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WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In the year since the crash on Wall Street, fewer Americans are reporting stress attributed to financial concerns despite rising unemployment levels and ongoing economic uncertainty, according to the American Psychological Association (APA).

In a poll surveying 2,160 adults conducted by Harris Interactive® between April 8 and 10, 2009, 75 percent of adults reported that the economy caused stress in their lives, down from 82 percent last November. Similarly, fewer Americans reported stress associated with work (from 69 percent to 67 percent) and money (from 82 percent to 78 percent). However, the consistently high rates associated with Americans reporting stress attributed to financial concerns suggest that many Americans are still suffering significantly from economic stress.

"Americans have reported living with incredibly high levels of stress for a long time," said Katherine Nordal, PhD, executive director of professional practice at APA. "As we monitor trends in stress, it's important to take note of downturns in the number of people reporting stress as a result of the economy."

APA has psychologists available to comment on stress and the economy:

• Katherine Nordal, PhD, executive director of professional practice at APA
• Nancy Molitor, PhD, a practicing psychologist in Wilmette, Ill. with expertise in stress management
• David Palmiter, PhD, director of the Psychological Services Center at Marywood University in Scranton, Pa. and practicing psychologist with expertise working with families and children
• Stephanie Smith, PsyD, owner of Front Range Psychological Associates in Denver, Colo. and a practicing psychologist with expertise working with women and families
  

These findings come in advance of the release of the 2009 Stress in America poll, scheduled for November 2009.

Visit www.yourmindyourbody.org for more on the psychological impact of stress and lifestyle and behavior tips written by psychologists. Visit www.apahelpcenter.org and follow http://twitter.com/apahelpcenter for the latest on mind/body health.

Methodology

This research was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of the American Psychological Association between November 20-24, 2008 among 2,821 U.S. adults, 18 and older and between April 8-10, 2009 among 2,160 U.S. adults, 18 and older. 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.

SOURCE American Psychological Association

SOURCE: American Psychological Association

Web site: http://www.APAhelpcenter.org/
http://www.yourmindyourbody.org/
http://twitter.com/apahelpcenter/