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Loss of productivity
Both a human and a financial cost, the American Psychological Association’s 2009 study on stress noted that 51% of the nation’s employees claim their work suffers when their anxiety ramps up.
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Stress dictates work decisions
A total of 52% of American workers reported that their career decisions were eventually made based on stress levels, with many turning down promotions and looking for openings elsewhere to try and alleviate some of the pressure and anxiety.
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Stress leads to higher absenteeism than illness and injury
The very same APA study revealed that stress directly led to around 25 skipped days annually, versus only six for nonfatal illnesses and injuries.
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Vacation time isn’t so relaxing
CNN and CareerBuilder.com noted that, in 2005, 33% of Americans had to check into the office while on vacation, a move that compromised the quality of their ostensible time off and only compounded the stress.
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Work causes family rifts
Roughly a quarter of working mothers must bring home assignments and projects at least once a week, and 44% say their time at home sees them distracted by thoughts of their jobs. A further 19% have to spend time away from their kids on weekends to get work done. For the dads, 36% bring work home and 30% work weekends, while a further 37% would gladly take on a position with less pay if it meant spending more time with their families.
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Money causes more stress than any other factor
The alleged root of all evil stands as the primary stressor of 73% of Americans, according to a 2004 APA study.
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Most stressed Americans want medical help
Sixty-six percent, in fact, and they believe mental or physical assistance will help alleviate some of stress’ worst symptoms.
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Wounds heal slower under stress
Ohio State researchers compared the healing rate of women working under extremely stressful conditions tending to Alzheimer’s patients and their counterparts in less demanding careers. It took a staggering average of nine extra days for minor injuries to heal in the former than the latter, adding support to studies touting stress as an immune system suppressant.
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PTSD impacts more Americans than one assumes
While most news stories these days cover post-traumatic stress disorder as it manifests in military veterans, in actuality the diagnosis impacts an estimated 3.5% American adults yearly, with a lifetime prevalence of 6.8%. Each of these is suffering for their own personal reasons, not just wartime experiences. Women stand as the most vulnerable demographic to PTSD, with a lifetime prevalence of 9.7% and 5.2% yearly. Men grapple with a lifetime prevalence of 3.6% and yearly prevalence of 1.8%.
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PTSD really takes its toll on veterans
Although the condition impacts a wide spectrum of demographics, the rates of PTSD amongst military veterans ought not go ignored. Vietnam survivors in particular suffer the most, with an estimated lifetime prevalence of 30.9% of men and 26.9% of women. The estimated lifetime prevalence of Gulf War veterans sits at around 10.1%, and about 13.8% for the ongoing (as of the time of this writing) Operation Iraqi Freedom.
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Stress leads to heightened conflicts
Especially when it comes to family relationships. The U.S. Department of Labor notes that married adults as well as parents of kids under the age of 18 feel this interpersonal pressure the most, with 10% of the severely stressed out reporting high levels of conflict between home and work, and 25% saying their moderate levels cause problems.
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Stress correlates with depression
Research conducted on psychological patients in Sweden, all of them on leave because of an affective disorder (one characterized by rapid changes in mood or lifestyle), noted a massive relationship between stress levels and depression. A shocking 80% experienced major depression manifesting itself as severe exhaustion, both mental and physical.
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Work-related stress is hell on the heart
Studies published in the European Heart Journal note the massive impact stress holds over coronary heart disease. Thirty-two percent of its overall influence related back to issues regarding metabolism.
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Stress might actually shrink the brain
Right now, of course, this conjecture requires more inquiry before science for sure claims something a little more definitive, but compelling research in animals definitely shows a correlation between stress and literally losing one’s mind. Rats under high amounts of anxiety and pressure experienced a hippocampus shrinkage by 3%, impacting their memory and learning retention.
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Overweight and obese children are the most stressed-out youngsters
Thirty-one percent of American children claim to be either overweight or obese, and a further 31% of respondents say they tend to experience worry and stress more than their peers at a healthy weight. By comparison, only 14% of kids within a recommended weight range claim to live their lives in an immense metaphorical pressure cooker. In addition, obese and overweight children are less likely to address their stress through productive conduits such as sports, with only 13% saying otherwise as opposed to 21% within a comparatively healthy range.
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Stress eating is a thing that exists
An APA study (the same one as listed above!) noted that two-fifths of American adults ate as a result of stress. Other common coping mechanisms include skipping meals (one-third), and not sleeping (four in ten).
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Irritability and exhaustion rank as the most common symptoms
When it comes to physical manifestations of egregious stressful tension, irritability (45%), fatigue (41%), and dwindling motivation and energy levels (38%) stand as some of the most prevalent, according to the APA.
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Stressed-out workers are more likely to take advantage of healthcare
By up to 50%, according to the The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. And it makes perfect sense, considering how anxiety and pressure directly lead to an increased risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, depression, and other long-term or even chronic conditions.
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And they spend, spend, spend
Ravi Tangri’s “What Stress Costs” study noted that 10% of medical costs go toward prescription drugs for anxiety-related conditions, and worker’s comp accounts for a staggering 60%. This number accounts for both mental and physical health compromises requiring the assistance of a medical professional.
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It costs billions
Obviously, the human factor carries a whole lot more importance than the fiscal one, but the amount of money stress involves inevitably shocks. Because of absences, turnover, illnesses, healthcare costs and other related issues, the American workplace loses between $150 billion and $300 billion every year.
http://www.medicalbillingandcoding.org/blog/20-staggering-stats-on-the-high-cost-of-stress/
