Source: LOHAS Weekly Newsletter
Published: Wednesday, December 08, 2004

A survey carried out by the American Psychological Association (APA) has revealed that money issues are the primary reason for holiday stress.

The Survey found that 61 per cent of Americans listed lack of money as the top cause of holiday stress followed by the pressures of gift giving, lack of time, and credit card debt.

The results also showed that young people are more worried about lack of money and giving gifts compared to people over the age of 35.

One in five were worried that holiday stress could affect their physical health and 36 per cent said that they indulge in too much of food and alcohol to beat holiday stress.

Forty-five percent said they relied on exercise to relieve stress while 44 per cent turned to religious and spiritual activities, with a small per cent turning to yoga and massage therapy to keep stress at bay.

"People tend to reduce stress in ways they have learned over the course of time because they turn to what they know. Ironically, they may take comfort from eating or drinking because it's familiar, even though it's not good for their health. But, there are other behaviours people can learn to further relieve stress and the its effects that may be both better for them and longer lasting," said Russ Newman, executive director of APA. (ANI)