APA Poll Finds Stress Having an Impact on Families, Hispanics |
Findings Suggest Hispanics Most Affected by Physical Symptoms of
Stress, Indicating Stress May be a Serious Health Concern for Hispanics,
Say Psychologists
NEW YORK, Nov. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Stress has a greater impact
on young people than parents believe and Hispanics are more likely than
whites or blacks to report an increase in stress levels over the last year,
according to a new national survey released today by the American
Psychological Association (APA).
Teens and tweens were more likely than parents to say that their stress
had increased in the last year. Nearly half (45 percent) of teens ages
13-17 said that they worried more this year, but only 28 percent of parents
think their teen's stress increased, and while a quarter (26 percent) of
tweens ages 8-12 said they worried more this year, only 17 percent of
parents believed their tween's stress had increased. Similarly, only 2-5
percent of parents rate their child's stress as extreme (an 8, 9 or 10 on a
10-point scale) when 14 percent of tweens and 28 percent of teens say they
worry a lot or a great deal.
"It's clear that parents do not fully appreciate the impact that stress
is having on their kids," says psychologist Katherine C. Nordal, PhD, APA's
executive director for professional practice. "What we're seeing with
stress is in line with existing research about parents' perception of their
kids' engagement in risky behaviors. Parents often under report drug use,
depression, and sexual activity in their children. Now it appears the same
may be true for stress."
Perceptions of Stress among Hispanics
Stress in America survey results show that adults in general continue
to report high levels of stress and many report that their stress has
increased over the past year. Seventy-five percent of adults reported
experiencing moderate to high levels of stress in the past month (24
percent extreme, 51 percent moderate) and nearly half reported that their
stress has increased in the past year (42 percent). However, a greater
percentage of Hispanics report that their stress has increased in the past
year than in 2008 (50 percent in 2009 vs. 44 percent in 2008). And,
Hispanics are more likely to report that their stress has increased than
adults on average (50 percent vs. 42 percent national average).
Overall, many adults say they have felt the physical effects of stress
in the past month, but Hispanics more commonly report experiencing symptoms
of stress than other adults:
-- 53 percent of Hispanics compared to 47 percent of all adults report that
they have lain awake at night;
-- 49 percent of Hispanics compared to 43 percent of all adults report
fatigue;
-- 45 percent of Hispanics compared to 40 percent of all adults report lack
of interest, motivation, or energy;
-- 44 percent of Hispanics compared to 34 percent of all adults report
headaches;
-- 41 percent of Hispanics compared to 35 percent of all adults report
feeling nervous or anxious; and
-- 34 percent of Hispanics and 27 percent of adults report upset stomach or
indigestion as a result of stress.
While 44 percent of adults report that they exercise or walk to relieve
stress, many people also say they rely on more sedentary activities to
manage stress (49 percent listen to music, 41 percent read, 36 percent
watch TV or movies more than two hours per day, and 33 percent play video
games). While these activities may be helpful in alleviating stress, they
do not provide the extra benefit of improving overall physical health or
maintaining a more healthy weight that more active forms of stress
management afford.
"The prevalence with which people living in the U.S. continue to report
increasing and extreme stress levels is a real concern," said Dr. Nordal.
"Also, people say that their levels of stress and lack of willpower are
preventing them from making lifestyle and behavior changes that are
necessary for improving and maintaining good health. It's clear that people
need tools and support to better manage extreme stress in order to prevent
serious health consequences. Unfortunately, our current healthcare system
does not do a very good job in this regard. And insurance companies often
don't cover preventive services or the kinds of services people need in
order to better manage chronic illness."
Lifestyle and Behavior Change
Two-thirds (66 percent) of adults living in the U.S. have been told by
a health care provider that they have one or more chronic conditions, most
commonly high blood pressure or high cholesterol. The vast majority of
adults indicated that their health care provider recommended lifestyle and
behavior changes (70 percent).
Few adults reported that their health care provider offered support to
help them make lasting changes: only 46 percent were given an explanation
for the recommendation; only 35 percent were offered advice or shown
techniques to help make changes; and only 5-10 percent were referred to
another health care provider to support the adoption of lifestyle changes.
Further, only 48 percent of adults reported that their health care
providers followed up with them to check on their progress in making
lifestyle and behavior changes -- such as quitting smoking, getting more
sleep, reducing stress, exercising, losing weight, and choosing healthier
foods.
In general, people cited a number of barriers in their efforts to make
lasting lifestyle and behavior changes -- lack of willpower (33 percent);
not enough time (20 percent); and lack of confidence (14 percent). More
than one in ten people cited stress as the barrier preventing them from
making lifestyle and behavior changes (14 percent of adults reported they
are too stressed to make these changes).
Stress in America is part of APA's Mind/Body Health public education
campaign. For additional information on stress and lifestyle and behaviors,
visit http://www.centrodeapoyoapa.org or http://www.apahelpcenter.org, read the campaign
blog http://www.yourmindyourbody.org, and follow @apahelpcenter on Twitter.
Methodology
The 2009 Stress in America Survey was conducted online within the
United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of the American Psychological
Association, between July 21, 2009 and August 4, 2009 among 1,568 adults
aged 18+ who reside in the U.S. This report also includes the results of a
YouthQuery survey conducted between August 19 and 27, 2009 among 1,206
young people aged 8-17 years old. Results were weighted as needed for age,
sex, race/ethnicity, education, region, and household income. Propensity
score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be
online. No estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated; a
full methodology is available.
The American Psychological Association, in Washington, D.C., is the
largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in
the United States and is the world's largest association of psychologists.
APA's membership includes more than 150,000 researchers, educators,
clinicians, consultants, and students. Through its divisions in 54
subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and
Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance psychology as a
science, as a profession, and as a means of promoting health, education,
and human welfare.
Harris Interactive is a global leader in custom market research. With a
long and rich history in multimodal research that is powered by our science
and technology, we assist clients in achieving business results. Harris
Interactive serves clients globally through its North American, European,
and Asian offices and a network of independent market research firms. For
more information, please visit http://www.harrisinteractive.com.
SOURCE American Psychological Association
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