Financial Concerns Top List of Holiday Stressors for Women, Families wit...( American Psychological Association Of...),Health

American Psychological Association Offers Strategies to Manage Stress and Promote Health during Holidays

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As reports about the extent of the recession in the United States are released this week, a new poll from the American Psychological Association (APA) finds that more than eight out of 10 anticipate a stressful holiday season and that the economic crisis is impacting women and families most.

While Americans continue to report financial issues related to money (82 percent), the economy (82 percent) and work (69 percent) as sources of stress, households with children are more likely to report money (88 percent v. 80 percent without children) and work (74 percent v. 67 percent without) as significant stressors this holiday season.

Women are significantly more likely than men to worry about having enough money to purchase gifts (46 v. 35 percent). Families with children are more likely to report anticipating stress this holiday season than those without, with more than half anticipating stress caused by not having the money to purchase gifts (51 v. 37 percent without children), and one-third expecting stress due to pressure to buy gifts (32 v. 25 percent) or too many things to do (34 v. 27 percent). These stressors may explain why many families with children (30 percent v. 21 percent without) report that they expect to experience more stress this holiday season than last year.

"Many people feel overwhelmed during the holiday season, and given the current economic crisis, the pressures can be extraordinary," says psychologist Katherine Nordal, Ph.D., APA's executive director for professional practice. "These unrelenting financial stressors can become a real health issue for women who continue to report stress at dangerously high levels and for families who are in an important position of teaching stress-management strategies to
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