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Wednesday, 7 November, 2007 11:59 AM
Stress a Major Health Problem
in the U.S., Warns APA
New Poll Shows Stress
on the Rise, Affecting Health, Relationships and Work
NEW YORK
-- One-third of Americans are
living with extreme stress and nearly half of Americans (48 percent)
believe that their stress has increased over the past five years.
Stress
is taking a toll on people -- contributing to health problems, poor
relationships and lost productivity at work, according to a new
national
survey released today by the American Psychological Association
(APA).
Money and work continue
as the leading causes of stress for three
quarters of Americans, a dramatic increase over the 59 percent(1)
reporting the same sources of stress in 2006. The survey also found
that
the housing crisis is having an effect on many, with half of Americans
(51 percent) citing rent or mortgage costs as sources of stress
this
year.
Nearly half of all Americans
report that stress has a negative impact on
both their personal and professional lives. About one-third (31
percent)
of employed adults have difficulty managing work and family
responsibilities and 35 percent cite jobs interfering with their
family
or personal time as a significant source of stress. Stress causes
more
than half of Americans (54 percent) to fight with people close to
them.
One in four people report that they have been alienated from a friend
or
family member because of stress, with 8 percent connecting stress
to
divorce or separation.
"Stress in America
continues to escalate and is affecting every aspect
of people's lives -- from work to personal relationships to sleep
patterns and eating habits, as well as their health," says
psychologist
Russ Newman, PhD, JD, APA executive director for professional practice.
"We know that stress is a fact of life and some stress can
have a
positive impact, however, the high stress levels that many Americans
report experiencing can have long-term health consequences, ranging
from
fatigue to obesity and heart disease."
Stress Affecting
Health
Twenty-eight percent
of Americans say they are managing their stress
extremely well. However, many people report experiencing physical
symptoms (77 percent) and psychological symptoms (73 percent) related
to
stress in the last month. Physical symptoms of stress include: fatigue
(51 percent); headache (44 percent); upset stomach (34 percent);
muscle
tension (30 percent); change in appetite (23 percent), teeth grinding
(17 percent); change in sex drive (15 percent); and feeling dizzy
(13
percent). Psychological symptoms of stress include: experiencing
irritability or anger (50 percent); feeling nervous (45 percent);
lack
of energy (45 percent); and feeling as though you could cry (35
percent). In addition, almost half (48 percent) of Americans report
lying awake at night due to stress.
How Americans
Manage Stress
While Americans deal
with high levels of stress on a daily basis, the
health consequences are most serious when that stress is managed
poorly.
Four in ten Americans (43 percent) say they overeat or eat unhealthy
foods to manage stress, while one-third (36 percent) skipped a meal
in
the last month because of stress. Those who drink (39 percent) or
smoke
cigarettes (19 percent) were also more likely to engage in these
unhealthy behaviors during periods of high stress. Significant numbers
of Americans report watching TV for more than two hours a day (43
percent) and playing video games or surfing the Internet (39 percent).
Healthy behaviors used to manage stress included: listening to music
(54
percent); reading (52 percent); exercising or walking (50 percent);
spending time with family and friends (40 percent); and praying
(34
percent).
Motivating Factors
in Lifestyle and Behavior Change
While many Americans
recognize that stress has a negative impact on
their health, they may lack the motivation to make lifestyle and
behavior changes. Only 35 percent report that they would modify
their
behavior following the diagnosis of a chronic condition. Primary
motivators include: a desire to feel better (60 percent); desire
to
reduce amount of stress (45 percent); and desire to improve self-image
or self-esteem (41 percent). Encouragement from a spouse or partner
would motivate 38 percent to make behavioral changes.
The Stress in America
survey is part of APA's Mind/Body Health Public Education Campaign.
For information on the survey or managing stress, visit www.apahelpcenter.org.
Methodology
In September 2007, the
American Psychological Association commissioned
its annual nationwide survey to examine the state of stress across
the
country. The research measured attitudes and perceptions of stress
among
the general public, identifying leading sources of stress, common
behaviors used to manage stress and the impact of stress on our
lives.
The survey explored appropriate and excessive stress levels;
circumstances, situations and life events that cause stress; activities,
resources and behaviors people use to deal with stress; and the
personal
costs of stress.
This survey was conducted
online within the United States by Harris
Interactive between August 30 and September 11, 2007, among 1,848
adults
(aged 18 and over). Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish.
Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household
income were weighted where necessary to bring them in line with
their
actual proportions in the population. Hispanic respondents were
also
weighted based on language usage. Propensity score weighting was
also
used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.
With a pure probability
sample of 1,848 one could say with a 95 percent
probability that the overall results would have a sampling error
of +/-
2 percentage points. Sampling error for data based on sub-samples
would
be higher and would vary. However, that does not take other sources
of
error into account. This online survey is not based on a probability
sample and therefore no theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
The American Psychological
Association (APA), in Washington, DC, is the
largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology
in the United States and is the world's largest association of
psychologists. APA's membership includes more than 148,000 researchers,
educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions
in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state,
territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance
psychology as a science, as a profession and as a means of promoting
human welfare.
Source: American
Psychological Association
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