Why are people experiencing more stress now? Do we live in a stressful world or is it due to other reasons? Let’s look at it from a different perspective. Part 1
The article is useful for those who want to experience less stress and are ready to do something about it.
A. The real state of affairs: how susceptible are people to stress now.
Today, many people in developed countries such as the USA, Great Britain, Canada and Western European countries feel very tense and worry about various problems. For example, in the USA, almost three quarters of workers say that they often experience stress and fatigue. Many want their employers to help them cope with this more.
Why is that?
Firstly, there are many economic difficulties in the world now: prices for food, housing and everything else are rising, and it is becoming difficult for people to make ends meet. This causes anxiety and concern about the future. Secondly, there are constant news about political crises, wars and other unpleasant events, and people constantly think about them – this also adds stress.
In addition, many people now have more workload and less support at work. Many feel that they do not have enough help to cope with fatigue and stress. This is especially true for young people – they most often worry about their health and finances.
As a result, stress has become commonplace for most people. Almost every second person says that stress affects their mood and health. This is a serious problem, and it is important to understand that it can and should be worked on – in order to live calmer and happier.
B. Was there less stress before ? Comparison of the past and the present.
If serious cataclysms occurred in the past – wars, famine, natural disasters – people, of course, experienced very strong stress. At such moments, survival became the main task, and the tension was enormous.
But in those times, when life was relatively calm, people were usually much calmer than we are now. Why is that? Previously, the world around was more predictable, people lived by established rules and did not encounter as much information and choice as today. There was no constant flow of news, social networks and pressure to always be “on top”.
Today, even in calm times, many feel tense and anxious. We constantly compare ourselves to others, worry about little things, and are afraid of missing out on something important. In the next part of the article, we will take a closer look at why this happens and what actually affects our stress levels.
C. What is stress and stress sensitivity(stressfulness) and other things: definitions and differences.
Stress is an already completed reaction of the body or psyche to a certain event or situation. Simply put, stress occurs when a person is faced with something that causes tension, anxiety or discomfort.
Stress sensitivity is a person’s tendency to react to certain events in the form of stress. That is, stress sensitivity reflects how often and how strongly a person experiences stress reactions in response to external stimuli. Some people are highly stress sensitive and can react sharply even to minor troubles, while others remain calm in similar situations.
Another important concept is stress resistance. Usually, this is understood as insensitivity to stress factors, that is, the ability not to experience stress when exposed to difficult or unpleasant situations. However, if a person perceives a factor as stressful, then in any case, his body and psyche will react, spending internal resources to resist this stress. Therefore, the term “stress resistance” can be considered not entirely successful.
The best approach is not to try to completely get rid of the reaction to stressors, but to reduce or even eliminate stress sensitivity, that is, to reduce the tendency to perceive events as stressful. This helps to save internal resources and stay calm even in difficult situations.
D. What determines a person’s stress sensetivity (stressfulness).
As we have already said, it is important not only to avoid stress factors, but to reduce your stressfulness – that is, to reduce the tendency to react to events with stress. The level of stress is influenced by various things:
- Physical condition of the body
If a person is tired, sick or has poor nutrition, it is more difficult for him to cope with stress. Lack of sleep and chronic diseases reduce energy and make the nervous system more vulnerable. - Mental state
If a person has internal experiences, anxiety or unresolved problems, he is more likely to experience stress. People with high self-criticism or a bad mood are more prone to stress reactions. - Human values
What is important to a person – family, work, health – determines how much he or she worries about certain events. The more important the event, the greater the stress. - Level of awareness of the surrounding world
Understanding what is happening around helps to perceive events more calmly. Uncertainty and fear of the future increase stress. - Objects that a person considers important
People react more strongly if the things they value are affected – loved ones, work, usual way of life. - Significance of specific events
The same events can cause different reactions in different people. For some, moving is stressful, and for others – an opportunity. Everything depends on personal perception. - Work and rest schedule(mode)
It is very important to distribute work and rest time correctly. If a person works too much without breaks, his or her body gets tired, efficiency decreases, and stress increases.
E. Let’s give the floor to the researchers.
Here are some important facts from studies about how many people are currently experiencing stress:
A large international survey by AXA and Ipsos, which involved people from 16 countries (including the USA, Great Britain, France, Germany), found that about a third of the population is currently facing mental health problems – most often anxiety, depression or stress. It is especially difficult for young people from 18 to 24 years old: more than 40% of them experience serious symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Source: AXA Mind Health Report 2025
In Russia, according to the Public Opinion Foundation (FOM), the level of anxiety among people has gradually decreased since the beginning of 2025 – from 44% to 36%. This is due to the fact that people have become better accustomed to difficult situations and are less worried about the news. But anxiety still remains in many.
Source: Vedomosti — Russians’ anxiety levels are declining, 2025
Scientists from Yale University studied survey data from more than 2 million adults in the United States and found that as income increases, people become generally happier, but also experience more stress. The increase in stress is especially noticeable among those who earn more than approximately $63,000 a year. This is due to increased responsibilities, risks, and a difficult work-life balance.
Source: Gazeta.Ru — High income is associated with higher stress levels, 2025
To be continued.
Sources used:
1. https://www.ipsos.com/en/axa-mind-health-report-mental-health-continues-deteriorate-around-world
3. https://www.gazeta.ru/science/news/2025/03/11/25283396.shtml
