A cross-sectional study on the prevalence and associated risk factors of stress among adult women in Bangladesh

Abstract

Mental stress is a major yet often overlooked health issue for women in economically backwards countries, as they are more likely to experience it for various reasons. This study investigated the prevalence of mental stress among Bangladeshi women aged 15 to 45, involving a total of 1,019 participants from various regions. The data was coded in Excel and analysed using SPSS 27. A chi-square test was employed to examine the correlation between mental stress and lifestyle factors. At the same time, a multivariable logistic regression model was employed to identify independent predictors while controlling for confounding variables. Factors such as lifestyle, dietary history, and demographic characteristics were analyzed. In the overall sample, the rates of mild, moderate, severe, and very severe stress were 11.38%, 14.23%, 15.80%, and 6.77%, respectively. The prevalence of mental stress among participants was 48.2%. Stress was significantly more prevalent among women in service (AOR = 2.31, p = .025), those who were students (AOR = 2.19, p = .036), and those performing heavy physical labour (AOR = 2.34, p < .001). Lifestyle factors that were significant predictors included tiredness (AOR = 2.49, p < .001), excessive eating (AOR = 1.72, p = .019), and loss of appetite (AOR = 1.46, p = .010). The strongest predictors were mental health comorbidities, with significant associations found for anxiety (AOR = 6.29, p < .001) and depression (AOR = 15.58, p < .001). On the other hand, anemia (AOR = 0.69, p =.042), underweight (AOR = 0.54, p =.023), and primary (AOR = 0.48, p =.010) or secondary education (AOR = 0.55, p =.010) were all substantially protective against stress.