If you had to choose, what would you say the most stressful event in life is? A new survey found that it’s not having kids or even starting a new job – but rather moving. Show The survey asked 1,000 Americans who have moved within the last three years about their experiences and the growing pains that come with moving on. Whether they did their most recent move themselves or hired a moving service, 45 percent of respondents said moving is by far the most stressful event in life.  Next in line for life’s most stressful events was going through a breakup or divorce at 44 percent. Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of North American Van Lines, the survey found 64 percent of respondents said their most recent move was one of the most stressful things they’ve ever experienced. In fact, of those surveyed who did their last move on their own, 43 percent said they would never do it again. The top stress points of an independent move included moving their furniture through doors, closely followed by pivoting furniture up and down the stairs. On the flipside, a whopping 94 percent of respondents who hired movers for their last journey (578 respondents) said it was worth every penny. Regardless of who moved them from point A to point B, the survey found the most stressful parts of their move was packing up their belongings (48 percent), closely followed by sorting out what to keep and what to get rid of or donate from their homes (47 percent). On top of these stress points is, of course, the price tag of the move and the survey found the average cost was over $1,500. Respondents also said they then spent an average of $211 to cover unexpected costs that popped up during the move. The average move will also have four broken or damaged items – but they all may not be accidental. Thirty-five percent of respondents admitted to secretly breaking or losing an item that belonged to a significant other during a move because they didn’t like it. “Moving, particularly when the move is to another state, is something few people have experienced, so it’s not surprising to see moving ranked as a leading cause of stress,” said Kevin Murphy, Vice President and General Manager of North American Van Lines. “However, using a professional mover – as indicated by the survey results – can eliminate a significant amount of stress related to moving because you are working with professionals experienced in safely prepping furnishings for transport and getting belongings from the truck to the new residence safely.” The top reasons behind respondents’ moves included a new job (19 percent) and job relocation (16 percent). Thirteen percent of respondents shared their move was impacted by their desire to be closer to their family as well. “Whether the distance you’re moving is short or long, or the reason for your move, anyone moving should ask themselves some important questions before deciding to do it themselves or hire a professional,” added Murphy. “Specifically, what do they value more – money or time? How much do they value their belongings – and do they know how to wrap belongings or pack a truck in a way that will protect their materials during transport? What is their peace of mind worth? Are they comfortable driving a loaded truck in traffic? “Determining the answers to these questions will help those individuals moving to make the right choice regarding the manner in which they move and hopefully make the moving process as stress-free as possible.” As you can see from this list, a significant percentage of us are dealing with major stresses at any point in time. This brings me to a quote I have long loved from Reverend John Watson under his pen name of Ian Maclaren: “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” And you know from my posts on self-care that I hope you include yourself in that group of people fighting hard battles.In an upcoming post I’ll talk more about stress and its implications. If you are overwhelmed with stress, give me a call at (816) 226-4678 or make an appointment through my client portal. We’ll work together to help you get some relief from stress. How we handle the stress of major life events, like the death of a loved one, comes down to a person’s sex, according to a new study by The Physiological Society. U.K. researchers claim women have a more difficult time grappling with stressors in life – a finding that’s raising red flags for physicians about women’s health. “It was striking that for every single event in this study, from money problems to Brexit, women reported greater stress levels than men,” Dr. Lucy Donaldson, chair of The Physiological Society’s Policy Committee, said in a statement. “This could have a real impact on women’s health.” READ MORE: New national survey finds nearly half of teenagers stressed out Researchers surveyed over 2,000 people in Britain and looked at how 18 different types of life events affected people based on a number of factors, including their sex and age. Story continues below advertisement Among the examples of life events people were asked about were imprisonment, identity theft, terrorist threats, losing smartphones and divorce, among others. Combining the result of both sexes, researchers then ranked the life situations from most to least stressful based on a 10 point scale.
