Perception of Stress and Health Related Quality of Life among Marginalized Women of Kashmir

Perceived stress as the outcome of hierarchy is most common among the socially and economically backward groups of the Kashmir and most effected among them are women of this society. In this society marginal social status leads to social isolation and alienation among socio-economically backward classes and certain factors such as continuous criticism, negligence and lack of respect appear to contribute to the stress towards women of this group. Stressful life events in their life induce significant physiological changes that lower their resistance towards disease and diminish level of health status also. The present study was planned to see the influence of Perceived stress on Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) among marginalized women of Kashmir. Sample comprised of n=100 women from socio-economically backward group of Srinagar district of Kashmir region. Data was analyzed through one-way ANOVA. Results indicated that perceived stress had significant influence on HRQoL among marginalized women of Kashmir. Post hoc analysis further revealed that low stress group was different from higher stress group on health related quality of life whereas moderate stress group showed no difference with both the groups.