ID :
11467
Sat, 07/05/2008 - 09:23
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/11467
The shortlink copeid
Half of Aussies strung-out and stressed
(AAP) - A new stress survey paints a grim picture of a strung-out nation, with one in two Australians very strained by at least one aspect of life.
Single people, females and those who are younger or working full-time tend to be the
most stressed, according to the Newspoll survey of 1,200 people.
Work, money and thoughts of the future are the most likely triggers of that stressed-out state, with health and relationship troubles not far behind.
The survey found that 91 per cent had some level of stress, and 47 per cent admitted
being extremely affected.
Dawn O'Neil from Lifeline Australia, which conducted the study, said that while some
level of stress was normal, current levels were abnormally high and alarming.
"I don't believe that, as a society, we should just accept that our lives today are
more stressful than in the past," Ms O'Neil said.
"We need to look at ways we can take responsibility for our stress levels before
prolonged stress causes harm to our physical and mental health."
The survey showed work and finances were the biggest stress triggers, with almost
one in four people affected "a lot" by each.
Thoughts of the future gave 20 per cent heightened stress levels, while health and
relationships heavily affected 12 and eight per cent, respectively.
Single people had higher levels of all types of stress, and most notably stress
around a lack of relationship. Women were more stressed than men about both work and
money.
Financial stress was highest among 20- to 24-year-olds while health concerns were
most elevated among the elderly.
Professor Ian Hickie, executive director of the Brain & Mind Research Institute at
the University of Sydney, said Australians needed to urgently address the toll that
stress was taking on physical and emotional wellbeing.
"Prolonged exposure to chronic, unrelenting stress is a killer," Prof Hickie said.
"We just cannot function under this sort of pressure."
He called for the development of practical stress-reducing strategies that could be
as simple as talking about stress and admitting when you feel it.
"Being more physically active, reducing our intake of alcohol, connecting with
people socially, planning for time out, are all things we can do immediately," Prof Hickie said.
"We need to opt in to do things to take control, rather than opt out because we are
too stressed."
Single people, females and those who are younger or working full-time tend to be the
most stressed, according to the Newspoll survey of 1,200 people.
Work, money and thoughts of the future are the most likely triggers of that stressed-out state, with health and relationship troubles not far behind.
The survey found that 91 per cent had some level of stress, and 47 per cent admitted
being extremely affected.
Dawn O'Neil from Lifeline Australia, which conducted the study, said that while some
level of stress was normal, current levels were abnormally high and alarming.
"I don't believe that, as a society, we should just accept that our lives today are
more stressful than in the past," Ms O'Neil said.
"We need to look at ways we can take responsibility for our stress levels before
prolonged stress causes harm to our physical and mental health."
The survey showed work and finances were the biggest stress triggers, with almost
one in four people affected "a lot" by each.
Thoughts of the future gave 20 per cent heightened stress levels, while health and
relationships heavily affected 12 and eight per cent, respectively.
Single people had higher levels of all types of stress, and most notably stress
around a lack of relationship. Women were more stressed than men about both work and
money.
Financial stress was highest among 20- to 24-year-olds while health concerns were
most elevated among the elderly.
Professor Ian Hickie, executive director of the Brain & Mind Research Institute at
the University of Sydney, said Australians needed to urgently address the toll that
stress was taking on physical and emotional wellbeing.
"Prolonged exposure to chronic, unrelenting stress is a killer," Prof Hickie said.
"We just cannot function under this sort of pressure."
He called for the development of practical stress-reducing strategies that could be
as simple as talking about stress and admitting when you feel it.
"Being more physically active, reducing our intake of alcohol, connecting with
people socially, planning for time out, are all things we can do immediately," Prof Hickie said.
"We need to opt in to do things to take control, rather than opt out because we are
too stressed."
