Related Research
Economic Stress and Mental Health Problems
by Dr. Jessica Ryan, Assistant to the Chief Clinical Officer
According to the American Psychological Association, many Americans are feeling increased stress related to the current economic climate in the United States. Economic stress is taking its toll on emotional and physical health. According to a recent poll by the APA, more than half of Americans report irritability or anger, fatigue and sleeplessness, and almost half say they self-medicate by overeating or indulging in unhealthy foods. Money and the economy topped the list of stressors for at least 80 percent of those surveyed. Finances now overshadow the more typical daily stressors of work and relationships.
A good number of Americans are reporting being worried about providing for their family’s basic needs. It appears that stress is a chronic condition in the U.S. and it has been exacerbated by the increasing economic pressures that families are feeling due to the uncertain economy. Many of the adults in today’s world grew up in relative prosperity, with minor downswings in the economy. This is likely the first time that many Americans are concerned for their financial situation and have real worries about a change in their standard of living. In addition, the overall stress of the economy leaves parents and families concerned about their ability to take care of their children and provide for their basic needs. Children in turn, begin to feel this stress as well.
With stress, comes an increase in mental health symptoms. Research has supported that socioeconomic stress is related to higher levels of psychological distress (MacFadyen, MacFadyen& Prince, 1996). According to an online article in Newsweek, not only are individuals likely to experience more symptoms related to psychological distress, but these symptoms can also weaken the immune system, disturb sleep, increase appetite, raise blood pressure and lead to unhealthy habits. Our bodies are wired to feel the stress and come up with solutions and solve it. When uncontrollable stress hits, that’s when the stress system starts to go into overdrive.
Researchers are making progress in understanding the interplay between stress and overall health. Stress is no longer seen as an isolated emotional issue, but rather as an integral part of the body's response to dangers and threat. According to Karina Davidson, a clinical health psychologist at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, our bodies can typically handle exposure to short-term stress. We are physiologically wired with adrenaline to get us to fight or to run or to debate vigorously for short periods of time. When the threat passes, the body wants to slow down and rest. But, many modern stressors, such as the continuing economic crisis, are not short term. They can go on for months or even years. And it's that long-term exposure that increases the risk of long-term problems.
Physical health problems are not the only concerns facing Americans who may be strapped during this economic crunch. Research has supported the effects that economic stress has on the overall functioning of the family unit, the marital relationship, and children’s mental health (Conger, Rueter & Elder, 1999). In the context of the family, it is the parents who bring home the consequences of the insecure labor market and who carry the primary responsibility for making adjustments at home. As a result of economic pressures, their adaptation capacities are challenged and their mental health resources are taxed. Parents may have difficulties making decisions, suffer from a loss of self esteem in carrying out their responsibilities, and may feel a sense of failure at not being able to provide for their family. When parents experience such difficulties, their marital relationship can also suffer.
Economic stress in the family can create a loss of relationship harmony between the parents, and the children may express their worries about the family’s situation with a myriad of symptoms and problems, including internalizing and externalizing problems (Solantaus, Leinonen & Punamaki, 2004). Parents may have a more difficult time parenting because of their own stress and the stress that is present in their relationships as a result of economic stress. In fact, the incidence of abuse and neglect in children typically rises with increasing economic stress. Children are often vulnerable in an economic downturn because their parents may translate the stress of their financial situation into relationship difficulties with their children.
In addition, children are often confused by the impact of a negative economy. Some children may tend to blame themselves for the increased stress at home. Or they may have to take on adult-like responsibilities before they are developmentally ready to do so in order to help support the family. All of this leads children to be at risk for the effects of a slumping economy and at greater risk for emotional and behavioral problems.
So what can you do to protect yourself and your children? The first step is to learn the warning signs of stress, the physical symptoms that indicate that your body is reacting to unusual pressure. Everyone responds differently. Some people get headaches and muscle pain; others have trouble staying or falling asleep. Think of these symptoms as a kind of language; they're your body's way of telling you that you need to change. And in order to change, you need to respond in the same language. When you are stressed, your body is prepared for action, and if you don't act, the stress reaction remains. Researchers think that may be why exercise helps many people by triggering a relaxation response. You don't have to spend hours at the gym. Even a brisk 10- or 15-minute walk several times a day can make a big difference. Certain kinds of yoga, especially when accompanied by deep breathing, are also very effective in bringing down stress levels. Physical exercise is also useful in young children and adolescents. Get them moving and doing something active to stimulate feel good chemicals in their brains.
Maintaining supportive social connections is particularly useful during times of prolonged stress. It is important to keep your social network friendly, positive and large. Our close relationships should become paramount while working through economic problems. Keeping these relationships strong promotes mental health, effective problem solving and keeps things in perspective until the economy improves — and after it improves.
According to Indiana University psychologist Michele C. Thorne, in hard times, parents need to reassure children of any age, from infants through teenagers that they are safe and will be cared for no matter how the family is affected by the economy. Even newborns respond to adults’ emotional stress. If stress becomes overwhelming for the members of a family, both parents and children, there are steps that can be taken to seek professional advice and treatment. A visit to the doctor may help determine if the symptoms are related to an underlying medical problem, or if they are indeed the result of chronic stress. If the ultimate diagnosis is stress rather than a physical problem, many doctors today may simply prescribe an anti-anxiety medication or an antidepressant. While medication can be very helpful, research has shown that a combination of medication and talk or behavioral therapy is the most effective treatment. Interventions such as individual counseling, family therapy, or other parenting intervention programs can help to stabilize the child’s mental health problems and the overall well being of the family.
Here are a few additional tips for parents offered by Dr. Thorne:
- Prepare children for what’s coming. Parents can talk with their children and teens about the family stressors to allow them time to adjust to changes. But parents also should censor what they say and shouldn’t burden their children with adult worries and concerns.
- Hold family meetings. A weekly family meeting during hard times to explain how the family is being affected can help the children see that the family has a plan to deal with the new stressors. This reassures them that despite the circumstances, their parents are doing everything they can to work through the changes in the family.
- Limit children’s involvement in decisions. Don’t ask them to help make adult decisions that are beyond their capabilities or developmental level.
- Consult an expert. Get help from a pediatrician, community mental health worker, or school counselor if it’s needed. Berea Children’s Home and Family Services offers several programs to assist families in times of stress. Please visit our website to learn more about the programs we offer to children and their families.
To learn more about managing stress, please visit the American Psychological Association’s website at http://apahelpcenter.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=51. To learn more about the programs at Berea Children’s Home and Family Services and how they can help, contact our Intake Department at IntakeGroup@bchfs.org.
