Dealing With Stress - AARP · common effects of stress: less sleep, poor nutrition, changes in physical activity, sick days from work, and drinking too much. Respondents ages 18–34

AARP.ORG/RESEARCH | © 2019 AARP ALL RIGHTS RESERVED DOI: AARP RESEARCH

December 2019

https://doi.org/10.26419/res.00321.001

Dealing With Stress

AARP.ORG/RESEARCH | © 2019 AARP ALL RIGHTS RESERVED AARP RESEARCH 2

Executive Summary 3

Detailed Results 6

Methodology 18

Contact 22

Table of Contents


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

AARP.ORG/RESEARCH | © 2019 AARP ALL RIGHTS RESERVED AARP RESEARCH

Executive Summary

Among adults 18 and older, not surprisingly, the amount of stress one feels under varies greatly by

individual. While one in six respondents say they currently feel under a great deal of stress, one-quarter

report not being stressed at all. Finances top the list of stressors, noted by four in ten respondents.

Additionally, the current political climate, one’s workplace or work colleagues, and health issues of friends

and family affect about one-third of adults ages 18 and older. The most common effects of stress are an

inability to sleep at night, eating too much or in an unhealthy manner, and changing one’s exercise or

physical activity routine.

As for ways of coping with stress due to the current political climate, the largest proportion of

respondents—four in ten—say they don’t employ any of the five coping strategies about which they were

asked: avoiding political discussions, not keeping up with the news, unfriending someone due to their

political views, spending time in politics-free zones, or having a no social media rule at some time during

the day. However, one-third say they avoid political discussions altogether.

4


Executive Summary (cont.)

Younger respondents appear to be under more stress than their older counterparts. For example,

four in ten respondents ages 18–34 report feeling more stress than three years ago, compared with three

in ten respondents ages 50–64, and one-quarter of those ages 65 and older. In general, respondents

younger than 65 years of age are more likely than those 65 and older to report feeling stressed by their

finances, work, and family responsibilities. In contrast, respondents 65 and older are more likely than their

youngest counterparts to feel stressed by the current political climate and their health.

Further, respondents who are younger than than 65 years of age are more likely to report experiencing

common effects of stress: less sleep, poor nutrition, changes in physical activity, sick days from work, and

drinking too much. Respondents ages 18–34 and 65 and older are more likely than those ages 35–64 to

say that they do not keep up with the news because of the current political climate. Additionally, those

ages 18–34 are the most likely to report having “unfriended” someone because of their political views.

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DETAILED RESULTS


While respondents report varying levels of stress, about a third say they

feel more stressed now than they did three years ago.

One in six respondents say they currently feel under a

great deal of stress, while about one-quarter report

not being stressed at all.

7

Q1. I’d like to get a sense of how much stress you are currently under. On a scale of 1 to 5 with 1 being “not at all stressed” and 5 being under “a great deal of stress,” please tell me know much

stress you feel under now [n=1,003]; Q2. Compared to three years ago, would you say you are under more stress, less stress, or about the same amount of stress? [n=1,003]

Additionally, nearly four in ten respondents say they are

under about the same amount of stress as they

were three years ago.

24%

18%

25%

16% 16%

Not at allstressed (1)

2 3 4 A great deal ofstress (5)

Current level of stress

27%

38%34%

Less stress About the same amount ofstress

More stress

Level of stress compared to three years ago


Women report feeling more stress than men and are more likely to

say they feel more stressed now than they did three years ago.

While about the same percentage of men and women

say they feel a great deal of stress, men are more

likely to say they are not at all stressed.

8



Nearly four in ten women say they feel more stress

than they did three years ago, compared to three in

ten men who say the same.

Men(n=487)

46%

22%

32%

Women(n=516)

38%

28%

33%

Not at all stressed(1 and 2)

3

A great deal of stress(4 and 5)

Current level of stress

Men(n=487)

29%

41%

30%

Women(n=516)

26%

35%

38%

Less stress

About the sameamount of stress

More stress

Level of stress compared to three years ago


Compared to younger respondents, those ages 50 and older are more

likely to report not feeling stressed at all.

9

• Nearly half of adults ages 50 older

(50–64 and 65+) say they are not at

all stressed, compared to fewer than

four in ten adults ages 18–49 (18–34

and 35–49).

