Highlights

Life stress

In 1994/95, 25% of adult Canadians aged 18 or older were experiencing high life stress, 36% moderate life stress, and 34% low life stress. 'Life stress' was determined by up to 18 true/false questions about daily life (e.g., "You are trying to take on too many things at once" and "There is too much pressure on you to be like other people"). The levels of stress were arbitrarily determined (low being a score of 0 or 1, medium being 2 to 4, and high being 5 or higher).

Women more likely to exhibit characteristics of high life stress

In 1994/95, 27% of all adult Canadian women were experiencing high life stress, compared with 22% of adult men. This pattern was constant amongst all age groups, with the exception of the 18- to 19-year-old group, where men and women had roughly the same proportion of high life stress (36% versus 34%, respectively).

High life stress less with age

In 1994/95, over one-third (35%) of young adult Canadians aged 18 to 19 were experiencing high life stress. With each successive age group, the proportion of Canadians suffering from high life stress decreased, to a low of 8% among seniors aged 75 or older.

Newfoundland residents least likely to have high life stress

In 1994/95, 16% of Newfoundland adults aged 18 or older were experiencing high life stress. Manitoba adults had the highest rate (28%), with 34% of women and 21% of men experiencing high life stress.

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