Stressed? If so, you’re part of the majority. According to Gallup’s annual survey of global emotions, Americans reported feeling stressed, angry and worried at record levels, surpassing those seen over the past decade. Around 55% reported feelings of high stress, ranking significantly higher than the global average of 35%. When asked about feelings of worry, 45% of Americans reported feeling worried “a lot of the day,” compared to the global average of 39%. According to the survey, 22% of U.S. participants reported feeling angry, matching the global average.
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Stress levels reported by Americans placed the U.S. in fourth place (tied with Albania, Iran and Sri Lanka) on the list of most stressed populations around the world. Greece was named first on the list at 59%, followed by the Philippines at 58% and Tanzania at 57%.
The survey showed that while Americans are angrier than they have been in years past, several other populations reported anger on a larger scale. In Armenia, 45% of participants reported feeling angry, followed by participants in Iraq at 44% and Iran at 43%.
Among all the factors contributing to poor health and early death, stress is perhaps the most pernicious. Chronic stress can have serious health consequences, including weight gain, high blood pressure and heart disease. It may also trigger a heart attack and the onset of dementia.
In today’s fast-paced society, it may seem like stress is something you can’t escape. But it’s imperative to your health — and happiness — that you find a way to manage your stress levels. If you need help with stress management, check out this article.
If you don’t necessarily struggle with stress, but you suffer from worry or anger, it may be time to adopt a different frame of mind. For tips on how to cultivate gratitude and lead a happier and healthier life, click here.