Women smoking and coping: an analysis of women's experience of stress

MOST research examining the relationship between women's smoking and stress has focused on women living on a low income. The present study looked in detail at comparative groups of women in terms of smoking status (that is, smokers, non-smokers and ex-smokers) and social class, and investigated simi larities and differences in terms of coping strategies. Results suggest that not all women who smoke do so to relieve stress, though women across all social classes suffer from stress. Health promotion should therefore address itself to promoting positive coping mechanisms for all women. Women who do empha sise smoking as a vital coping strategy are likely to live on a low income, in poor housing and often live in isolated conditions with pre-school children. Health promotion must therefore seek to work with welfare agencies in combating the structural factors which cause women to depend on health-damaging coping strategies.