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Women's experience of stress and related use of diet and/or dietary supplements.

Women's lives are negatively impacted by chronic psychological stress. Dietary supplement use to manage stress is prolific despite inadequate evidence to support supplementation. The researchers used Participatory Action Research to examine the experience of living with stress and the role that diet and/or dietary supplements played in the self-reported ability to manage stress among community dwelling women. Convenience sampling was used to recruit eight women. Focus groups were held across eight consecutive weeks wherein personal experiences of stress and dietary strategies to manage stress were audio-recorded. Verbatim transcripts of sessions, journal notes and email correspondence were analysed, identifying codes, categories and six themes: 'causes and effects of stress;' 'thinking patterns and stress;' 'confusion and skepticism about using dietary strategies to manage stress;' 'the role of relationships in experiencing stress,' '-and managing physical health and stress,' and 'stress-management strategies.' Participants experienced habitual stress responses, skepticism about dietary stress management strategies, and long-reaching physical and psychological effects on key relationships. Health professionals supporting chronically stressed women may find similar perspectives influence the choices of women they provide services to. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.