The U.S. economy might be showing signs of recovery, but money is an increasing source of stress for Chicagoans, according to a survey released Wednesday.
Chicago residents reported feeling more anxious about their financial situation than did other Americans in 2011, according to an annual survey for the American Psychological Association.
Eighty-one percent of Chicago adults surveyed said money was a somewhat or very significant source of stress in their lives, compared with 75 percent of the national population.
“In the Midwest, particularly in Chicago, our economy is not doing so great. It makes sense that people would notice that in their personal lives,” said Nancy Molitor, the Illinois public education coordinator for the American Psychological Association.
Last summer, 1,226 adults were asked about the sources of stress in their lives, in an online survey conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of the American Psychological Association.
Work-related stress for Chicago residents has increased over the last four years, with 75 percent of local residents surveyed saying their job was somewhat or significantly stressful, up from 74 percent in 2010, 72 percent in 2009 and 66 percent in 2008.
Those who are fortunate enough to have a job might not be happy with it, according to the survey results. A third of all Chicagoans said they were dissatisfied with their work, compared with a quarter of people nationwide.
“People are doing the work of three people instead of one,” Molitor said. “And then there is a sense that you could be next on the chopping block.”
Just under half of those surveyed said they had trouble sleeping in the last month and almost 40 percent said they had overeaten or eaten unhealthily due to stress.
Though most residents acknowledge the effect that stress can have on their health, 40 percent said lack of willpower has prevented them from making recommended or desired healthy lifestyle changes, compared with 27 percent nationally.
Still, Chicagoans were less likely than their peers nationally to say that family responsibilities or relationships were a significant source of stress in their lives.
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The Stress in America Survey has been administered annually since 2007.
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