As Black Friday nears and national unemployment levels push into double digits for the first time in decades, the American Psychological Association's (APA) newest Stress in America survey finds that Americans continue to cite financial concerns as leading sources of stress.
Approximately seven in ten Americans report that money is a significant source of stress (71 percent), according to APA's 2009 Stress in America survey, with similarly high percentages reporting stress resulting from work (69 percent) and the economy (63 percent). More than half of adults (55 percent) also cited family responsibilities as a significant source of stress in their lives.
"According to our survey three quarters of adults in this country already report moderate to high levels of stress," says psychologist Katherine Nordal, PhD, APA's executive director for professional practice. "The holiday season can bring with it additional emotional and financial stressors that can negatively impact both physical and mental health."
Psychologists urge parents to pay particular attention to the stress their children may experience during the holidays. APA's Stress in America survey found that children are nearly two times more likely to worry about financial concerns than their parents realize. Specifically, 30 percent of youth say they worry about their family having enough money, while only 18 percent of parents report that this is a source of stress for their child.
"While the holidays are stressful for many people, there are some things we can all do to manage that stress and enjoy the season," says Dr. Nordal. "Given the concerns our young people are reporting about stress and money, parents need to be good models for managing stress in healthy ways."
APA suggests the following strategies to manage holiday stress and enjoy the season: