Because of interest in how socioeconomic disadvantage might influence development of, or impairment from, musculoskeletal symptoms by limiting the ability of women to leave jobs that might adversely affect their health, participants were asked how long they could be out of work without pay before loss of their income would be a major problem. They were also asked about children in the home, the availability of another adult to help with household responsibilities, and weekly frequency of hand and arm intensive activities such as needlework, keyboard use, or braiding hair.