Dataset Information

The effect of psychosocial stress on single mothers' smoking.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Evidence suggests an increased risk of smoking among single mothers as compared to their cohabitating counterparts. This article examines the role of psychosocial stress in mediating the relationship between single motherhood and smoking.

Methods

Data were derived from a cross-sectional population based sample of German women (n = 3129) with underage children (0-18 years of age). Perceived stress was measured with 13 items covering socioeconomic as well as family- and parenting-related stressors. According to Baron and Kenny (1986) a series of logistic regression models was applied to investigate the role of psychosocial stress as a mediator on the relationship between single motherhood and smoking.

Results

About 44.0% of single mothers smoked daily, whereas only 26.2% of cohabitating mothers did. Single mothers reported more stress related to their economic situation, occupation and family than partnered mothers. Out of the original 13 stressors only 'conflicts with the partner or ex-partner' and 'financial worries' remained significant in explaining single mothers' higher risk of smoking. Against expectation, stress due to household requirements and family demands was associated with lower odds of single mothers' smoking. After controlling for psychosocial stress, the odds ratio of single mothers' moderate smoking (< 20 cig./day) decreased slightly from 1.75 to 1.66 (explained fraction XF = 12.0%) and with respect to heavy smoking (? 20 cig./day) more pronounced from 2.56 to 2.01 (XF = 35.3%).

Conclusions

It can be stated that single mothers' heavy more than moderate smoking appeared to be mediated by perceived psychosocial stress. Out of all stressors considered, financial worries were of paramount significance in explaining single mothers' heavy smoking while some family-related stressors rather appeared to keep single mothers from smoking. Overall, a higher stress exposure explains partly but not sufficiently single mothers' increased smoking rates.

SUBMITTER: Sperlich S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4235024 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

The effect of psychosocial stress on single mothers' smoking.

Sperlich Stefanie S Maina Mercy Nyambura MN Noeres Dorothee D

BMC public health 20131205

<h4>Background</h4>Evidence suggests an increased risk of smoking among single mothers as compared to their cohabitating counterparts. This article examines the role of psychosocial stress in mediating the relationship between single motherhood and smoking.<h4>Methods</h4>Data were derived from a cross-sectional population based sample of German women (n = 3129) with underage children (0-18 years of age). Perceived stress was measured with 13 items covering socioeconomic as well as family- and p ...[more]

PMID: 24304663

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Project description:BACKGROUND:Mothers in Motion (MIM), a community-based intervention program, was designed to help young, low-income women with overweight or obesity prevent further weight gain by promoting stress management, healthy eating, and physical activity. This paper presents the MIM's intervention effect on self-efficacy to cope with stress, emotional coping response, social support for stress management, stress, depressive symptoms, and positive and negative affect. METHODS:Participants (N?=?612) were recruited from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children in Michigan. They were randomly assigned to an intervention group (410 participants) or comparison group (202 participants). During the 16-week intervention, intervention participants watched ten video lessons at home and joined ten peer support group teleconferences. Surveys with established validity and reliability were used to measure self-efficacy to cope with stress, emotional coping response, and social support for stress management. The Perceived Stress Scale, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and Positive and Negative Affect Scale were used to measure stress, depressive symptoms, and positive and negative affect, respectively. A general linear mixed model was applied to test the intervention effect at the end of the 16-week intervention (T2, n?=?338) and at three-month follow-up (T3, n?=?311). RESULTS:At T2, the intervention group reported significantly higher self-efficacy to cope with stress (effect size [Cohen's d]?=?0.53), better emotional coping response (d?=?0.38), less stress (d?=?0.34), fewer depressive symptoms (d?=?-?0.27), and more positive affect (d?=?0.31) than the comparison group. However, there were no significant differences in social support for stress management and negative affect between these two groups. At T3, the intervention group still reported significantly higher self-efficacy to cope with stress (d?=?0.32) and better emotional coping response (d?=?0.34) than the comparison group but did not report significantly higher social support for stress management, stress, depressive symptoms, and positive and negative affect. CONCLUSIONS:To help young, low-income women with overweight or obesity manage stress, researchers and program planners may consider focusing on building self-efficacy to cope with stress. TRIAL REGISTRATION:Clinical Trials NCT01839708 ; registered February 28, 2013.

Dataset Information

The effect of psychosocial stress on single mothers' smoking.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

The effect of psychosocial stress on single mothers' smoking.

Similar Datasets

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