Exploring the Cultural Model of Social Stress Among Andean Women in the Peruvian Highlands

Abstract

We conducted research to explore how women in the highlands perceive and identify stress within the cultural context of the Andes. Using cultural domain analysis, consisting of free listing and pile sorting, we demonstrate the shared cultural model of stress among Andean women. The project describes different types of stress that impact women including economic insecurity, lack of access to education, and spousal problems. We demonstrate what this research tells us about how Andean women organize sources of stress. The practical implications of this study involve researchers and practitioners considering social factors present in the lives of Andean highland women. The research can improve discussions about how these issues influence individual social stress levels.