For Immediate Release
	June 26, 2003
	Contact: Carol McKay
	202-835-3323 ext.114
	media@nclnet.org

New Survey: Americans Stressed More than Ever

National Consumers League Findings Show 80 Percent of Adults, and Women More than Men, Report Problems and Stress in Their Lives

Washington , D.C. — Citing sources including work (39 percent), family (30 percent), health (10 percent), and the economy (9 percent), adult Americans are a stressed-out group, according to a new survey commissioned by the National Consumers League (NCL). The new telephone survey of 1,074 adult Americans, released today, reveals that women are significantly more likely to report problems and stress than are men (84 percent vs. 76 percent), and people under the age of 65 are more likely to report being stressed than older generations (82 percent vs. 70 percent).

            “Whether it’s the economy, worries about personal health, or fears about international conflict, the bottom line is that the vast majority of consumers are stressed,” said Linda Golodner NCL President. “And they’re more stressed now than they were a year or five years ago.”

            The Washington, D.C.-based consumer advocacy organization announced today the launch of a campaign to educate consumers about ways of reducing and coping with stress. “When stress interferes with activities at work or at home, it’s not healthy,” said Golodner. “The good news is that reducing stress is easier than some people think.” The group offers new tips for consumers, as well as a 30-day stress log to help keep track of patterns, on its Web site. “If consumers can keep track of when they feel stress, uncovering — and working to eliminate — the causes will be easier,” Golodner said. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org/stress.

Other survey highlights include:

• Tolerating Stress: More than half (57 percent) of those who reported problems and stress in their lives say their stress level is higher than they would like it to be.

·        Gender Differences: Work is a bigger source of stress for men (48 percent) than women (32 percent).  Family is a greater source of stress among women than men (37 percent vs. 21 percent). Overall, women seem to be suffering more: 62 percent of those who experience stress say that it’s at a level higher than they would like it to be (vs. 51 percent of men). Women are more likely than men to have experienced headaches as a result of stress (67 percent vs. 53 percent of men).

·        Physical Symptoms of Stress: About 60 percent of respondents who have problems or stress in their lives say they have experienced headaches as a result of it. Women are more likely than men to have experienced these types of headaches (67 percent vs. 53 percent)

·        Impact on Daily Life: About three of five respondents who reported having problems or stress in their lives (59 percent) say that stress has slowed them down in various situations, including social activities (39 percent), while dealing with family or relatives (37 percent), at work (33 percent), or during community activities (26 percent).

·        Age Differences: Apparently, seniors are a less-stressed group. Only 39 percent of those surveyed over the age of 65 said stress has “slowed them down,” compared to 67 percent of adults aged 18-44 and 58 percent of those 45-64 years of age. Only 36 percent of seniors have experienced headaches as a result of stress or tension (36 percent), compared with 59 percent of adults 45-64 and 69 percent of those 18-44.

·        Stress Aggravators: About six in ten of those who experience stress say they don’t get enough sleep. About 40 percent claim they are burnt out or overloaded with work. One in four agrees they are overextended and involved with too many organizations or activities.

To view the full survey results and NCL’s advice to consumers dealing with stress, visit www.nclnet.org. NCL thanks Bristol-Myers Squibb for an unrestricted educational grant.

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America 's pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to identify, protect, represent, and advance the economic and social interests of consumers and workers. NCL is a private, nonprofit membership organization. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

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