Post by KNOWTHIS on Oct 25, 2007 18:57:27 GMT -5
www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-10-23-stress_N.htm
East to West, Americans are feeling greater stress
Stress is up everywhere in the USA.
A national survey on the state of stress in America, to be released today by the American Psychological Association (APA), finds that money and work are the biggest stressors for almost three-quarters (73% and 74% respectively) of Americans. That's up from 59% for both last year.
Overall, housing costs worry 51% of the 1,848 adults polled last month by Harris Interactive for the APA. Housing is a "very significant or somewhat significant" source of stress for 61% of residents in the West and 55% of those in the East, compared with 47% in the Midwest and 43% in the South.
About one-third (32%) of those responding to the online survey report regularly experiencing extreme levels of stress.
East to West, Americans are feeling greater stress
Stress is up everywhere in the USA.
A national survey on the state of stress in America, to be released today by the American Psychological Association (APA), finds that money and work are the biggest stressors for almost three-quarters (73% and 74% respectively) of Americans. That's up from 59% for both last year.
Overall, housing costs worry 51% of the 1,848 adults polled last month by Harris Interactive for the APA. Housing is a "very significant or somewhat significant" source of stress for 61% of residents in the West and 55% of those in the East, compared with 47% in the Midwest and 43% in the South.
About one-third (32%) of those responding to the online survey report regularly experiencing extreme levels of stress.
The survey "reflects a real change in the pressures that people feel in their lives," says Michael Baime, a physician and director of the Penn Program for Stress Management at the University of Pennsylvania Health System in Philadelphia.
Janet Sweitzer, a single mother of two who will turn 39 on Friday, says she is feeling greater stress because of rising housing costs. She bought a condominium in Weston, Fla., 2½ years ago, and now its value has dropped. She has two mortgages and rising payments.
"I have to work overtime now to compensate for almost $400 more I have to make per month," says Sweitzer, who works in sales at a call center for a telecommunications company. "I don't have as much time to monitor my kids and help them with homework."
Miami-based psychologist and stress expert Terry Lyles says people who live on a tight budget today are really in trouble. "In many cases, you're just trying to keep your house out of foreclosure. The stress of that carries over to work, home, relationships, everything."
The study also found residents of the East and West are more likely to report physical symptoms of stress and are less effective at managing stress.
Janet Sweitzer, a single mother of two who will turn 39 on Friday, says she is feeling greater stress because of rising housing costs. She bought a condominium in Weston, Fla., 2½ years ago, and now its value has dropped. She has two mortgages and rising payments.
"I have to work overtime now to compensate for almost $400 more I have to make per month," says Sweitzer, who works in sales at a call center for a telecommunications company. "I don't have as much time to monitor my kids and help them with homework."
Miami-based psychologist and stress expert Terry Lyles says people who live on a tight budget today are really in trouble. "In many cases, you're just trying to keep your house out of foreclosure. The stress of that carries over to work, home, relationships, everything."
The study also found residents of the East and West are more likely to report physical symptoms of stress and are less effective at managing stress.
