Identifying profiles of stressors and stress management strategies in Filipinos: A secondary analysis.

Chronic stress can lead to physical and mental health conditions. This study aimed to identify the different stress profiles and stress relief methods among Filipinos living in the Philippines using latent class analysis. A secondary analysis of a cross-sectional study was employed in this study. The stressors and stress-relief practices among Filipinos were investigated using the I-HEART-FILIPINOS data set. Latent class analysis was used to identify the different profiles of stress causes and management methods among 1,196 Filipinos residing in the Philippines, specifically the Northern Luzon area. Four stress-related profiles were identified: (1) low financial stress relieved by eating and exercise; (2) work-related stress relieved by self-care; (3) familial and economic turmoil relieved by eating, exercise and prayer; (4) high financial stress relieved by staying at home and remaining indoors. The four-class solution explained 58% of the variation in the data through classification. Disparities were observed between classes in terms of emotional distress and sociodemographic variables, implying how sociocultural factors could affect stress presentation and management in Filipinos. The findings of this study inform the development of stress management interventions specifically designed to address the needs of underserved populations in the Philippines and neighboring countries to improve overall health.