Introduction
At one point in life, everyone often experiences psychological stress. Stress refers to how a person’s body and brain respond to a demand or need to be perceived as an obstacle or a challenge. In a study conducted in 2021, reports indicated that the stress level among American adults was “10.2 out of 30, with 0 being no stress and 30 being the highest level” (Yarp, 2021, par 2). This paper focuses on Berkeley Lovelace’s article, “Adults say they’re expecting more stress in 2023, survey finds,” highlighting the American Psychiatric Association’s findings on 2,200 American adults’ mental health.
Key Points and Items of Interest
One key finding from the article is increased stress expectations in the US. According to Lovelace (2022), “roughly 26% of the respondents reported that they expected to experience more stress in the New Year, up from 20% the previous year” (p. 3). This study indicates that many US adults perceive that their overall stress level will significantly rise compared to 2022. This highlights why the healthcare sector should take the necessary steps to address and manage societal stress.
The second interesting finding from the article is that the US is recording declining mental health among US citizens. The survey suggests that about 2 out of 5 (37%) of American adults rated their mental health state as “fair or poor,” which is a significant increase in the nation (Lovelace, 2022, p. 4). Additionally, other groups more likely to record poor mental health status in the US were adults from low-income backgrounds and young adults (Lovelace, 2022). These findings emphasize the need for the health sector to target mental health interventions among the most affected populations.
Relation to Broader Discussion on Historical Movements
The findings of this survey relate to broader discussions on mental health and well-being’s historical movement. For many years, people have significantly changed their understanding and perception of mental health, hence the rise of historical movements to reduce stigma and discrimination on mental illness and promote awareness in society. For instance, in the mid-20th century, the world experienced the rise of the deinstitutionalization movement, which opposed institutionalizing people with mental health conditions (Fulone et al., 2021).
This movement wanted people with mental health issues to receive humane and personalized treatment options to help them feel included. This movement recognized how institutionalizing people with mental illness adversely affected their well-being (Fulone et al., 2021). The survey by Lovelace (2022) aligns with deinstitutionalization principles by highlighting how important it is for people to address their mental health state willingly. This forms a foundation for developing effective mental health and well-being strategies.
Questions and Additional Thoughts
The three addressed to this survey’s readers include:
- How can society target the most affected population and manage their mental health needs?
- How can organizations and policymakers address individual stress since personal finances are the leading risk factor?
- How does the willingness of American adults to address mental health issues help fight this rising issue?
The findings of this survey focus on the effects of psychological stress on an individual’s mental health, which also aligns with broader research conducted over the years. For instance, according to Salari et al. (2020), people with stress often experience mood swings, appetite changes, sleeping issues, and difficulty concentrating. These conditions should not be overlooked as they affect an individual’s mental health and well-being. Organizations and society should consider the risk factors and leverage the steps already made to address this growing issue.
Conclusion
Lovelace’s survey on psychological stress among American citizens highlights the anticipated rise in this condition in 2023. American adults expect to experience higher stress levels in 2023 than in 2022 due to personal finances, uncertainty, mental health, physical health, relationships with family and friends, and job security. However, it is fortunate that most individuals are willing to seek proactive measures to address their mental health. This is a significant foundation for developing mental health and well-being strategies.
References
Fulone, I., Barreto, J. O., Barberato-Filho, S., Bergamaschi, C. d., Silva, M. T., & Lopes, L. (2021). Improving care for deinstitutionalized people with mental disorders: Experiences of the use of knowledge translation tools. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12. Web.
Lovelace, B. (2022). Adults say they’re expecting more stress in 2023, survey finds. NBC News. Web.
Salari, N. A. F., Jalali, R., Vaisi-Raygani, A., Rasoulpoor, S., Mohammadi, M., Rasoulpoor, S., & Khaledi-Paveh, B. (2020). Prevalence of stress, anxiety, depression among the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic: Asystematic review and meta-analysis. Globalization and health, 16(1), 1-11. Web.
Yarp, A. (2021). What is psychological stress? Web.