Measuring Stress Causes, Experiences and Outcomes Worldwide
by Jessica Harlan and Stafford Nichols
April may be Stress Awareness Month, but 2020 could be considered Stress Awareness Year. Gallup finds that 2020 was officially the most stressful year in recent history, with a record-high 40% of adults worldwide saying they experienced a lot of stress the previous day. This five-percentage-point jump from 35% in 2019 represents nearly 190 million more people globally who experienced a lot of stress.
Line graph. Stress levels worldwide reached a record 40% in 2020. The jump from 35% in 2019 to 40% means that as many as 190 million more people experienced stress.
The COVID-19 pandemic has elevated concerns about stress in a global context. And with a globally interconnected economy and the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic is likely not the last threat the world will face, understanding the effects of stress on people s lives and behavior has become even more important.