According to a recent study conducted by the American Psychological Association, the main stress factor among Americans has to do with their financial situation.
The survey was involved the data from more than 3,000 American adults, and according to it, they rated their stress level to be at a 4.9 out of 10 – 1 meaning a low level of stress, while 10 being extremely stressful.
Although the recent 4.9 results are down from what they were during the height of the recession, researchers say that this is still higher that what it is considered a healthy level, which is 3.7.
The survey also reveals that fewer than one in five American adults admitted that their levels of stress have decreased in the past year, while almost one in three Americans claimed that the stress levels have increased recently.
According to the reports, the main factor that causes stress among Americans is related to money.
64% of the interviewed Americans (more than one in three people) say that money is a significant source of stress.
Also, 72% of those involved in the study said that they feel stressed out about money once in a while, and 22% of them said that they are extremely stressed because of money problems.
Some to the money-related stressful concerns include: paying for expenses that are unexpected (54% of American say that this is what causes the most stress), paying for the essentials (44%) and saving money for retirement (44%).
Besides money, Americans say that work is the most common source of stress.
The study revealed that some groups of people are more stressed than others.
According to the results, women are more stressed than men (5.2 versus 4.5 out of 10).
Also, 51% of the women interviewed for the study said that they couldn’t sleep because they were stressed, compared to 32% of the men.
Another group of people that experience a great amount of stress are the parents. Compared to Americans who do not have children (4.7 out of 10), parents are more stressed (5.7 out of 10).
American parents also say that the stress level has increased in the past year (34% claimed this).
Image Source: suturi