Stress How Are We Coping December 2006

Stress:
How Are We Coping?
A Survey Report by ACQYR

December 2006
ACQYR 364 Old Kingston Road, Box 97578 Toronto, ON M1C4Z1

1.877.438.3048 | questions@acqyr.com | http://www.acqyr.com
ACQYR | 1.877.438.3048 | questions@acqyr.com | http://www.acqyr.com
Table of Contents
Executive Summary 1
Overview 2
Survey Methodology 2
Respondent Details 3
Survey Findings 4
Diversionary Techniques 6
Meditation & Breathing Techniques and/or Prayer 6
Talking to Friends & Family 6
Keep On Keeping On 7
Survey Conclusions 8
Stress Busters: The ACQYR Solution 9
What People Are Saying 10
About ACQYR 11
Contact ACQYR 11
Stress – How Are We Coping? 1

How Are We Coping?

Executive Summary questions asked respondents how they
coped with stress, and how stress training
could be improved.
Over the summer of 2006, ACQYR, a
Toronto-based provider of skills
As with numerous other studies,
development reports, training, coaching and
respondents stated that they felt stressed
seminars for individuals, teams and
on a regular basis, with finances, family and
organizations conducted a social survey to
work being the main culprits.
establish how individuals coped with stress.
However, what was unexpected was that

The survey was conducted online and
almost eight in 10 people (77.8%) felt that
respondents were solicited through a
they have not been adequately trained in
variety of business, shopping and health-
stress management. Those that did feel that
related online forums. The vast majority
they had received adequate training pointed
(94.5%) of the 478 respondents were from
to on-the-job stress and time management
North America.
training.
A significant percentage of respondents’

When asked how they cope with stress, all
occupations (31.7%) fell under the cover of
the respondents’ answers fell into four
professional, administrative, senior and
almost equal categories: diversionary
other management. The remaining
techniques, meditation and/or prayer,
comprised full-time parents (17.6%),
talking to friends and family, and a category
students (12.1%), technical (7.1%), self-
we called “keep on keeping on”, which
employed (6.7%), unemployed (6.3%),
consisted of people who have little-to-no
sales (5%), governmental (3.6%) and
effective coping techniques.
retired (2.1%). Some 7.7 percent of
respondents listed their occupation as
“other.” While there was a tacit understanding of
various standard coping and relaxation
techniques including breathing techniques,
The survey was a combination of open-
exercise and the importance of a healthy
ended and close-ended questions. The
lifestyle, with 8 in 10 respondents stating
open-ended questions allowed participants
that they were not adequately trained, there
to describe the type of stress training they
seemed to be an active gap between
had received either by workplace, school or
knowing what to do and knowing how to do
independent study. As well, these open
it.

Overview
Stress - the figures and statistics are staggering, and it is STRESS STATISTICS
emerging as one of the largest health issues facing North
$12 billion – the annual cost
Americans. It is something we all face, sometimes on a to Canadian businesses due to
daily and weekly basis. Yet, we all have our own methods stress-related disorders – not
including the losses incurred
and tactics of dealing with the stress we experience in our when employees are so
workplaces, in our homes, and in our lives. affected by stress that their job
performance slides
– Statistics Canada
In late June and throughout the month of July, ACQYR
conducted a social study to examine stress and coping 51% of Canadian employees
mechanisms. The intent was to explore the coping say they experience a great
deal of stress at work, 25% of
mechanisms used by the average North American and to these employees say that their
workplace stress has made
examine whether or not the respondents felt they had them physically ill
been trained sufficiently either in the workplace or in – Aventis Healthcare Survey
2002
school to cope with stress.
11% of Ontario workers book

time off work to deal with stress
Survey Methodology related issues
– Angus Reid Poll
The results of the survey presented here are based on an

8.5 days per year – the
online survey that ran for 33 days (June 29, 2006 to July number of days a full-time
31, 2006). The study was conducted on worker is absent
– Statistics Canada
SurveyMonkey.com and a call for participation was posted
on cross-section of online forums and discussion boards.
2% to 8% of payroll is spent
ACQYR used a mix of business, shopping and health- on staff who are absent – not
including casual absence, or
related forums such as Monster.ca, Yahoo! HotJobs, the cost of replacement
BigBigForums.com, DealoftheDay.com, MensHealth.com, workers.
Higher stress levels are
iVillage.com’s Health Forum and About.com’s Stress expected to drive these figures
Forum, in addition to several others. higher in the future.
– Mercer Human Resource
Consulting Survey
There was no monetary compensation for participation;
however, three stress relief packages were given away in There is a ‘bottom line’
a random draw as an incentive. All answers were treated incentive, given the costs of ill
health, for employers to focus
confidentially. ACQYR wishes to thank all those who on a healthier workplace.
contributed to this study. – Canadian Council on
Integrated Healthcare

