Stress and anxiety have become a part of our everyday lives. They don’t just affect our mental health – there can also be physical consequences. Stress statistics show that an astounding 70% of adults in the US experience stress on a daily basis.
However, did you know that not all stress is bad? There’s also positive stress, or eustress, which can help people with motivation, energy, and focus. People may experience good stress on their wedding day, or before speaking in public, for example.
Let’s first take a look at some of the most important statistics and facts discussing stress and its causes, as well as its possible consequences.
The Top 10 Crucial Statistics and Facts About Stress
- About 57% of surveyed Americans say that stress paralyzes them.
- More than 44% of Americans feel that their stress levels have increased in the last 5 years.
- Every year, the US economy suffers more than a $300 billion loss due to stress.
- Only 14% of children say their parents’ stress isn’t a notable source of concern for them.
- Greece is the most stressed country in the world, with 59% of its population under stress.
- Approximately 45% of teenagers say they’re under stress constantly.
- In the case of college students, stress statistics show that the number of students who seek professional counseling rose by 30% in a 5-year period.
- Close to 20% of college students practice self-injury.
- Stress in the workplace affects 54% of workers’ home lives.
- Over 8 million Americans older than 18 suffer from PTSD.
If you’re under a lot of pressure and stress, keep reading to find out more about common stress symptoms, effective stress management, the different types of stress, and much more.
Overall Facts and Statistics on Stress
1. Low energy, various aches, insomnia, and nervousness are the most common physical symptoms of stress.
(WebMD)
Now, the professionals define stress as the body’s response to harmful situations. It’s not just an annoyance, it’s a serious condition that can affect mental health, as well as physical health. Emotional symptoms may include feelings of frustration and moodiness. People also feel overwhelmed and lonely and have difficulty relaxing, and they often experience lowered self-esteem, as well.
2. For 18% of the population, stress can represent a good thing.
(NCBI)
The exercise and stress facts show that there is a correlation between the two. One study found that eustress, good stress, increases motivation in some people and urges them to exercise to cope with their stress levels, which means that the more they’re stressed, the more they will be physically active.
3. The holidays are not the happiest time of year for 69% of the population.
(Ladders)
The majority of people are worried about not having enough time or money during this time of year, and holiday stress statistics reveal that more than half of the population is under a lot of pressure because they have to give or receive gifts. These stats show that even though the holiday season is depicted as the most joyous and happiest time of the year, it is, in fact, full of stress and anxiety.
4. People with health issues are 2 times more likely to be stressed than healthy people.
(Harvard T.H. Chan)
60% of people with health issues feel high stress levels, and stress statistics show that 45% of disabled people feel the same. Additionally, people with chronic illnesses are more likely to feel stressed out—26% of them, to be more precise.
5. Around 37% of single mothers report general high levels of stress.
(Psychiatry Advisor)
The research has discovered that 30% of single mothers feel symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well. Compared to only 16% of mothers with partners, 26% of single mothers feel high levels of stress associated specifically with parenting.
Stress in America: Statistics and Facts
6. More than 44% of Americans note that they’ve felt increased levels of stress over the last 5 years.
(APA)
Even though most Americans feel moderate to high stress levels, those levels are steadily rising. The most common causes of stress among these people are concerns about the economy, money, and work. Worries about job stability are also steadily increasing.
7. The future of the nation causes stress for 63% of Americans.
(APA)
What causes stress for the majority of Americans? When it comes to stress in America, statistics from 2018 reveal that the tense political climate is a leading source of concern. In addition to this, 95% of these people regularly follow the news, 82% check it at least once a day, and 56% stay informed, further worsening their stress levels.
8. About 57% of surveyed Americans say that stress paralyzes them.
(Everyday Health)
Constant worrying and pressure can cause people to also experience physical effects of stress, not just psychological ones. Stress statistics from 2018 reveal that approximately one-third of the Americans surveyed have visited their doctor for something stress related. Meanwhile, another 43% state that stress invigorates them.
