Abstract
Objectives
To identify the gender-specific correlates of perceived life stress in a representative sample of the Montreal population.
Method
Data were extracted from the Local Health Survey Program (called “TOPO”) collected in 2012. TOPO-2012 provided information on chronic diseases, their determinants and risk factors, as well as lifestyle and health services utilization. Poisson regression was used to identify significant correlates of perceived life stress.
Results
Single-parent females were 21% more likely (RR = 1.21; 95% CI = 1.04–1.42) to report stressful life compared to females living alone. Females born in Canada or established female immigrants were significantly more likely to report stressful life (respectively RR = 1.34; 95% CI = 1.12–1.60 and RR = 1.31; 95% CI = 1.08–1.58) than recent female immigrants. Furthermore, females living in a privileged material neighbourhood reported significantly higher perceived life stress (14% higher) than females living in a deprived neighbourhood. On the other hand, males with higher annual household income were 9% more likely (OR = 1.09; 95% CI = 1.05–1.14) to perceive life stress than males reporting a lower income. Also, overweight males reported higher stress (RR = 1.13; 95% CI = 1.01–1.26) than their normal weighted counterparts. Additionally, males who were diagnosed with a physical health problem were more likely to report stressful life (RR = 1.44; 95% CI = 1.28–1.61) than males who did not report any physical health problem.
Conclusion
Identifying correlates of stress at the population level may help researchers characterize people vulnerable to daily stress, provide health agencies the advantage to forecast and prevent its occurrence and diseases associated with it, as well as offer policy advocates a pivotal edge to reduce disparities in population health.
Résumé
Objectifs
Identifier, séparément pour chaque sexe, les variables associées au niveau de stress perçu dans un échantillon représentatif de la population montréalaise.
Méthode
Les données proviennent de l’enquête TOPO 2012. Celle-ci documente les maladies chroniques, leurs déterminants, les facteurs de risque associés, ainsi que les habitudes de vie et l’utilisation des services de santé. Des régressions de Poisson ont été utilisées pour identifier les associations avec le stress perçu.
Résultats
Les mères monoparentales sont 21 % plus susceptibles (RR = 1,21; 95% CI = 1,04–1,42) de rapporter un niveau de stress élevé comparativement aux femmes vivant seules. Les femmes nées au Canada et les immigrantes établies sont significativement plus susceptibles (RR = 1,34; 95% CI = 1,12–1,60 et RR = 1,31; 95% CI = 1,08–1,58, respectivement) de déclarer vivre du stress que les nouvelles arrivantes. En outre, les femmes vivant dans des quartiers favorisés sur le plan matériel rapportent significativement plus de stress perçu (14 %) que les femmes de quartiers défavorisés. Par ailleurs, les hommes dont le revenu annuel du ménage est élevé sont 9 % plus susceptibles (RR = 1,09; 95% CI = 1,05–1,14) de ressentir un stress élevé que ceux qui rapportent un revenu plus faible. Aussi, les hommes en surpoids présentent un stress plus élevé (RR = 1,13; 95% CI = 1,01–1,26) que ceux avec un poids santé. Finalement, les hommes avec un problème de santé physique diagnostiqué sont plus susceptibles de rapporter un niveau de stress élevé (RR = 1,44; 95% CI = 1,28–1,61) que ceux qui ne mentionnent aucun problème de santé.
Conclusion
L’identification de variables associées au stress au niveau populationnel peut aider les chercheurs à caractériser les personnes vulnérables au stress quotidien, fournir aux agences de santé la possibilité de prédire et de prévenir son occurrence de même que celle des maladies qui lui sont associées, ainsi que suggérer des pistes pour la réduction des inégalités de santé.
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Acknowledgements
We are grateful to the local and regional advisors for their participation in the planning stages of this study. We are also grateful to Dr. Marie-Pierre Markon for her valuable comments on the final draft of the paper.
Funding
Funding for this study was provided by Direction régionale de santé publique du Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal.
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Meshefedjian, G.A., Fournier, M., Blanchard, D. et al. Gender-specific correlates of perceived life stress: a population-based study, Montreal, Canada, 2012. Can J Public Health 110, 563–574 (2019). https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-019-00205-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-019-00205-4