• However, more than one-third of

adults ages 18–34, 35–49, and 65 or

older say they are experiencing a

great deal of stress. Fewer than

three in ten adults ages 50–64, on the

other hand, are less likely to report

having a great deal of stress.



39%

34%

49%

47%

26%

32%

24%

17%

35%

34%

27%

34%

18–34 (n=283)

35–49 (n=256)

50–64 (n=241)

65+ (n=223)

Not at all stressed (1 and 2) 3 A great deal of stress (4 and 5)


Respondents ages 50 and younger are more likely to say they feel

more stress than three years ago when compared to those 50 or older.

10

• Four in ten respondents ages 18–34

report feeling more stress than they

did three years ago. Only three in

ten respondents ages 50–64 and a

quarter of those ages 65 and older

report the same feeling.

• Half of those ages 65 and older report

having about the same amount of

stress compared to three years

ago.

Q2. Compared to three years ago, would you say you are under more stress, less stress, or about the same amount of stress? [n=1,003]

26%

30%

30%

24%

35%

30%

41%

50%

40%

39%

30%

26%

18–34 (n=283)

35–49 (n=256)

50–64 (n=241)

65+ (n=223)

Less stress About the same amount of stress More stress


Finances are the most commonly cited source of stress, with more

than four in ten respondents citing them as a cause.

11

• Meanwhile, roughly one-third of

respondents note feeling stress due

to the current political climate, their

workplace or coworkers, and health

problems affecting their family and

friends.

• Women are more likely than men to

be stressed by their finances and the

health of their friends and family.

Q3. Below is a list of things people say cause stress in their lives. For each one, please note whether or not you are currently experiencing stress because of it [n=1,003].

25%

25%

26%

33%

35%

36%

42%

Family responsibilities(such as child care, caregiving, etc.)

My relationships with friends and family

My health

Health problems affecting my family and friends

My work

The current political climate

My finances


Adults ages 18–34 cite finances, work, and relationships with friends

and family as the top stressors.

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In general, respondents ages 64 and younger are more likely than older respondents to report feeling stressed by their

finances, work, and relationships with friends and family. In contrast, respondents 65 and older are more likely than

their younger counterparts to feel stressed by the current political climate and their health.

Q3. Below is a list of things people say cause stress in their lives. For each one, please note whether or not you are currently experiencing stress because of it [n=1,003].

18–34 (n=283)

49%

48%

33%

31%

29%

22%

21%

35–49 (n=256)

50%

46%

26%

35%

34%

37%

21%

50–64 (n=241)

26%

43%

20%

35%

34%

20%

29%

65+ (n=223)

10%

29%

17%

44%

35%

21%

35%

My work

My finances

Relationships with friends/family

Current political climate

Health problems affecting family/friends

Family responsibilities

My health


The most commonly reported effect of feeling stressed is lying awake at

night.

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• Four in ten respondents report lying

awake at night because they were

feeling stressed.

• About one-third say they ate too

much or ate unhealthy foods or

changed their exercise or physical

activity routine due to stress.

Q4. Below is a list of things that may have happened to you because you were feeling stressed. For each one, please note whether or not you have experienced it in the past month [n=1,003].

12%

13%

14%

26%

31%

32%

41%

Had too much to drink

Opted to take a sick day from work

Visited a doctor or other medical professional

Skipped a meal

Increased or decreased exercise/physical activity

Ate too much or ate unhealthy foods

Lie awake at night


Women who are stressed are more likely to experience poor sleep or

poor nutritional habits than men.

14

• Specifically, women are more likely

than men to say they have lain awake

at night, eaten too much or eaten

unhealthy foods, or skipped a meal

because they were feeling stressed.

In addition, they are more likely to

have visited a doctor or other medical

professional because of stress.

• Men who are stressed, on the other

hand, are more likely to report having

too much to drink due to stress.


Men

36%

28%

31%

22%

12%

13%

14%

Women

46%

36%

30%

30%

16%

13%

10%

Lay awake at night

Ate too much or ate unhealthy foods

Increased or decreased exercise/physical activity

Skipped a meal

Visited a doctor or other medical professional

Opted to take a sick day from work



In general, younger adults, particularly those 18–34, are more likely to

report experiencing a variety of effects due to stress.

