parent, a partner, and a woman: “Women are primarily responsible for keeping household routines, organizing schedules, maintaining order, and providing emotional support to children. The available evidence shows this disproportionate share of the mental workload is associated with a poorer sense of well-being for women and lower levels of satisfaction with their relationships.” Women put in an exhausting amount of time, physical work, and mental work at home, all of which greatly impact their stress level and mental health.

And not only do women put in more work at home, but it turns out many put in more work at work, too. Harvard Business Review (HBR) reported that, compared to men in similar roles, “women managers invest more in helping employees navigate work-life challenges, ensuring workloads are manageable, and providing emotional support.” In addition, HBR explains that if you are a woman in a managerial role, you are also more likely to advocate for diversity and inclusion. In doing this, you will spend more time on these efforts outside of regular work hours and assignments, in addition to regular home-life work and stress.

For single mothers, women’s stress level from balancing home and work is even greater. In a recent Beyond Theory podcast, single parent and PR professional Naomi Adams explains that even when a single parent has a relatively supportive income, there’s a lot of pressure. There’s an expectation to create magical memories, to healthily interact with extended or ex-family members, and to work through the logistics of making sure everyone gets to spend time with your children during weekends, holidays, and other special events.

When finances are tight, as they are becoming for more and more Americans, single parenting becomes even more stressful. You struggle to pay for gas, rent, and food, even as you must still balance everyday parenting and wanting to create the best life for your children.

 

The Effects of Stress

The close connection between women and stress has both a mental and physical cost. There are real and measurable stress effects on women’s bodies. The American Psychological Association (APA) lists the following as some potential physical health effects from stress:

• Tension headaches
• Migraine headaches
• Chronic pain
• Chronic fatigue
• Digestive discomfort or pain
• Increased risk for hypertension, heart attack, or stroke
• Metabolic disorders such as diabetes or obesity

As for the specific stress effects on a woman’s body, the APA explains high stress levels may causes changes to your menstruation, sexual desire or behaviors, and your ability to get pregnant or have a healthy birth and postpartum.

And what about stress and your mental health? Stress increases feelings of depression, anxiety, fear, and frustration. It can get in the way of your ability to make decisions, manage your emotions, and maintain healthy relationships. It can contribute to drug or alcohol use. And all of these effects of continued stress also contribute to your stress, creating an escalating loop.

Stress Management for Women

If continued stress and anxiety interferes with your ability to enjoy and participate in life, learning some techniques of stress management for women can help. This self-care for women may look like assessing your stress and seeing where you can minimize it. But when stress is impacting your mental health and well-being, or if you’ve never had a chance to learn and practice stress management, this can be nearly impossible to do on your own.

It’s for this reason we are here for you at Willow House at The Meadows. We offer compassionate, professional care if you are feeling stressed, struggling with related mental health or substance use issues, or simply want to find balance in your relationships. When life is just too much or you aren’t prepared to handle it, know that resources for support and healing do exist. Reach out today to learn more.