Regardless of age, women reported experiencing more stress in every life situation than men. The biggest difference was in the stress caused by terrorism threats; the smallest difference was the arrival of a child. But when researchers looked at the age of the participants, they discovered that some events (like illness and imprisonment) are more stressful as people get older. For those between the ages of 25 to 34, the biggest stress-inducing life situation was the loss of a smartphone and the arrival of a first child. “While many people are aware of the effect of stress on mental wellbeing, it is also important to consider the impact on the body’s systems,” Donaldson says. “Your brain, nervous and hormonal systems react to stress and it affects your heart, immune system and gastrointestinal system. When stress is prolonged, these effects on the whole body can result in illness such as ulcers or increased risk of heart attack.” Trending Now
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Story continues below advertisement The Canadian perspectiveRecent statistics by Statistics Canada from 2014 reveal that 23 per cent of Canadians over the age of 15 (6.7 million) report that most days are “quite a bit” or “extremely stressful.” The report also found that women were more likely than men to report that most days were either “quite a bit” or “extremely stressful” (24 per cent and 22 per cent, respectively). The rate of daily stress, however, was higher for women than men in all age groups except those between the ages of 35 and 64. For both sexes, the daily stress rate was highest for peak working ages between 35 and 54. READ MORE: Hate your job in your 20s? You’ll feel the health effects by the time you’re 40, study warns Experiencing such high daily stress levels often meant a lower rate of life satisfaction. Among those who reported regular or extreme stress, 84 per cent say they were satisfied or very satisfied with life – this is compared with 96 per cent of those among the groups who did not find their days stressful. Breaking it down by region, Quebec is the most stressed-out province with almost 27 per cent of people reporting that most days were quite or extremely stressful. Ontario comes in second with almost 22 per cent of people reporting regular daily stress. Story continues below advertisement People who are least stressed can be found in the Northwest Territories, as only 11 per cent of people report being quite or extremely stressed in their everyday lives. Newfoundland and Labrador was a close second-last as only 11.5 per cent of people report such daily stress. Impact on healthAccording to the University of Maryland Medical Center, excessive stress can lead to anxiety and illness if it is left untreated. Specifically, stress can affect the heart, lungs and blood circulation, as well as the immune system and digestion. An accumulation of studies over the years also discovered that stress can impact the fertility and reproductive systems of both women and men. For women, one 2009 study conducted by the University of California, Berkeley discovered that stress increases the brain levels of a reproductive hormone called ganodotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH). Researchers found that when a protein hormone called RFamide-related peptide (RFRP) inhibits the GnRH hormone, it halts reproduction in women. Another 2013 study out of Tel Aviv University concluded that sustained stress significantly increases the chances of miscarriage. In fact, women are almost 60 per cent more likely to miscarry than women who don’t live such stressful lives. As for men, Columbia University researchers in 2014 concluded that psychological stress is harmful to men’s sperm and semen quality and affects the sperm’s concentration, appearance and ability to fertilize eggs. Which life event is considered most stressful quizlet?Death or loss of a spouse through divorce or separation are the most stressful events, followed closely by being jailed, loosing a close family member in death, or being severely injured. The major sources of stress in most people's lives.
What are the 10 most stressful life events?According to the Holmes-Rahe Stress Scale, these are the top 10 most stressful life events:. Death of a spouse.. Divorce.. Marital separation from mate.. Detention in jail or other institution.. Death of a close family member.. Major personal injury or illness.. Marriage.. Being fired at work.. What's the most stressful event in a person's life?1. Death of a spouse. You probably aren't surprised to hear that the death of a spouse is the most stressful event on this list. You'll have lost the partner you've likely spent years with, a parent to your children, a financial supporter, and perhaps most significantly, your biggest source of emotional support.
What are 3 examples of big events that can cause stress?What kind of situations can cause stress?. Illness or injury.. Pregnancy and becoming a parent.. Infertility and problems having children.. Bereavement.. Experiencing abuse.. Experiencing crime and the justice system, such as being arrested, going to court or being a witness.. Organising a complicated event, like a holiday.. |
