Holiday shopping.

Holiday shopping.

For many families, the holidays mean excess stress. From gifts and cards to meals and gatherings, we often face pressure to uphold tradition and make the season special for loved ones … even when it causes anxiety or exhaustion. Women in particular report feeling overwhelmed. Surveys say nearly half of women experience higher levels of stress between Thanksgiving and Christmas. This seasonal strain can take a toll on couples and families. That’s why some say it’s time to re-think our holiday priorities, with a focus on quality over quantity. A conversation about men, women and holiday stress.

Guests

  • Liana Sayer Director of the Maryland Time Use Laboratory and professor of sociology at the University of Maryland
  • Bradford Wilcox Director, the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia; visiting scholar, the American Enterprise Institute.
  • B. Hibbs Psychologist and family therapist; author of "Try to See it My Way: Being Fair in Love and Marriage"
  • Brigid Schulte Reporter, The Washington Post; author of "Overwhelmed: Work, Love and Play When No One Has the Time"

Poll: How have you changed your holiday traditions?

From The Blog: This Is What Holiday Stress Looks Like

This Is What Holiday Stress Really Looks Like - The Diane Rehm Show

The American Psychological Association took a deeper dive into the issue. Here's what they found.

Topics + Tags

Most Recent Shows

A New Focus On Menopause And Women’s Health After 40

Thursday, Apr 11 2024Menopause. Once a taboo topic, the "m" word is having a moment – among celebrities, in the media, and in Washington, where President Biden recently signed an order that supports research into women's health. Dr. Sharon Malone says it's about time, and explains why understanding "the change" is critical for a woman's ability to get – and stay -- healthy.

How Trump Is Using Christianity To Power The MAGA Movement

Thursday, Apr 04 2024Donald Trump regularly ends his rallies with prayer. He has repeatedly compared himself to Jesus. And last week he started selling a version of the Bible. Robert P. Jones of the Public Religion Research Institute weighs in on Trump’s growing embrace of Christianity.

Donald Trump’s Family History With Alzheimer’s Disease

Thursday, Mar 28 2024Donald Trump has made cognitive ability a central issue of the presidential race. But he rarely talks about his own family's experience with dementia. The Washington Post's Michael Kranish on Fred Trump Senior's Alzheimer's disease and what voters deserve to know about a candidate's mental fitness.

Donald Trump’s Money Troubles

Thursday, Mar 21 2024Donald Trump faces a cash crunch as he struggles to pay more than half a billion dollars in legal fines. Edward Luce is U.S. editor and columnist for The Financial Times. He joins Diane to break down Trump's money problems and what these penalties could mean for him and his candidacy.