Maladaptive coping style and stress among married working and non-working adult women with independent children: A comparative study

Abstract

Background The outbreak of unwanted perceived stress in married women threatened their mental health. Generally, women have always been vulnerable to stress and have a maladaptive coping style. Thus, determining maladaptive coping styles and stress among married women with independent children is vital to reducing psychological disorders and illnesses. This study compared stress and maladaptive coping styles between working and non-working adult married women with independent children. Methods This study was conducted using a random sampling technique. 120 adult married couples, working and nonworking, in the age range of 28 to 58 years, took part in the study. Both groups were assessed using the following instruments: The perceived Stress Scale by Seldon and Cohen and; Stress Coping Techniques Scale by Vijaya Lakshmi and Shruti Narain. Results There is a significant difference in maladaptive coping styles and stress between working and nonworking adult married women with independent children. There is also a significant positive correlation between maladaptive coping styles and stress. Conclusion Married working women prefer to use maladaptive coping styles compared to nonworking married women to decrease stress. If stress decreases, then maladaptive habits also decrease, and vice versa.