Self-esteem, stress and self-rated health in family planning clinic patients.
BACKGROUND
The independent effects of stress on the health of primary care patients might be different for different types of clinic populations. This study examines these relationships in a low-income female population of patients attending a family planning clinic.


METHODS
This study investigated the relevance of different sources of personal stress and social support to self-rated health, adjusting for mental health, health behavior and demographic characteristics of subjects. Five hundred women who attended family planning clinics were surveyed and 345 completed the form for a response rate of 72 percent.


RESULTS
Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that liking oneself was related to good self-rated health (Odds ratio = 7.11), but stress or support from children, parents, friends, churches or spouses were not significant. White non-Hispanic and non-white non-Hispanic respondents had lower odds of reporting good self-rated health than Hispanic respondents (odds ratios were 2.87 and 2.81, respectively). Exercising five or more days per week also was related to good self-rated health. Smoking 20 or more cigarettes per day, and obese III were negatively related to good self-rated health (odds ratios were.19 and.22, respectively with corresponding p-values equal to.0043 and.0332).


CONCLUSIONS
Among younger low-income women, addressing low self-esteem might improve health status.
Rohrer
James E
JE
Department of Family and Community Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, USA. james.rohrer@ttuhsc.edu
Young
Rodney
R
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005192:Family Health; D005193:Family Planning Services / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011203:Poverty; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology