Emotional Health Correlates among Working and Non-working Women of Kerala

Aim: This study intends to explore the emotional well-being of working and non-working women in Kerala focusing on the three major states of mind such as Depression, Anxiety and Stress. Method: The sample consists of 120 women, equally divided between working and non-working, ranging in age, education level, dwelling type, and number of children. Standardized measures were utilized to collect data. Results: The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was approximately 15%, with only minimal variations between the groups. However, fluctuating levels of stress and anxiety were reported among this groups also. A substantial variation in the depression levels was found based on the number of children. While employment status appears to have little impact on the mental health, the number of children appears to play a significant role in the depression levels. Duncan’s post hoc found that women with a single child experienced greater depression than those with three or more children. Individual characteristics, perceived social support, and coping methods, however, might all play a role in these outcomes. Conclusion: This study emphasizes the complexities of factors impacting emotional well-being and the significance of taking into account various variables in evaluating mental health outcomes in women.Key words: Anxiety, Depression, Stress, Employment status, Women mental health.