Negative stress affects all our lives almost daily. It has become so prevalent that we tend just to accept it as a normal thing. While there are different stressors and levels at different times in our life, we still can’t get away from it completely.
We also have found that no matter what age you are, you still experience stress, but some groups seem to have higher levels.
Which brings us to the question, which age group experiences the most stress. First, I should say that everyone is different and just because you are in an age group, you may manage your stress in a completely different way than your peers.
The four generations are defined as the following: Millennials (18- to 33-year-olds), Gen Xers (34- to 47-year-olds), Boomers (48- to 66-year-olds) and Matures (67 years and older).
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), those people aged 18-33 years old suffer the highest levels of stress in the nation, In an assessment measuring stress, The main worry bugging young Americans is a concern for jobs and money.
Additionally, 44 percent of both Millennials and Gen Xers report experiencing irritability or anger due to stress, compared to 36 percent of Boomers and 15 percent of Matures. Because of this increase, there are now many programs and seminars focused on managing stress.
The study was an online poll undertaken by YouGov, and had a sample size of 4,619 respondents. This is the largest known study of stress levels in the UK.
- In the past year, 74% of people have felt so stressed they have been overwhelmed or unable to cope.
Behavioural effects
- 46% reported that they ate too much or ate unhealthily due to stress. 29% reported that they started drinking or increased their drinking, and 16% reported that they started smoking or increased their smoking.
Psychological effects
- 51% of adults who felt stressed reported feeling depressed, and 61% reported feeling anxious.
- Of the people who said they had felt stress at some point in their lives, 16% had self harmed and 32% said they had had suicidal thoughts and feelings.
- 37% of adults who reported feeling stressed reported feeling lonely as a result.