Effectiveness of a structured emotional literacy and stress management program for female heads of household: a two-year longitudinal study in Cartagena, Colombia, and Valencia, Venezuela
Female heads of household face unique stressors related to economic survival and family care, yet few evidence-based interventions address their specific emotional health needs. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured emotional literacy and stress management program for female...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Critical Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/09581596.2025.2547499 |
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| Summary: | Female heads of household face unique stressors related to economic survival and family care, yet few evidence-based interventions address their specific emotional health needs. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured emotional literacy and stress management program for female heads of household in two Latin American urban settings. A two-year longitudinal quasi-experimental study was conducted with 183 women (91 in Cartagena, Colombia; 92 in Valencia, Venezuela) aged 18–55 who maintained sole household responsibility. The intervention consisted of weekly community-based emotional literacy and stress management training sessions. Statistical analysis employed Latent Growth Mixture Modeling (LGMM), Multi-level Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), and Time-Varying Effect Models (TVEMs) to assess stress reduction, emotional regulation improvements, and program effectiveness over time. The analysis identified three distinct response patterns among participants. Direct effects of emotional literacy training on stress reduction (0.452) and emotional regulation (0.385) were statistically meaningful (p < 0.05) across both cities. Stress management coefficients improved from −0.384 at 6 months to −0.645 at 24 months, while intervention adherence declined moderately from 0.845 to 0.734. The intervention was most effective for women with moderate baseline stress levels and at least primary education. The structured emotional literacy and stress management program effectively reduced stress and improved emotional regulation among female heads of household in both urban settings. Municipal health departments should implement community health center-based stress management training integrated with primary healthcare services. Future research should examine program adaptations for rural communities and evaluate long-term effects beyond the two-year intervention period. |
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| ISSN: | 0958-1596 1469-3682 |