Socioeconomic differences in coping with childbearing

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Abstract
The socioeconomic status of 200 women, who were completing a childbearing year, was found to be significantly associated with their attitudes, affective arousal, and coping strategies. Differences in attitude existed toward 11 of 18 aspects of childbearing, working-class women holding more positive attitudes with the exception of their negative attitudes concerning physical problems and labor. Affective arousal, as measured by the application of 12 content analysis scales to the women's recollections, was greatest among working-class women who experienced more mutilation, guilt, and total anxiety. This was associated with their tendency to avoid confrontation and be fatalistic in dealing with problems. They were less likely to exhibit instrumental coping by attending prenatal classes, seeking information, or planning. Interactions of socioeconomic status, type of problem, and coping strategy chosen occurred, as did some variations in the reactions of middle- and upper middle-class women. There has been increasing recognition of the importance of events and situations as determinants of behavior (Bowers, 1973; Caplan, 1961). Certain life events are commonly perceived as more stressful than others and the stress incurred over a period of time appears to be additive, its sum being related to the occurrence of illness and accidents (Holmes & Masuda, 1972) and psychiatric