Nearly half of Americans are stressed at least once a week, and one in six are stressed every day

A recent national survey conducted by the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center revealed that almost half of U.S. adults (45%) experience stress at least once a week due to news or social media. The survey, which included 1,005 American adults, also showed that 16% of respondents feel stressed on a daily basis.

Aside from affecting mental well-being, stress can also have physical health implications, underscoring the importance of finding ways to manage stress, according to Maryanna Klatt, Ph.D., director of Ohio State’s Center for Integrative Health.

“Stress itself is not necessarily harmful. However, it becomes problematic when it becomes a chronic condition without any efforts to address it,” explained Klatt, a clinical family medicine professor at Ohio State.

“We only experience stress about things or people we care deeply about. This indicates our values. The key is to use this awareness to transform stress into something that enhances our humanity rather than diminishes it.”

Klatt, who specializes in mindfulness and is a certified yoga instructor, has dedicated her research to developing and assessing practical, cost-effective methods to reduce the risk of stress-related chronic illnesses in both adults and children. Her adult program, Mindfulness in Motion, offers a combination of gentle yoga, mindfulness, and soothing music in a workplace setting.

Klatt recommends the following tips to help manage stress:

• Engage in physical activity (such as walking, going to the gym, or exercising)
• Connect with others (including pets) to foster a sense of belonging
• Limit exposure to social media
• Spend time outdoors in nature

“I was pleased to see that survey respondents were able to identify strategies to address their stress,” noted Klatt, who also serves as an adjunct professor in Ohio State’s colleges of nursing and education and human ecology.

Stress affects us on multiple levels – physically, mentally, and in our relationships at home and work. Finding effective ways to transform stress can be challenging, Klatt acknowledged.

“Only 7% of survey participants admitted to not taking any steps to manage their stress. This indicates a positive trend towards recognizing the importance of stress management,” Klatt added. “Think about the most stressed person you know. Would you want to spend time with them? Chances are, the answer is ‘No.’ Whatever method you are using to manage stress, continue doing so.”

Survey Methodology

This study was carried out by SSRS using its Opinion Panel Omnibus platform, a national, bi-monthly, probability-based survey. Data collection took place from March 21 to March 24, 2025, with a sample size of 1,005 respondents. The survey was conducted in English via web (n=975) and telephone (n=30). The margin of error for the total respondents is +/-3.7 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. All SSRS Opinion Panel Omnibus data is weighted to represent the U.S. adult population aged 18 and above.