“Stress in America 2009”

The APA’s annual nationwide survey examines stress among the general public. It measures attitudes and perceptions of stress, identifies common stressors and behaviors to manage stress and assesses the impact of stress on personal lives. The results draw attention to the serious physical and emotional implications of stress, especially as related to age, gender, region, ethnicity, work and family.

Amid the ongoing economic crisis, the 2009 survey finds that 75 percent of adults reported having experienced moderate to high levels of stress in the past month, and more than half said that their stress levels increased in the past year. The survey also suggests that stress and worry – particularly financial difficulties – are having more of an impact on young people than parents believe, with children reporting higher rates of stress and stress-related symptoms than parents expected.

Read the report.