An article having a front waistband portion (38), a rear waistband portion (40) and an intermediate portion interconnecting the front and rear waistband portions comprises a backsheet layer (22) and a pair of side panels. Each of the side panels (90) extends laterally from opposed lateral ends of at least one waistband portion of the backsheet, and each side panel (90) includes a terminal free end region which has a predetermined length dimension thereof. A stress beam section (98) is connected to each of the side panels (90) along its free end region, and the beam section (98) has a relatively high Gurley stiffness value and a length dimension which is at least a significant, substantial percentage of the length of the free end region of the side panel. A fastening mechanism is connected to each of the stress beam sections and is arranged to extend laterally from each of the side panels for securing the waistband portions of the article on a wearer. The fastening mechanism has a base length which is not more than a selected, limited percentage of the length of the stress beam section.
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