Stress Statistics

Knowing stress statistics and facts can help you to understand how your stress compares to others. However, don’t get too caught up in the numbers... knowing the statistics may or may not have anything to do with you, your stress, and where you stand in comparison.

With that said, some of this stuff is shocking and can be quite the “eye opener”. So if you’ve been putting off getting a handle on your stress, I hope that some of this information will help you see how important it is to maintain healthy stress levels.

Also note that the statistics and findings will vary based on multiple factors including the source of the information.

Stress in Children (and the disconnect with parents)

• 45% of teens (ages 13-17) said that they were more worried in 2009. However, only 28% of parents thought their teen's stress had increased.
• 26% of tweens (ages 8-12) said that they were more worried in 2009. However, only 17% of parents thought that their children's stress had increased.
• 30% of children reported being worried about the family's financial situation. However, only 18% of parents thought that their finances were a cause of their children's stress.

Possible Effects of Stress in Children

• 30% of tweens and 42% of teens say they get headaches. However, only 13% of parents reported being aware of their children having headaches.
• 39% of tweens and 49% of teens report difficulty sleeping. However, only 13% of parents reported being aware of their children having trouble sleeping.
• 25% of tweens and 39% of teens reported eating too much or too little due to stress. However, only 8% of parents reported being aware of this issue.

All of the above stress statistics related to children and their parents were reported by a 2009 survey conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA).

Click here to read more about family stress.

Stress at Work

• 45% of workers report that job insecurity has a significant impact on stress levels.
• 61% of workers list heavy workloads as a significant impact on stress levels.
• 25% of workers have taken a mental health day to cope with stress.
• 54% of workers are concerned about health problems due to stress.

All of the above statistics related to work stress were reported by a 2004 survey conducted by the APA.

• According to a CBS Evening News fifth annual Labor Day survey, more than half of Americans are somewhat or extremely stressed at work. And a shocking one in six workers reported being "angry enough to hit a co-worker".
  The Everything Stress Management Book by Eve Adamson, Avon, MA 2002
• 40% of workers report that their job is "very or extremely" stressful.
  Survey by Northwestern National Life
• 25% of workers view their jobs as the number one stressor in their lives.
  Survey by Northwestern National Live
• 26% of workers report they are "often or very often burned out or stressed by their work".
  Survey by the Families and Work Institute
• 29% of workers report they feel "quite a bit or extremely stressed at work".
  Survey by Yale University

Stress Occurrences and Severity

• 75% of the general population experiences at least some stress every two weeks.
  National Health Interview Survey
• According to a 1996 survey conducted by Prevention magazine, 73% of Americans experience great stress on a weekly basis.
  The Everything Stress Management Book by Eve Adamson, Avon, MA 2002

The following stress statistics are from surveys conducted by the APA:

• 54% of Americans are concerned about the level of stress in their everyday lives. (2004)
• 75% of adults reported experiencing moderate to high levels of stress in the past month. (2009)
• 42% of adults reported that their stress has increased in the past year. (2009)

Health Effects

• 47% report lying awake at night
• 45% report irritability or anger
• 43% report fatigue
• 40% report lack of interest, motivation or energy
• 34% report headaches
• 34% report feeling sad or depressed
• 32% report feeling as though they could cry
• 27% report upset stomach or indigestion

Physical effects of stress from the 2008 APA Survey:

• 60% report feelings of irritability or anger
• 53% report fatigue
• 52% report lying awake at night
• 48% reported overeating or eating unhealthy foods to manage stress
• 39% skipped a meal in the last month because of stress

To deal with stress...

• 56% of women and 40% of men reported eating poorly
• 43% of women and 32% of men reported napping
• 25% of women and 11% of men reported shopping
• 18% reported drinking alcohol
• 16% reported smoking

Causes of Stress

• 73% of Americans name money as the number one factor that affects their stress level. (2004)
• 62% of Americans say work has a significant impact on stress levels. (2004)
• Almost 50% of Americans say that they are increasingly stressed about their ability to provide for their family's basic needs. (2008)
• 57% of women and 55% of men say they are stressed about job stability. (2008)
• 70% of women and 63% of men say they are stressed about health problems affecting their families. (2008)

If you are having difficulty managing your stress, there are many resources available on this site to help.

Check out the Learning Tools to sign up for e-courses as well as the Stress Free Living ezine. For more in-depth learning as well as an action plan to get you on the right track, check out the Stressful Lives Stress Management Workbook available for immediate download. And if you need one-on-one assistance, consider stress management coaching with a Certified Stress Management Coach.

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