9. Every year the US economy suffers more than a $300 billion loss due to stress.
(Healthline)
Both psychological stress and physical stress can cause various health issues like heart disease, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Additionally, stress causes different accidents, absenteeism from work, employee turnover, and lost productivity, stress facts show. There are also direct costs to consider: medical, legal, and insurance.
10. Only 14% of children say their parents’ stress isn’t a notable source of concern for them.
(APA)
Parents may not see it, but stress also affects children. However, only 69% of parents admit that their own stress affects their children. One-third of surveyed children report that in just one month they experienced physical symptoms of stress like headache, stomachache, or sleep disturbances.
Stress Statistics Worldwide
11. Greece is the most stressed country in the world, with 59% of its population feeling high levels of stress.
(Statista)
This data isn’t a surprise given their current economic situation. Right behind Greece are the Philippines and Tanzania with 58% and 57% of each nation being under stress, respectively. The United States shares third place with Albania, Iran, and Sri Lanka, with 55% of the population experiencing high stress levels.
12. About 46% of the UK population admit they overeat or don’t eat healthily because of stress.
(Mental Health)
Stress statistics worldwide from 2018 also show that 29% of Brits also started drinking or increased their drinking because of stress. Meanwhile, 16% started smoking or increased the amount they smoke. Besides the behavioral effect, 74% of the UK population felt so stressed at one point, they were unable to cope.
(Busy Lifestyle)
And this number doesn’t include the personal healthcare costs that grow as stress levels rise. Lack of work, too much work, deadlines, too much responsibility, and general pressure from family all contribute to stress.
High School Stress Facts and Statistics
14. As a result of stress, 31% of teenagers feel overwhelmed.
(APA)
Nowadays, stress levels among teenagers can be compared to those of adults. Their stress levels are the highest during the school year, and even during the summer holidays, teenagers have reported that their stress levels were far above what’s considered healthy.
15. About 45% of teenagers say they’re under stress constantly.
(After School)
As the teenage stress statistics report, thousands of surveyed high school students said that the main stressors in their lives were teachers and relationship problems. The survey also discovered that today’s teenagers see stress as an expected part of their lives.
16. More than 51% of teens say that at least once a month someone tells them they appear stressed.
(PSYCOM)
In addition to this, over a quarter of teenagers have snapped at their friends or classmates because of stress, high school stress statistics reveal. The research also reports that on a 10-point scale, teenagers feel that their average stress level is at 5.8 points during the school year.
17. Approximately 34% of teenagers feel that their stress levels will rise in the next year.
(APA)
Only 16% of the surveyed teenagers reported that their stress has declined. Meanwhile, almost double that, 31%, reported that their stress levels have actually risen compared to the previous year according to the teenage stress facts.
18. A staggering 60% of teenage girls feel stressed, compared to 41% of teenage boys.
(NYU)
In addition to this, 26% of the surveyed teenagers showed clinically high symptoms of depression. While personal, athletic, and social challenges can serve as good stress for teenagers, preparing for college and keeping their grades up all have a great negative impact on a high school student’s mental health—not to mention the stress from high amounts of homework, stress statistics show.
19. About 35% of teenagers suffer from sleep disturbances because of stress.
(The Hill)
Most teenagers admit that they lie awake at night, and the research shows that they sleep less than the recommended 8 to 10 hours. On average, teenagers sleep 7.4 hours on school nights and 8.1 hours on non-school nights. As a result, teens are more likely to feel stress in the form of irritability, nervousness, and sadness.
College Stress Statistics
20. Research reveals that 20% of college students experience 6 or more stressful events in a single year.
(Harvard Medical School)
In addition, three-quarters of college students experience at least one stressful event per year. Stressful events impact mental health in a negative way. This exposure to stress has been linked to an increase in mental disorder diagnosis, self-harm, and suicidal ideation.
