Survey: People in L.A. Most Stressed About Money, Work

Forty-three percent of residents of Los Angeles, where stress remains higher than considered healthy, say their stress level has increased in the past five years, the American Psychological Association reported today.

Money (74 percent), work (73 percent) and the economy (64 percent) top the list of items that cause stress for Los Angeles residents, according to an APA statement.

The APA said its Stress in America survey was conducted online in August and September by the market research consultant Harris Interactive among 281 Los Angeles residents and 1,226 adult residents of the United States.

L.A. residents continue to experience high stress levels, reporting an average stress level of 5.3 on a 10-point scale, according to an APA statement, which said that a healthy stress level is 3.9.

More than half of L.A. residents (48 percent) feel they do an excellent or very good job knowing when they're feeling stressed, and four in 10 (42 percent, compared to 37 percent nationally) say stress has a strong or very strong impact on their bodies or physical health, it said.

"While many Los Angeles residents recognize the impact that stress has on the body, the numbers who are stressed about money, work and the economy continues to be cause for concern," said Dr. Michael Ritz, a Los Angeles-area psychologist who serves as the public education coordinator for the California Psychological Association. "And more than four out of 10 Los Angeles residents have seen their stress increase in the past five years. It's important people pay attention to signs of stress, because stress can affect your physical and emotional health, especially if not managed properly."

Among those who attempted to make a lifestyle change, a greater number of adults in L.A. than those nationwide say they have been successful at eating a healthier diet (48 percent vs. 44 percent), exercising more (45 percent vs. 39 percent) and losing weight (39 percent vs. 30 percent).

Lack of willpower and lack of time are the most common barriers to change for Los Angeles residents, according to the APA.

The national survey found that stress levels have stabilized from the highs of the economic crisis but remain higher than what is healthy. Americans who serve as caregivers to aged or chronically ill family members report higher levels of stress, poorer health and a greater tendency to engage in unhealthy behaviors, the APA reported.