A new study finds the average American feels the most stressed at 36 years-old.
Stress Trigger #1: Finances
According to survey, 34% of male participants cited finances as the No. 1 stressor in their life.
Gallup Results and Corroborating Research
Respondents age 50 and above were the least stressed (44%), the least worried (38%) and the least angry (16%).
New research has pinpointed the most difficult age to be a female is 36, when home life becomes as stressful as work.
A recent survey of 2,000 working adults finds the average worker is most like to experience career burnout by the early age of 32!
These stigmas are real and deeply affect men as nearly 1 in 10 men experience depression or anxiety but less than half will receive treatment and more than 4 times as many men as women die by suicide every year1. Symptoms of mental illness differ in men from women.
According to findings from a recent national survey of mental health from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 20% of Australians in the younger age groups (between the age of 16-34) experienced varying high levels of mental distress, almost doubling that of elderly people aged 65-85.
According to Cigna International Health's 2023 survey of almost 12,000 workers around the world, 91% of 18-to-24-year-olds report being stressed – compared to 84% on average. Research indicates Gen Z are emerging as the most stressed demographic in the workplace, and struggling mightily to cope.
SHOULDERS / UPPER BODY
We tend to hold a lot of stress in our shoulders causing them to round or hunch forward. This postural change reduces our mobility and puts added strain on our head, neck and upper back.
Because of differences in brain responses, men may be more likely to react with the fight-or-flight response under stress compared to women, who show more of a pattern of tend-and-befriend. This increases men's susceptibility to high levels of stress during certain situations when compared to women.
According to one report, the male stress response can be characterized as “fight-or-flight.” When men are faced with a stressful situation, their bodies release hormones that prompt them to either stay and confront the problem, or to run away and avoid it.
So much so, that new research has found that it actually is the most stressful period of our lives. This means the new study throws the idea of a 'mid-life crisis' out the window. Instead, it suggests those aged 20-30 actually experience the highest levels of stress.
Aging Effects: Memory Loss, High Blood Pressure, Aged Immune System. Research has found the hormones produced with chronic stress can age our brain and immune systems. Those who are constantly stressed have higher instances of dementia and memory loss, as well as more damaged cells within their immune systems.
Summary: Emotional response to stress changes and reduces as we age. However, stress can accelerate body aging and negatively impact our overall health. The first national study to examine age patterns in daily stress across a 20-year time span showed that for most Americans, stress decreases as we age.
It found that, among Australians aged 16–85, 15% experienced high or very high levels of psychological distress. Females aged 16–34 were more likely to experience psychological distress than males of this age group (26% compared to 14%) (ABS 2022a).
One in five Australian adults experience a mental illness every year. About 45 per cent of Australian adults will be affected by mental illness at some time in their life. Anxiety, mood disorders (such as depression) and substance use disorders are the most common mental illnesses experienced by Australian adults.
In 2021, it was estimated that 12.1 percent of U.S. men received mental health treatment or counseling at some time in the past year.
The average age of onset for major depressive disorder is between 35 and 40 years of age. Onset in early adulthood may be linked with more depressive episodes, a longer duration of illness, and therefore a more difficult clinical course.
Causes of Anxiety in Men
Anxiety can be caused by a number of things, including work stress, family dynamics, traumatic events, and more. It also can stem from ongoing medical conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or even a natural decline in hormone levels.
It can make you feel sad, irritable or empty and lose pleasure or interest in things you usually enjoy. Depression affects 1 in 8 men at some point in their lives. Men are more likely to be aware of the physical aspects of depression, such as feeling tired or losing weight, rather than changes in how they feel.
Job burnout risk factors
You have a heavy workload and work long hours. You struggle with work-life balance. You work in a helping profession, such as health care. You feel you have little or no control over your work.
Burnout involves three distinct symptoms: energy depletion and exhaustion, depersonalization and cynicism, and reduced efficacy.
World Health Organization as a phenomenon caused by chronic stress at work, and cites four key indicating signs: Feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; mental distancing from a job; feeling of negativity or cynicism towards professional duties; and a decrease in work efficacy.