Detroit Residents' Stress Still Higher than Healthy

DETROIT, Jan. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The economy and work are significant causes of stress for residents of the Detroit metropolitan area, and stress in Detroit is still higher than considered healthy, according to a survey released today by the American Psychological Association (APA) and conducted online by Harris Interactive among 223 Detroit residents and 1,226 U.S. adults in August and September.

Although reported stress levels have dipped in Detroit since last year, Detroit residents still experience high stress levels, reporting an average stress level of 5.2 on a 10-point scale. This stress level is higher than what they considered healthy (3.6 on a 10-point scale). Even with lowered reported stress levels, 75 percent of Detroit residents report that the economy is a significant cause of stress. And 73 percent said work is a significant cause of stress. And more than one-third (38 percent) said they are dissatisfied with their work, a number that is substantially greater than reported by Americans nationally (25 percent).

More than half of Detroit residents (59 percent) said it is very important to manage stress, yet fewer than half (43 percent) report that they are doing an excellent or very good job at managing it. And almost one-quarter (22 percent) said they have no strategies to manage their stress, higher than the rest of the nation (12 percent).

Detroit residents are, however, more likely to report using yoga and meditation to help manage their stress (18 percent vs. 11 percent nationally). Other frequently named ways to reduce stress include exercise or walking, listening to music, spending time with family or friends, reading and praying.

Detroit residents reported more physical activity in 2011. Nearly 60 percent of adults (59 percent) said they exercise at least a few times a week, compared to 50 percent in 2010. And among those who tried, 41 percent of Detroit residents said they were successful at losing weight, compared to 30 percent nationally.

Yet stress is a enough of a problem for people in Detroit that it is a barrier to making positive lifestyle change—one in six adults (15 percent) who wanted to make a lifestyle change said they were too stressed to do so, an increase from only 4 percent in 2010.

"While overall stress levels in Detroit are lower than last year, the numbers of Detroit residents who are stressed about the economy and work is alarming," said Detroit-area psychologist Dr. Josephine Johnson of the Michigan Psychological Association. "And although stress levels are lower than in previous years, they are still higher than what is considered healthy.  It's important people pay attention to this because stress can affect your physical and emotional health, especially if not managed properly." 

The national survey found that reported stress levels have stabilized from the highs of the economic crisis; however, they remain higher than what is considered healthy. Furthermore,  Americans who serve as caregivers — providing care to both the aging and chronically ill — for their family members report higher levels of stress, poorer health and a greater tendency to engage in unhealthy behaviors to alleviate that stress than the population at large.

The national survey also found that people suffering from depression or obesity report higher average stress levels than the rest of the population, and are more likely to respond that they are not doing enough to manage their stress.  People who are depressed or obese are more likely that the general population to try eating a healthier diet or taking other steps to reduce stress levels, but are less likely to report success when making health lifestyle changes.

To read the full report on Detroit and the United States, visit www.stressinamerica.org.

Stress in America is part of APA's Mind/Body Health public education campaign. For additional information on stress and lifestyle and behavior, visit www.apa.org/helpcenter and read the campaign blog www.yourmindyourbody.org. Join the conversation about stress on Twitter by following @apahelpcenter and #stressAPA.

Methodology
The Stress in America™ survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of the American Psychological Association between August 11 and September 6, 2011, among 1,226 adults aged 18+ who reside in the U.S.  In addition, an oversample of 223 adults living in the Detroit Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) was collected. MSAs are a formal definition of metropolitan areas produced by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. These geographic areas are delineated on the basis of central urbanized areas —contiguous counties of relatively high population density. Counties containing the core urbanized area are known as the central counties of the MSA. Additional surrounding counties (known as outlying counties) can be included in the MSA if these counties have strong social and economic ties to the central counties as measured by commuting and employment. Note that some areas within these outlying counties may actually be rural in nature. Because the sample is based on those who were invited and agreed to participate in the Harris Interactive online research panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. To read the full methodology, visit www.stressinamerica.org.

The American Psychological Association (APA), 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 154,000 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
Harris Interactive is one of the world's leading custom market research firms, leveraging research, technology, and business acumen to transform relevant insight into actionable foresight. Known widely for the Harris Poll and for pioneering innovative research methodologies, Harris offers expertise in a wide range of industries including healthcare, technology, public affairs, energy, telecommunications, financial services, insurance, media, retail, restaurant, and consumer package goods. Serving clients in over 215 countries and territories through our North American, European, and Asian offices and a network of independent market research firms, Harris specializes in delivering research solutions that help us - and our clients - stay ahead of what's next. For more information, please visit www.harrisinteractive.com.

SOURCE American Psychological Association