Financial worries top concern for women: poll

NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - Financial worries are a growing concern for women and may pose a bigger threat to families than divorce, loss of faith, co-habitation and dual working parents, according to a new survey.

In the online poll conducted by New-York based Applied Research & Consulting women were asked questions about marriage, family, health, fitness, safety and financial matters.

"Women and their families are experiencing tremendous financial woes -- on issues ranging from housing to credit-card debt to healthcare -- and are very concerned about their long-term financial security," Meredith Corporation and NBC Universal, which commissioned the poll, said in a statement.

Nearly 70 percent of the 3,000 women who took part in the survey cited financial strain as their top concern, followed by divorce at 48 percent and loss of spirituality at 47 percent.

Thirty-two percent said liberal views on sex and sexuality posed a threat to the family, while 28 percent were concerned about both parents working and 21 percent named unwed mothers as a concern.

In addition, 57 percent of women worried about whether they could pay their monthly rent or mortgage, and 85 percent reported being in debt, the survey showed.

Of those polled, 46 percent said they were extremely concerned about rising healthcare costs, with 38 percent saying they had incurred debt from medical bills, according to the report.

It also showed that 18 percent of women, and 24 percent of single mothers with children under 18 years old, do not have health insurance coverage.

(Reporting by Julie Mollins; editing by Patricia Reaney)