Respondent Details
The survey comprised 478 respondents, of which 71.5 percent (342) were female and
28.5 percent (128) were male.
Respondent rates were 95.4 percent North American, with 24.3 percent coming from
Canada and 71.1 percent from the United States. Other participants came from the
United Kingdom (2.5 percent), India (0.6 percent), China (0.2 percent) and Japan (0.2
percent).
The level of education was quite high, with the majority having some college or
university education (37.9%), or reporting to be a college or university graduate (32.4%).
[Table A] This is in line with the age range of the participants, of whom some 36.6% were
between the ages of 25 and 34 years old. [Table B]
Table A: Education Table B: Age
4.2%
7.9% 14.0% 19.5%
15.3% 37.9%
24.1%
32.4% 36.6%
Some College/University Less than 18 years old

College/University Graduate 18-24
High School Graduate 25-34
Post-Graduate Work 35-44
Post-Graduate Degree 45-54
Some High School 55-64
65+
Prefer Not to Answer

A significant percentage of respondents’ occupations (31.7%) fell under the cover of

professional, administrative, senior and other management. The remaining comprised
full-time parents (17.6%), students (12.1%), technical (7.1%), self-employed (6.7%),
unemployed (6.3%), sales (5%), government (3.6%), and retired (2.1%). Some 7.7
percent of respondents listed their occupation as “other.”
Survey Findings
The results to questions concerning stress frequency were not unexpected, as
numerous other surveys and studies have reported that people feel stressed on a
regular basis. [Table C] As well, the usual culprits – finances, family and work – were
cited as the main stress triggers.
Table C: Stress Frequency
4.2%
22.0%
Regularly
42.2% Often (several times a month)
Sometimes (a few times a month)
Rarely (a few times a year)
31.6%
In addition when survey participants were asked to describe how they felt when
stressed, the most common descriptors were “exhausted”, “anxious”, “burnt-out” and
“distracted.”
What was unexpected was that almost eight in 10 people (77.8%) felt that they have not
been adequately trained in stress management. [Table D]

Table D: Do You Feel Adequately Trained In Stress Management?
No 77.8%
Yes 22.2%
The survey then launched several open-ended questions designed to encourage

participants to talk about stress and stress management.
Of the 22.2% of respondents who felt they had adequate training, more than half (54%)
pointed to on-the-job workshops and training sessions on time management and stress
management. Private stress relief training and methods including self-help books, yoga
and breathing techniques comprised approximately one-third of the answers. University,
college and school training completed the remaining answers.
When it came to the question that asked, Table E: Stress Coping Strategies
“How could future stress management
training improve so that it would help you
Stress Coping Categories
better manage stress?” the common
response was to improve and/or implement 1. Diversionary Techniques:
follow-up sessions instead of a one-off day
• Sports and Exercise
of training. Other respondents noted that
they wanted tips and techniques that could • Media (TV, Internet, Music, Reading)
be easily implemented into their daily • Food, Drink or Medication
routine.
2. Meditation & Breathing Techniques
and/or Prayer
When asked, “How do you, personally,
cope with stress?” four broad categories 3. Talking to Friends & Family
became evident. [Table E] 4. Keep On Keeping On

Responses were divided across four categories and often the individual survey
participants listed several methods of coping that fit into two or three of the categories.
(For example: “Prayer and talking to my spouse” and “Meditate, work-out and spend
time with my wife and son.”)
Diversionary Techniques
From examining the large variety of answers, it was evident that the majority of people
turned to diversionary techniques to help them relax – with sports and exercise forming
the lion’s share of the responses. Other common responses included watching
television, surfing the internet, reading, music and video games. Lastly, a smaller
percentage of respondents admitted to having alcoholic beverages to forget about the
day’s stresses or indulging in food and legal or illegal painkillers and drugs to cope.
Meditation & Breathing Techniques and/or Prayer
Many respondents listed meditation, yoga and breathing techniques as useful

techniques for coping with stress. Others used prayer as a meditative technique to cope
with stress and reduce anxiety. These techniques were often used as a “time out”
technique to step back from the situation and lower the physical signs of stress, such as
increased heart rate, headaches, and tension in the neck and shoulders.
Talking to Friends & Family
In almost equal amounts as meditation, breathing techniques and/or prayer,

communicating and talking with friends (colleagues included) and family was another
common method of relaxing. Being able to share the burden of a stressful day helped
respondents maintain a sense of perspective and acquire constructive feedback on how
to approach a problem or obstacle.

