Financial Stress: Impacts on Health & Relationships

In spite of the trade wars and the volitility in the American political system, virtually every economic indicator shows the economy moving in the right direction. Consumer sentiment is still on a steady rise and corporate profits just hit a new all-time high. Foreclosures and credit card delinquencies are way down.

You would think all this positive news would mean people are feeling good. Well, good is a relative term. The single biggest source of stress is still personal finances, as cited by 71% of adults. This is a slight improvement from 2010 when 76% reported finances were their biggest source of stress. Financial stress has a big impact on all aspects of life and at all age groups.

The American Psychological Association’s annual report: Stress in America (pdf file) points out some interesting facts.

Since APA began conducting this survey, women, on average, have reported higher stress levels than men, though generally, the changes in stress levels have moved in the same direction each year. In 2017, results showed a slight but not significant shift, as women experienced an increase in their stress levels (from an average of 5.0 in 2016 to 5.1 in 2017) and men’s stress levels dropped (from 4.6 to 4.4).

Not only do stress levels vary between men and women, but the reported stressors themselves differ as well. Though one in four men (25 percent) feel stress related to hate crimes, wars and conflicts with other countries, and terrorist attacks in the United States, women are significantly more likely to report experiencing stress related to these issues.

Women say that hate crimes (37 percent), wars and conflicts with other countries (36 percent), and terrorist attacks in the United States (35 percent) cause them stress when thinking about our nation.

Men also may experience different stress levels depending on their race. Though White men report an average stress level of 4.2, Black and Hispanic men reported experiencing significantly higher stress, with both groups reporting an average stress level of 4.8.

Which demographic groups are the most stressed

Older adults (72+ years of age in 2017), on average, have had the lowest stress levels among the generations since the survey began. The stress levels of older adults (classified as “Matures” in the Stress in America survey) this year remains the lowest (3.3 on a scale of 1 to 10) among the generations, but their stress levels increased slightly from last year (2.7 in 2016). This increase was greater than the change in stress levels for the other generations. As they have since 2014, Millennials continue to have the highest

reported stress levels, with this year’s survey finding an average stress level of 5.7, a slight increase from 2016 (5.6). For Boomers and Gen Xers, stress levels decreased slightly since 2016, to 3.9 (from 4.1) and 5.3 (from 5.4), respectively.

Sources of stress vary by generation. When asked to think about the nation, the economy was most likely to be cited as a cause of stress for nearly two in five Millennials (38 percent). However, health care is most likely to be a source of stress for Gen Xers (47 percent) and Boomers (49 percent). Older adults were most likely to report that trust in government (45 percent) is a stressor when thinking about our nation.

Similar percentages of each generation believe this is the lowest point in our nation’s history that they can remember, with around three in five Millennials (59 percent) and Gen Xers (61 percent) and more than half of Boomers (57 percent) and older adults (56 percent) agreeing with this sentiment.

This year, Americans expressed feelings of uncertainty —and resulting stress — due to concerns about a variety of high-profile issues. When asked specifically about the issue of safety for either themselves, their loved ones or in general, two-thirds of adults (63 percent) say they are stressed about crime, with terrorism (60 percent), gun violence (55 percent) and hate crimes (52 percent) being most commonly reported.

When identifying specific health-related stressors, two in three adults (66 percent) say the cost of health insurance causes them stress. Health care policy changes and having good health insurance cause stress for 60 percent of Americans.

When asked about stressors related to money, about one-third of adults (34 percent) worry about unexpected expenses, while three in 10 (30 percent) experience stress when thinking about saving for retirement. For one in four Americans (25 percent), the ability to pay for life’s essentials proves stressful.

Thinking about the economy, one in three Americans (33 percent) revealed stress about tax increases, while 30 percent feel uncertain about the economy in general, and 26 percent are stressed by a feeling that they are unable to get ahead financially in the current economy.

Half of those surveyed (51 percent) express that the state of our nation has compelled them to volunteer or otherwise support causes they value, and 59 percent have taken some form of action in

the past year to address the issues of concern to them, including signing a petition (28 percent) and boycotting a company or product due to its social or political views or actions (15 percent).

Stress creates numerous psychological and physical reactions that are generally bad for your health. In addition to affecting your health, financial stress among couples is the number one cause of divorce.

So how do you reduce your stress? The best way to manage stress is exercise, followed by listening to music. Always remember that money is a tool that can be used to create a life you love. Studies have shown that material things such as big houses and fancy cars don’t make people happy. Living beneath your means provides financial security, which creates happiness.