Los Angeles Residents Continue to Report High Levels of Stress

Money, work continue to be significant stressors for Los Angeles, APA survey
finds

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- While fewer Los Angeles
residents this year report that money, work and the economy cause significant
stress in their lives, their levels of stress remain considerably high. More
than 50 percent of city residents remain stressed by one or more of these
three sources, a cause of concern for psychologists who worry about the
effects of long-term stress and how it can contribute to chronic health
disorders.

In a survey released today by the American Psychological Association (APA),
more than half of Los Angeles residents surveyed cited money, work and the
economy as significant sources of stress, although the number citing these as
stressors has decreased since 2008. Similarly, the number of Los Angeles
residents who said their average stress level is in the extreme range is lower
than last year. Less than one-quarter (21 percent) rated their average stress
levels as an 8, 9 or 10 on a 10-point scale, compared to about one-third (31
percent) last year. Almost half (47 percent) said their stress has stayed the
same over the past year, compared to 36 percent who reported in 2008 that it
had not changed since the previous year. And fewer Los Angeles residents
expressed strong satisfaction with their job than they did last year (22
percent vs. 33 percent in 2008).

These high and long-lasting levels of stress can contribute to serious
physical health problems. Diabetes, heart disease, obesity and high blood
pressure are just a few of the diseases linked to chronic stress. In the APA
survey, more Los Angeles residents said they have been told by a health
provider that they have a chronic condition (71 percent vs. 66 percent
nationally). More than the rest of the nation, they reported that they have
high blood pressure (34 percent vs. 30 percent nationally) and high
cholesterol (31 percent vs. 28 percent nationally).

On a positive note, fewer residents this year reported physical symptoms
caused by stress. For example, the number of Los Angeles residents who said
they felt irritable or angry dropped 17 points (39 percent in 2009 from 56
percent in 2008) and fewer residents are feeling fatigue (33 percent in 2009
vs. 55 percent in 2008) or experiencing headaches (26 percent in 2009 vs. 46
percent in 2008) because of stress. Also, fewer Los Angeles residents are
drinking alcohol to relieve stress (9 percent in 2009 vs. 25 percent in 2008).

"The good news for the region is that fewer people this year are reporting
money, the economy, family responsibilities and relationships, among other
things, as significant stressors. But with so many of us still so stressed --
that's alarming," said psychologist Dr. Jana Martin, the public education
coordinator for the California Psychological Association. "When stress is
ignored or managed in unhealthy ways, it will most likely lead to further
health problems. This is why it's crucial for people to pay attention to their
stress levels and do something about it."

APA's annual survey reveals that nationally nearly a quarter (24 percent) of
adults reported experiencing high levels of stress, and half (51 percent)
reported moderate stress levels in 2009. Many Americans continued to report
that they rely on sedentary activities and unhealthy behaviors to manage their
stress (49 percent listen to music, 41 percent read and 36 percent watch
television or movies).

Among Americans who received lifestyle change recommendations from a health
care provider, few reported that their health care provider offered support to
help them make lasting changes -- only 46 percent were given an explanation
for recommended lifestyle changes; only 35 percent were offered advice or
shown techniques to help make changes; and only 5-10 percent were referred to
another health care provider to support the adoption of lifestyle changes. In
general, people cited a number of barriers in their efforts to make lasting
lifestyle and behavior changes -- lack of willpower (33 percent); not enough
time (20 percent); and lack of confidence (14 percent). More than one in ten
people cited stress as the barrier preventing them from making lifestyle and
behavior changes (14 percent of adults reported they are too stressed to make
these changes).

More than the rest of the nation, Los Angeles residents said they were
prevented from following through with lifestyle change recommendations due to
a lack of willpower (41 percent vs. 33 percent nationally). And 7 percent of
those in Los Angeles (vs. 14 percent nationally) said they were too stressed
to follow through with lifestyle change recommendations.

The California Psychological Association offers these tips to help manage
chronic stress:

-- Set limits. List all of the projects and commitments that are making
you feel overwhelmed. Identify those things that you absolutely must
do
in order to survive. Cut back on anything non-essential.
-- Tap into your support system. Reach out to a close friend and/or
relative. Let them know you are having a tough time and accept their
support and guidance. There is no need to face challenging life
circumstances alone.
-- Make one health-related commitment. One small step like cutting back
on
your caffeine consumption can have a positive effect. Studies show
that
without caffeine, people report feeling more relaxed, sleeping better
and having more energy. Regular aerobic exercise, such as taking a
brisk
walk, can lessen your anxiety and reduce your stress.
-- Strive for a positive outlook. Looking at situations more positively,
seeing problems as opportunities, having realistic expectations, and
refuting negative thoughts are all important aspects of staying
positive
and trying to minimize your stress.

-- Seek additional help. If feelings of chronic stress persist, or you
are
experiencing hopelessness or trouble getting through your daily
routine,
seek consultation with a licensed mental health professional, such as
a
psychologist. Psychologists are trained to help you develop
strategies
to manage stress effectively and make behavioral changes to help
improve
your overall health. For additional information on managing stress,
visit www.apahelpcenter.org.

Methodology
The 2009 Stress in America research was conducted online within the United
States by Harris Interactive on behalf of the American Psychological
Association between July 21, 2009 and August 4, 2009 among 1,568 adults aged
18+ who reside in the U.S. and an oversample of 205 adults aged 18+ who reside
in Los Angeles. In the 2008 research, 256 Los Angeles residents were included
in the oversample. No estimates of theoretical sampling error can be
calculated; a full methodology is available.

The American Psychological Association, in Washington, D.C., is the largest
scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United
States and is the world's largest association of psychologists. APA's
membership includes more than 150,000 researchers, educators, clinicians,
consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology
and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial
associations, APA works to advance psychology as a science, as a profession
and as a means of promoting health, education and human welfare.

Harris Interactive is a global leader in custom market research. With a long
and rich history in multimodal research that is powered by our science and
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information, please visit www.harrisinteractive.com.

SOURCE American Psychological Association

Kate Kelley of the American Psychological Association, +1-202-336-5898,
kkelley@apa.org or Michael Ritz, Ph.D, +1-949-854-3073, m.ritz@att.net or Jana
Martin, Ph.D., 1-310-890-3018, drjanamartin@verizon.net both for the American
Psychological Association