Monitor on Psychology - March 2012 - (Page 20)

percent, 51 percent and 54 percent). Matures (63 percent) were most likely to cite their families’ health problems as a source of stress. • Easterners are more stressed. East Coast 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 dwellers are slightly less able to manage their 73% stress than other Americans, and appear to not be 72% coping with stress as well as they did a year ago, the 71% Money 76% survey found. For example, Easterners appear to 75% be exercising less: In 2010, 20 percent of Easterners 74% reported that they vigorously exercised, while in 2011, 68% 69% Work that number dropped to 12 percent. 70% 70% Overall, the survey found that Westerners report being among the healthiest Americans and do 69% 63% a better job managing their stress. For example, The economy 65% 24 percent report exercising every day and 7 67% percent report “always” eating healthfully, versus Relationships 59% 5 percent in the East and South and 3 percent for 51% (e.g., spouse, kids, the Midwest. When it comes to managing stress, 55% girl/boyfriend) 58% emotions play a slightly more significant role in 60% the South compared with other regions of the 58% 55% country: 28 percent of Southerners reported that Family responsibilities 58% they lack the willpower to change because their 57% emotions interfere, compared with 17 percent of 55% 56% Midwesterners, 20 percent of Easterners and 21 Health problems 47% 47% percent of Westerners. Easterners are also more affecting my family 53% likely to say that they are too busy and stressed to make positive lifestyle changes. BASE: ALL respondents 2007 (n=1848); 2008 (n=1791); 2009 (n=1568); 2010 • Men perceive and cope with stress differently. (n=1134); 2011 (n=1226) Q625 Below is a list of things people say cause stress in their lives. For each one, While many men recognize the impact stress can please indicate how significant a source of stress it is in your life. have on their lives, they are less likely than women to do something about it, the survey found. Women Source: APA 2012 Stress in America: Our Health at Risk are more likely to see psychologists as helpful during times of stress. Men are also less likely to make lifestyle or behavioral changes to reduce their stress, “The caregiver stress situation is only going to get worse,” even though men are more likely to be diagnosed with health said Johnson, again pointing to the need for more team-based conditions linked to high stress and unhealthy lifestyles. care. “The focus is always on the person with the illness, and of To help men better understand the connection between course that is important, but no one bothers to ask the caregiver health and stress, Anderson said it’s time for more aggressive anything. That’s what we are advocating for here, a health-care public education campaigns targeted at men. While 20 years system that looks at the whole person, that really looks at the ago most people didn’t recognize the link between stress and whole family.” health, he said, “through research, through public education The health system has to take into account all of the campaigns, through community-based organizations like the demonstrated risk factors for illness, said Anderson. “We have to YMCA, most people now acknowledge there’s a link. But for ask people about the stress in their lives, about nutrition, whether certain subgroups, we still have a long way to go.” n they are exercising and about family relationships,” he said. Other key survey findings include: The online survey of 1,226 Americans was conducted for APA by • Younger Americans are more stressed than older Harris Interactive in August and September of last year. For a adults. When asked to rank their stress on a scale of 1 to 10, copy of the full report, go to www.stressinamerica.org. Millennials (age 18–32) had an average rating of 5.4 and Gen Xers (age 33–46) 5.6, compared with 4.9 for Boomers (age To see the Web broadcast or read a transcript of 47–65) and 4.5 for Matures (age 66 and older). The most the panel discussing the survey findings, go to significant stressors for Millennials, Gen Xers and Boomers www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2011/ are money (80 percent, 77 percent and 77 percent), work (72 town-hall.aspx. percent, 77 percent and 64 percent) and housing costs (49 20 M o n i to r o n p s yc h o l o g y • M a rc h 2 0 1 2 Causes of Stress (%Somewhat/Very Significant) http://www.stressinamerica.org http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2011/town-hall.aspx http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2011/town-hall.aspx

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Monitor on Psychology - March 2012

Monitor on Psychology - March 2012
Letters
President’s column
Contents
From the CEO
Supreme Court rejects eyewitness protections
New member benefit: prevention screenings
A psychodynamic treatment for PTSD shows promise for soldiers
Was ‘Little Albert’ ill during the famed conditioning study?
New research identifies ways to improve eyewitness identifications
In Brief
‘Our health at risk’
Perspective on Practice
APA endorses higher education guidelines
TIME CAPSULE
QUESTIONNAIRE
Random Sample
Judicial Notebook
Help for struggling veterans
Driving out cancer disparities
In the Public Interest
SCIENCE WATCH
Practice, virtually
The legal and ethical issues of virtual therapy
Psychologist PROFILE
EARLY CAREER PSYCHOLOGY
Bringing life into focus
Pay attention to me
AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL FOUNDATION
Division Spotlight
Personalities

Monitor on Psychology - March 2012

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