Keep On Keeping On
Respondents from the Keep On Keeping On category admitted to being unable to cope
very well. It was simply a matter of getting through the day until the stress “went away”
with a welcomed night of sleep or of its own accord. Some comments to the question of
how respondents cope with stress included:
“Not well. I get stressed at work and feel that, at times, I cannot deal with my
position.”
“I don’t. I let it build and I avoid the things that stress me out. Eventually I have to do
those things, and the stress comes back. I do however exercise and get my sleep which
helps me stay calm and relaxed.”
“Grit my teeth and bear it.”
“I tend to pull away from people and do my best to be alone. The more stressed I
get, the more distracted I get so I try to physically remove myself to a quiet space so that
I can concentrate.”
“Poorly, I tend to get migraine headaches when there is more stress.”
“I act it out physically, whether it is by hitting someone or by breaking things.

Otherwise, I cry a lot and get angry.”
“I really don’t cope. I just try to ignore it and hope it will die down.”
“I cry and mostly just hold it in. I don’t let a lot of people into my personal space.”

How Are We Coping?
Survey Conclusions answered positively that had stress

training.
Stress is unavoidable and the survey

Of those using diversionary tactics to
appeared to show that people expect to
cope, the ones most readily seen as
have a certain amount of stress in their
positive relaxation techniques include:
lives. Often short periods of stress can be
exercise, music and reading. Television,
relieved by going for a walk around the
Internet surfing, and video games can
block, talking to friends or soaking in a tub
often maintain or increase stress levels
and getting a good night’s sleep. However
due to continual, low-level, “fight-or-flight”
when stress is not addressed, it can cross
triggers associated with the nature of
the line into chronic stress. Chronic, or
adult programming, including tragic news
continuous, stress can be psychologically,
events, crime and suspense films or
emotionally and physically damaging.
television shows.
Survey respondents seemed to have a

With stress and stress-related illnesses
firm understanding of how to treat the
becoming such a dominate force in our
symptoms of the stress, but, considering
lives and workplaces it is seemingly
that 8 in 10 people did not feel adequately
unfathomable how a whopping 8 in 10
trained to deal with stress, there seemed
people do not feel like they have
to be a “knowing-doing” gap in effective
adequate training to cope, relax and find
coping strategies.
solutions to their day-to-day stress
triggers. Schools and businesses need to
As well, it seemed evident that survey
implement readily available stress
respondents were not always sure how to
programs that can be used easily,
address the root cause. Effective
effectively and on an everyday basis.
solutions to create more balance and
Survey respondents felt that training
control in the respondents’ everyday life
should be inclusive and company-wide
such as delegation or time management
instead of restricted to senior
were not mentioned as coping
management teams.
techniques, even when respondents had

Stress Busters: The ACQYR Solution

Based on this and other research, ACQYR has developed Stress Busters, a complete
stress management program that features a 180-page binder packed with tips for
handling stress, solutions to 30 common stress triggers, self-assessments and case
studies. The program also includes worksheets and interviews with stress experts like
Dr. Melissa Stoppler as well as stress myths and tips on dealing with seasonal stress.
The program is backed up with two coaching sessions.
Learn more at www.acqyr.com.
STRESS BUSTERS HIGHLIGHTS
• 180-pages, color, in a binder format including stress myths and

relaxation techniques.
• ACQYR Stress Toolkit - 14 chapters
of tips, tools, stories and strategies • ACQYR Stress Relief worksheet to
to help you manage your stress review your stress competency with
true/false questions, role-playing
• ACQYR Stress Solutions Guide - exercises, self-reflection and more.
Seek solutions to 30 of the most
common stress triggers • Stress Case Study “Pressure to
Conform” and Stress Analysis Test
• Actionable strategies and tactics (PDF)
• