Less Stress In Mexico?

(AP)  Mexicans report feeling less stress than people in nine other countries around the world, according to an AP-Ipsos poll.

When asked, "In general, how often do you experience stress in your daily life?" just 15 percent of Mexicans answered "frequently" — a far lower stress level than in the other countries polled: Australia, Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, South Korea and the U.S.

When asked how often they feel their lives are beyond their control, Mexicans were the least likely, at 21 percent, to say "never."

That's not to say Mexicans do not have worries. Almost four in 10, 38 percent, blame finances as their biggest source of stress.

Several people interviewed in Mexico City pointed to the economy as the root cause of stress.

The economy may be facing its fastest expansion in six years, with 4.8 percent projected growth, but many Mexicans, especially in more rural areas, continue to seek better-paying jobs in the United States. About 50 million Mexicans live in poverty.

"My husband doesn't want to give me money, and I have to find ways to survive on my own ... so I sell perfumes, makeup. I sell anything I am able to sell," said Natividad Marquez, 52.

Train conductor Jesus Aeala, 18, is married and has two children. He said he finds it difficult to juggle his need to provide for his family with his desire to pursue the higher education he knows is necessary to gain better-paying work.

"There are things you can control and things you cannot control," Aeala said.

While they quickly pointed to finances, Mexicans were also the least likely, at 20 percent, to blame their jobs for their biggest source of stress.

Or their family life — just 12 percent found that most to blame.

Javier Juan, 35, a construction worker, said he experiences stress "almost never." The things that do bother him are the well-being of his family members, especially his wife and children.

"Their health and how I'm going to obtain money to cure them is the biggest worry, more then anything else," Juan said.

Oscar Quintana, 81, said he never feels stressed out, probably because of the job he held most of his life as a member of the Mexican Air Force.

In a country with uncertainties, including a passionately contested recent presidential election that led to fistfights, marches and two candidates claiming victory, stability is valued. "I am a happy man," Quintana said. "Maybe it was a good life because it was a military life for so many years."

The poll of 1,000 people conducted face to face in Mexico on Nov. 25-26 had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

[titocordero]

ncolsens

I'm not a Bush fan by far but how is it that Mexico's lack of stress is Bush's fault. Bush is not going to round up anything especially being that his sister-in-law is Mexican.

If Bush were a true Texan Cowboy he would yellin that old phrase "It's round up time boys" but alas he is a puss

[titocordero]

MJV2944

It may be corporate america BS but it's politics in practice. You don't have to buy into it just look around they're everywhere it's like the air you breathe.

[jonw1115]

Of course they have no stress! They take 2 hours in the afternoon for siesta (lunch and naptime) and shut down shop. Not to mention that all the vagrants from down South are too busy finding a way to bleed the U.S. by being here illegally. I have no problem with those who go at it by the book, but we need to send the illegals packing.

I tend to agree with mjv2944, it was just reported that the U.S. is the least educated nation now, but they declined to give a reason why. I'll tell you it's because young men and women can not find jobs in order to put themselves through college whether you want to believe it or not. But it's true. There are hundres of thousands looking for work even if it meant picking fruit from trees as you stated. When I first moved to North Carolina I used to go out into the tobacco fields for work to supplement my income. Those days are gone to the mexicans. I have met all kinds of kids willing to work and that meant anything. But what happens a lot in todays society is they get caught up working in some factory (if they were lucky)only to have it close down and move to Mexico. Case in point, a factory I used to work in, in the small town of Menominee, Mi. manufactured Craftsman Shop Vacs. Craftsman decided that it was best if they moved the plant and closed to Mexico to save money. This small town was devistated upon its closure. And its happening all across America

[mjv2944]

We have 11 million of them that need to go back home so that they can live stress free. I will never buy the "they do work that Americans won't". This corporate America's BS story so they can keep wages low and believe me is has worked well for them for years. Hell, I'd be stress free too if I didn't worry about paying taxes, medical costs or educational costs.

[titocordero]

Granted I give 2 SH@#ts for Mexicans myself but you have to admit that who else is going to pick the peaches in Georgia work in Construction all across the U.S. building roads or buildings in extreme weather. I don't see too many caucasions digging ditches unless they belong to some kind of chain gang. If caucasians were to do the work that needs to be done in the trenches how much more do you think it would cost over how much the Mexicans and people from Central America are geting paid. True they do pose a problem in being able to obtain documents driver's license, social security cards and false green cards. But do you think that the U.S. Government does not know how these documents are attained and don't you think that the U.S. has the means to stop it. That would be about as dumb as finding a cure for aids or building a car that would last for 100 years. It does not make economic sense. The almighty dollar is what it's all about no matter how many deadly car accidents these people get into how they contribute to the crime rate so long as they also contribute to the bottom line in this country everything else is secondary. Sad but true.

[olebd]

It's amazing how they can obtain a license, own property, etc. whether it's obtained legally or with fake documents. My wife's car was totaled last September when an illegal rear ended her. Lucky for us the company who's van he was driving had insurance on it. It still set us back a couple thousand when it was all said and done. She's still in physical therapy for neck and back injuries.

olebd, same thing happened here, only they caught the guy, he hit three kids in a school crossing which has a stop light and was red when he went through it, the kids pulled through but are still going through physical therapy. He gave a false name to the authorities and was held for about 10 months was tried and convicted, however it was just a slap on the wrist and then was deported back to El Salvador

[olebd]

Just heard of yet another hit and run here today. The victim was a 37 year old guy walking his dog this morning. It turns out the law breaker is an illegal from El Salvador....he hopped back to his home country and pretty much disappeared.

Unbelievable.