Mental Health Issues in Women: The Role of Gender Socio-Economic Stressors
Keywords:
Gender, Socio-Economic Stressors, Mental Health, Women’s Well-beingAbstract
Mental health issues among women are influenced by a combination of social, economic, and gender-specific stressors that uniquely impact their well-being. This paper explores the role of gender socio-economic stressors in contributing to mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among women. By examining factors such as societal expectations, financial insecurity, caregiving responsibilities, and workplace discrimination, the paper highlights the intersectionality of these stressors and their disproportionate impact on women. The analysis also discusses the compounded effects of these stressors across various life stages, focusing on marginalized women. Finally, policy recommendations are presented to address these challenges, improve mental health outcomes, and promote gender equality. The findings emphasize the need for comprehensive social and economic policies that alleviate these stressors and provide better mental health support for women.
Downloads
References
American Psychological Association. (2017). Gender differences in mental health and socio-economic stressors: A review of the literature. APA Reports. https://www.apa.org/research/gender-mental-health
American Psychological Association. (2019). The mental health of women: Gender and socio-economic factors. APA Publications.
Aneshensel, C. S., & Phelan, J. C. (1999). The sociology of mental health: Surveying the social origins of mental disorders. Annual Review of Sociology, 25, 361-386. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.soc.25.1.361
Bartley, M. (2004). Health inequality: An introduction to theories, concepts, and methods. Polity Press.
Betancourt, T. S., & Khan, K. T. (2008). The mental health of women in low-income countries: Insights into trauma and coping. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 54(5), 467-483. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764008096792
Choi, S. K., & Smith, R. (2017). Socio-economic stressors and depression among women in urban settings: A qualitative analysis. Social Science & Medicine, 188, 89-96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.06.032
Crenshaw, K. (1991). Mapping the margins: Intersectionality, identity politics, and violence against women of color. Stanford Law Review, 43(6), 1241-1299.
Kuehner, C. (2017). Why is depression more common among women than among men?. The Lancet Psychiatry, 4(2), 146-158. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(16)30263-2
National Institute of Mental Health. (2020). Women and mental health. National Institutes of Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/women-and-mental-health
Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (2014). Emotion regulation and mental health in women. Psychology Press.
Olsson, G. H., & Mörtberg, E. (2016). Socio-economic inequalities in mental health among women: A global perspective. International Journal of Social Science Studies, 4(2), 89-104. https://doi.org/10.11114/ijsss.v4i2.1405
Simon, R. W. (2014). Gender and mental health: The role of socio-economic stressors. Springer.
United Nations Women. (2018). Progress of the world’s women 2019-2020: Families in a changing world. UN Women. https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2019/03/progress-of-the-worlds-women-201920
World Health Organization. (2013). Mental health action plan 2013–2020. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/mental-health-action-plan-2013-2020
Downloads
Published
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Gurpinder Kumar
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