21. Around 45% of students who seek professional help do so because of stress.
(APA)
In the case of stress in college students, statistics also report that the main reasons college students seek professional counseling include anxiety for 61% of college students, depression for 49%, family issues for 31%, academic performance for 28%, and relationship problems for 27%.
22. It’s estimated that 9% of college students have had suicidal thoughts.
(LoveToKnow)
One in five students say they feel constantly stressed, and one in four college students experience stress on a daily basis. The college student stress statistics report that this results in 1,000–1,400 suicides among college students every year.
23. About 20% of college students have practiced self-injury.
(Harvard Medical School)
Another consequence of chronic or untreated stress is self-harm. Every year, one in four students is diagnosed with or treated for a mental health disorder. Mental health issues and suicidal thoughts are a common aftereffect of untreated, chronic stress.
24. For college students, stress statistics also show that the number of students who seek professional counseling has risen by 30%.
(APA)
Research from 2015 shows that over a five-year period, the number of students scheduling counseling appointments dramatically rose, even though the number of enrolled students grew by only 5%. As the research indicates, this is most likely due to an improved ability in recognizing students who need counseling.
25. A full 60% of college students say that stress affects their academic performance.
(LoveToKnow)
The facts about stress in college students show that stress negatively affects these students’ performance in the classroom, as well as in their schoolwork. Furthermore, over 46% of college students feel overwhelmed with their academic responsibilities. For more than 50% of college students, this causes high levels of stress.
(Harvard Medical School)
Sexual minorities among college students are more likely to suffer from mental health issues, self-harm, and suicidality caused by stress, as student stress statistics report. Additionally, more than 50% of bisexual college students admit to having suicidal thoughts, while one quarter has actually attempted to commit suicide.
27. Only 11% of college students say they get enough rest.
(LoveToKnow)
One of the first stress symptoms is insufficient sleep, which causes even higher stress levels. Other symptoms of stress also include heartburn, the inability to concentrate, indigestion, constant worrying, and even depression, the last of which affects 30% of all college students.
Workplace Stress Statistics
28. Approximately 80% of America’s workers feel stress in their workplace.
(GoStress)
Unfortunately, the situation is serious for the whole world. Chinese workers are the most stressed in the world, at 86%. Globally, 3 in 5 workers experience an increase in everyday stress from work, while close to half admit they need help learning the best ways to cope with stress. Not managing stress properly can lead to serious health issues.
29. In the case of stress in the workplace, statistics show that the boss is the main cause of stress for 33% of US workers.
(SmallBizGenius)
However, not only are bosses a major source of stress in the workplace, general management represents a great stress factor as well. In addition to this, 80% of workers’ stress levels are greatly affected by leadership changes in the workplace.
30. Poor communication in the workplace causes stress for 80% of American workers.
(AIS)
According to the workplace stress statistics from 2018 and 2019, ineffective workplace communication raises workers’ stress levels. This is also a significant rise in comparison to last year. Employers’ poor communication skills have pushed stress levels up by 30%.
(APA, Senior Link)
Taking care of someone with mental or physical issues takes a great toll on caregivers’ mental health. Additionally, 82% of caregivers don’t get paid for their services, since they mostly take care of their family members, as the caregiver stress statistics reveal.
This leads to mental, physical, and financial exhaustion as these caregivers put their own health at risk for the people they love. Furthermore, depression and burnout are very often the consequences caregivers have to suffer.
32. Close to 50% of millennials quit a job because of mental health issues.
(Business Insider)
Money and workplace-related stress are pushing millennials, stress statistics report, to leave their jobs. Most often companies don’t provide mental health training, or they have poor mental health benefits.
33. Stress in the workplace affects 54% of workers’ home lives.
(SmallBizGenius)
Stress at work not only affects relationships among colleagues, bosses, and management, but it also affects relationships with family. Moreover, 30% of workers also say that their careers and jobs are a constant source of stress, and among Gen Z-ers and millennials, this number rises to 44%.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Statistics
34. It’s estimated that 3.5% of the US adults will experience posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at some point in their lives.
