We are stressed out.
A recent survey by the American Psychological Association found nationwide angst has taken the most significant jump since the trade group began mental-health polling a decade ago. Overall anxieties about the nation’s political future were key drivers of rising tension.
The fact that economic challenges are no longer top of mind for stressed Americans may be one sign of an improved business climate. Or, the loud debate about immigration, terrorism, and foreign trade may simply be more emotionally gripping.
But it’s not like financial stress or workplace anxieties have been erased by any means. Here are seven trends in monetary stress that I found in some recent surveys:
1. Large money worries. A National Endowment for Financial Education survey found 78 percent of Americans polled had some money worry. That’s not so surprising when 48 percent of those polled admitted to living paycheck-to-paycheck. The biggest stressor was saving money (cited by 53 percent) followed by managing debt (44 percent).
2. Workplace stress declining. MediKeeper asked U.S. workers to rate their stress levels from 1 (low) to 5 (high). Last year, the largest share of workers chose a stress level of 2 vs. two years earlier when a score of 3 was most popular. In the same period, workers citing the lowest stress level jumped by 58 percent, while those ranking stress at highest levels fell by 39 percent.
3. What’s bugging workers? CareerCast’s survey found the most stressful part of working is meeting deadlines, cited by 30 percent of those polled. The next large stressor was a primarily healthcare worry – being responsible for the lives of others – at 17 percent; workplace competitiveness (10.2 percent) and a job’s physical demands (8.4 percent).
4. Most stressful jobs. CareerCast found the highest stress levels among public safety workers and entertainment workers (91 percent citing high stress); followed by 89 percent of education employees; 78 percent of customer service workers and 69 percent of healthcare workers. The calmest workers? Those in information technology industries, with only half saying they’re stressed-out.
5. Impacting health. Four Seasons Financial Education found workers reporting financial distress were more likely to be sick vs. those citing low financial stresses. The study showed the financially distressed suffered more from depression (55 percent vs. 19 percent); anxiety (68 percent vs. 19 percent); gastrointestinal issues (37 percent vs. 19 percent); headaches (50 percent vs. 32 percent); and sleeplessness (60 percent vs. 45 percent).
6. Money woes hurt relationships. LendEdu found that one-in-five couples argue regularly about finances. But that stress varies by income level. Pollsters found 43 percent of high-income people saying finances was the most stressful part of their relationship vs. 48 percent for the middle class and 52 percent of lower-income couples.
7. Money stress won’t end. The psychological association’s survey last summer found the economy was the top stressor in the past decade (cited by 44 percent) ahead of terrorism fears (34 percent). And in the next decade, top anxiety creators will be money (62 percent) and the economy (58 percent).
Contact the writer: jlansner@scng.com
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