15

Respondents less than 65 years of age are more likely than those ages 65 or older to experience things like less sleep,

poor nutrition, changes in physical activity, sick days from work, and drinking too much due to stress.


18–34 (n=283)

45%

43%

39%

37%

19%

17%

11%

35–49 (n=256)

33%

32%

32%

40%

19%

17%

15%

50–64 (n=241)

27%

38%

20%

25%

10%

7%

16%

65+ (n=223)

21%

29%

11%

18%

2%

4%

14%

Ate too much or unhealthy foods

Lie awake

Skipped a meal

Increased/decreased exercise

Opted to take a sick day


Visited a doctor


Among the strategies mentioned, the most commonly used for coping

with stress around politics is avoiding political discussions.

16

• However, nearly four in ten

respondents who say they are

experiencing stress due to the current

political climate don’t do any of the

five coping strategies they were

asked about.

• Men are more likely than women to

say that they don’t do any of these

things.

Q5. You noted above that you are experiencing stress due to the current political climate. Which of the following things have you done to cope with your stress about politics? [n=361].

5%

16%

17%

21%

36%

38%

I have a rule about no social media(e.g., after 8 pm every day)

I have been spending time with friends and family in politics-free zones

I have "unfriended" someone becauseof their political views

I do not keep up with the news

I avoid discussions about politics

I don't do any of these things


Adults 18–34 are the most likely to cope with stress around politics by

ditching the news and "unfriending" someone.

17

Respondents ages 18–34 and 65 and older are more likely than those ages 35–64 to say that, due to the current

political climate, they do not keep up with the news. Additionally, those ages 18–34 are the most likely to report having

“unfriended” someone because of their political views.

Q5. You noted above that you are experiencing stress due to the current political climate. Which of the following things have you done to cope with your stress about politics? [n=361].

Don’t keep up with the news

32%

14%

14%

23%

“Unfriended” someone due to their political views

29%

12%

15%

9%

18–34

35–49

50–64

65+


METHODOLOGY


Background

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In November 2018, AARP Research contracted with AUS-SSRS to field a phone survey among U.S. adults ages 18

and older to learn more about how they are dealing with daily stress. In the survey, respondents were asked how much

stress they were feeling and whether today’s level of stress was more, less, or about the same as they were feeling

three years ago. Additionally, they were asked about a series of items that might be inducing stress (such as their

finances, their health, or their relationships with friends and family) and about common effects of stress on their daily

lives (such as not eating well, not exercising, or not getting enough sleep). Given that we were particularly interested in

the effect of the current political climate on individuals’ feelings of stress, those respondents who reported such stress

were asked about the coping mechanisms they might be using to deal with it.


Objectives and Methodology

Objective: To learn more about how adults in the U.S. are

dealing with stress.

Methodology: Phone, nationally representative survey via

SSRS’s telephone omnibus among U.S. adults ages 18 and

older.

Sample: Sample of U.S. adults ages 18 and older drawn from

SSRS Telephone Omnibus, n=1,003.

Interviewing Dates: November 27–December 2, 2018

Language: Interviews conducted in English and Spanish

Weighting: Each SSRS Omnibus insert is weighted to

provide nationally representative and projectable estimates of

the adult population ages 18 and older.

Questionnaire length: 4 minutes (median).

Confidence Interval: Total sample: ± 3.5%. The margin of

error among subgroups is higher.

Note: Some percentages may not equal 100% due to

rounding.

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About AARP

AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to

choose how they live as they age. With nearly 38 million members and offices in every state, the District of Columbia,

Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and advocate for what matters most

to families with a focus on health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in

the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry

the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation's largest circulation

publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @AARP and

@AARPadvocates on social media.

AUS Marketing Research Systems, Inc. conducted this survey for AARP using its SSRS telephone omnibus. The author

would like to thank the AUS-SSRS team of Jordan Peugh and Suzanne McLaughlin for their assistance in fielding the

survey. This report was prepared by Teresa A. Keenan, Ph.D., in AARP Research. For more information about the

survey, contact her at [email protected].

Acknowledgements


Teresa A. Keenan, AARP Research

[email protected]

For media inquiries, please contact [email protected]

This research was designed and executed by AARP Research

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Dealing With Stress - AARP · common effects of stress: less sleep, poor nutrition, changes in physical activity, sick days from work, and drinking too much. Respondents ages 18–34