(APA)
PTSD occurs when people go through great stress, like a traumatic event, accident, natural disaster, war, personal assault, and so on. It doesn’t happen only to war veterans, it can happen to people of all ages, ethnicities, and cultures.
35. Over 8 million Americans older than 18 suffer from PTSD.
(ADAA)
In the case of post traumatic stress disorder, the facts reveal that trauma survivors who suffer from PTSD are more likely to have problems with their families, as well as relationship problems. PTSD victims may develop trust issues and have issues becoming close to others, communicating, and solving problems.
36. Approximately 1 in 20 US adolescents suffers from PTSD.
(NIMH)
The overall prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder among US adolescents is 5%. In addition to this, it’s estimated that 1.5% of America’s youth also suffers from severe impairment as a result, according to the stress statistics. The research also shows that the prevalence of PTSD is by far higher in female adolescents, 8%, than in male adolescents, 2.3%.
37. Research shows that 60% of men and 50% of women go through trauma at some point in their lives.
(VA)
However, women are more likely to develop PTSD than men. It’s estimated that approximately 10 in 100 women will develop PTSD in their lifetimes, while post-traumatic stress disorder statistics report that this is the case for only 4 in 100 men.
38. Between 3% and 15% of girls and 1% and 6% of boys develop PTSD after a trauma.
(VA)
Research estimates that 15%–43% of girls and 14%–43% of boys go through at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. This can include events such as war, floods, car crashes, and fires, but there’s also physical and sexual abuse, neglect, or psychological or mental abuse.
FAQ
How many people have died because of stress?
Stress itself doesn’t kill, but every year more than 100 million people die as a direct result of stress. This is due to the mental and physical illnesses that chronic and untreated stress causes. High blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, anxiety, and depression are just a fraction of the conditions that chronic stress can cause.
What is the number 1 cause of stress?
As the research shows, financial problems are the main cause of stress for 72% of US adults. Other very common stressors include work, personal relationships, and parenting, as well as everyday troubles and overall busyness.
What are the top 10 causes of stress?
Now, every person has their own stressors, but some of the most common ones are a loved one passing away, divorce, the loss of a job, a rise in financial obligations, getting married, moving to a new house or apartment, different chronic illnesses and injuries, taking care of a family member, witnessing a traumatic event, and emotional problems like anxiety, depression, grief, anger, guilt, or low self-esteem.
What age group has the most stress?
Studies have shown that millennials, people aged 18 to 33, and Gen X-ers, people aged 34 to 47, suffer the highest levels of stress. Both of these generations report average stress levels of 5.4 points on a 10-point scale, which is higher than boomers, whose average is 4.7 points, and matures, whose average is 3.7.
The Bottom Line
No matter what kind of stress it is, good or bad, it shouldn’t grow into a chronic condition. Even though it’s everywhere around us, we must find ways to deal with it and avoid the negative effects of stress.
Knowing these stress statistics is crucial for identifying the stressors in our lives and finding a proper way to deal with them. We hope that these facts about stress have shown you that you aren’t alone in your struggle. If you can’t avoid stress, the best thing to do is to talk with someone about it.
Sources:
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- ADAA
- After School
- AIS
- APA
- APA
- APA
- APA
- APA
- APA
- Business Insider
- Everyday Health
- GoStress
- Harvard Medical School
- Harvard T.H. Chan
- Healthline
- Ladders
- LoveToKnow
- Mental Health
- NCBI
- NIMH
- NYU
- Psychiatry Advisor
- PSYCOM
- Senior Link
- SmallBizGenius
- Statista
- The Busy Lifestyle
- The Hill
- UpToDate
- WebMD
- VA
- VA
- SLMA
- Verywell Mind
- WebMD
- APA
