Millennials are the most stressed generation, survey finds

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Millennials are more stressed than any other current living generation, according to a new survey conducted by the American Psychological Association and Harris Interactive.

Overall, millennials -- defined by coordinators as anyone between the ages of 18 to 33 -- reported that they had a stress level of 5.4 out of 10. The researchers generally considered a stress level of 3.6 to be healthy. The numbers are also surprising because overall stress has declined across the country from 5.2 out of 10 in 2011 to 4.9 in 2012.

Thirty-nine percent of millennials said they were more stressed since last year, compared to 35 percent of all survey takers. In comparison, only 29 percent of those 67 or older said they increased their stress.

"Millennials are growing up at a tough time. They were sheltered in many ways, with a lot of high expectations for what they should achieve. Individual failure is difficult to accept when confronted with a sense you're an important person and expected to achieve. Even though, in most instances, it's not their fault -- the economy collapsed just as many of them were getting out of college and coming of age -- that does lead to a greater sense of stress," Mike Hais, a market researcher and co-author of two books on millennials including including 2011's "Millennial Momentum," told USA Today.

The online survey, titled "Stress in America," included 2,020 adults in the U.S. who were 18 or older.

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More millennials reported they had depression (19 percent) compared to 14 percent of adults between 34 and 47 -- from "Generation X" -- and 12 percent of adults between 48 to 66 -- "Baby Boomers" -- in addition to 11 percent of seniors 67 and older. Same went for anxiety disorders: 12 percent of millennials surveyed had been diagnosed, compared to 8 percent of Gen. Xers, 7 percent of boomers and 4 percent of the oldest age group.

Responders in the millennial generation was also less likely to give their health care an "A" grade: Only 25 percent thought their current care deserved the top grade compared to 31 percent of all survey takers. Almost half of millennials acknowledge that they are not doing enough to manage their stress. Twenty-three percent say they are getting "a lot or a great deal" of help from their health care provider to aid them in their healthy lifestyle and behavior changes, and just 17 percent say their health care provider supports them with their stress management.

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American stress levels declining

"When people receive professional help to manage stress and make healthy behavior changes they do better at achieving their health goals," APA CEO Norman B. Anderson said in a press release. "Unfortunately, our country's health system often neglects psychological and behavioral factors that are essential to managing stress and chronic diseases. In order for our nation to get healthier, lower the rates of chronic illnesses, and lower health care costs, we need to improve how we view and treat stress and unhealthy behaviors that are contributing to the high incidence of disease in the U.S."

For everyone of all ages, the most common source of stress was money (69 percent), work (65 percent), the economy (61 percent) and relationships (56 percent).Work, money and job stability were biggest culprits behind anxiety for the 18 to 47 crowd while personal or familial health caused anxiety in those 48 and older.

Millennials in particular said work (76 percent), money (73 percent) and relationships (59 percent) stressed them out most. The Los Angeles Times pointed out that millennials might feel stressed overall because their unemployment rate is 13.1 percent, compared to the overall nationwide average of 7.8 percent.

Women were more stressed than men in general, reporting a 5.3 stress rating compared to a 4.6. Men were also more likely to deal with their stress. Thirty-nine percent said they could handle their stress, compared to 30 percent in 2010. Only 34 percent of women said they were able to deal with their anxieties.

[notawing]

What a lovely young lady!
I feel better when I see her.

[WhereisOT]

Well....This is America....There's a pill for everything under the sun so the hells the big deal....
Super fast half a$$ed fixes are the way to go...

Take a couple happy pills and continue to be dumbed down by the never ending in your face ignorance and Intelligence Insulting bs of today's selfish, self serving anti everything but $ elite....then adopt their lack of vision when it comes to the World around em...

And under no circumstances get involved in any way, with what will help guide this Nation's People into the future...Just mope around and allow fricken idiots of the gop to take & take & take...and give em their way in turning back time to the stone age...

USA USA USA.....

[rzarc2]

I would not want to be a student graduating in today's job environment. Having four children I have seen first hand how hard it was for them to land jobs and every one of them graduated from top schools, with good grades and relevant degrees (business and science).

[1notrub11]

"For everyone of all ages, the most common source of stress was money (69 percent), work (65 percent), the economy (61 percent) and relationships (56 percent)."

I wonder how many other major categories there actually are? Can't be too many left.

Interestingly, they are in the age range of "most employable". It makes you wonder what their expectations are and how realistically they are looking at the problem. Try being over 60 and attempting to reacquire employment.

It also makes you wonder how those who were in this bracket in the early 1940s, ever managed to survive at all. Pulling together, maybe?

[johnlockesghost]

They didn't have time to get stressed what with all the bombs and bullets going off around and by them. Also, because they were coming out of an economic depression, they weren't spoiled.

[fasteddieNY]

It's hard to play xbox, text and smoke weed at the same time.

[MTPennies]

LOL good one - although maybe if the 19% depressed millenials did smoke weed the number would be lower like the 12% for baby boomers

[IPDAILY121]

What really amazes me is that the millennials would have voted for a man that looked them in the eye smiled and winked. While sticking his hand into thier pockets to rob them blind, and steal their futures. They will be the ones that bare all this debt that this administration has heaped upon thier shoulders. With the added cost of Obama Care no wonder they are feeling stressed.

[jtdev1]

What really amazes me is that YOU would have voted for a man that looked you in the eye and lied about weapons of mass destruction, yellow cake uranium, mushroom clouds, imminent threat, dirty bombs, chemical weapons, and lose 9 billion in cash, all so he could get at the oil in the ground.

[bobc1493]

IT amazes me how short,or is it selective, you right wingers memories are.

WHO took us from a surplus and a strong economy to about 12 trillion dollars in debt and a world wide recession in 8 years?

Answer: It was President DICK Cheney, V.P. Donald Rumsfeld and their "auto signer" George W. Bush.

[Xira667]

Their futures have been robbed. They have no chance against the machines, or the corporations, and their government seems content to abandon them to 'market forces'.

They engage in unpaid internships for 10 years of their lives, relegated to living on their parent's credit cards(if they can afford it, heaven help the one's who can't, they end up at wal-mart for life)

They can't get a real job without 10 years unpaid + an advanced degree.
They don't see things getting any better.

No wonder they are stressed.