3/1/2013
Millennials (ages 18-29) experience more stress on a daily basis than older adults do, according to the American Psychological Association. Millennials report an average daily stress level of 5.4 on a 10-point scale, compared to an average of 4.9 for adults overall.
Millennials are less likely than older adults to feel that they’re doing enough to manage their stress, and more likely to be practicing unhealthy behaviors such as smoking and drinking alcohol to cope with stress. Almost a fifth of Millennials have been diagnosed with depression (19%), compared with 14% of Gen Xers, 12% of Boomers, and 11% of Matures.
Millennials are more likely than members of other generations to cite work as a significant source of stress: 76% of Millennials, 65% of Gen Xers, 62% of Boomers, and 39% of Matures say so. Gen Xers (60%) are more likely than Millennials (53%) to be stressed about job stability.
Boomers are more likely than members of other generations to feel stress about the health problems of other members of their families: 58% say so, compared to 49% of Matures, 48% of Millennials, and 46% of Gen Xers.
Millennials are less satisfied with their healthcare than other adults are; only 25% give the quality of healthcare they receive a grade of “A,” compared to 31% of adults overall. Fewer than a fifth of Millennials (17%) feel their healthcare providers offer them a lot of support in managing stress.
More than four in 10 Millennials (44%) believe discussing healthy lifestyle habits and behavioral changes with healthcare providers is very or extremely important, but only 25% say they often or always have these discussions during their medical appointments.
Eight in 10 adults (80%) overall say their stress level has increased or stayed the same in the past year, and 72% say it’s increased or stayed the same over the past five years. Six in 10 (60%) have made efforts to reduce their stress levels in the past five years.
Fewer than four in 10 Americans (37%) feel they’re doing a good or excellent job of managing stress.
Fewer than a quarter of adults overall (22%) say their healthcare providers support their efforts to manage stress.
One fifth of U.S. adults (20%) experience high levels of stress on a regular basis (8-10 on a 10-point scale). Adults who have high levels of stress are less likely than those with low stress (1-3 on a 10-point scale) to say they’re doing a good or excellent job at maintaining healthy habits, such as eating healthfully (30% of high-stress adults vs. 41% of low-stress adults), exercising (21% vs. 41%), and getting enough sleep (30% vs. 43%).
Only one in three high-stress adults (33%) say their healthcare providers address their mental health needs, and 30% say their healthcare providers do not support them at all in managing stress.
Gender Differences
Women report a higher average level of stress than men do (5.3 vs. 4.6 on a 10-point scale), and they have a harder time managing it. More than four in 10 women (43%) say their stress levels have increased in the past five years, compared to 33% of men. Almost a quarter of women (23%) – vs. 16% of men – experience high levels of stress (8-10 on a 10-point scale) on a regular basis.
Source: “Stress in America: Missing the Healthcare Connection,” February 2013, American Psychological Association, Rhea Farberman, Executive Director for Public and Member Communications, 750 First St., NE, Washington, DC 20002; 202-336-5709; rfarberman@apa.org; www.apa.org. Price: Available online at no charge.
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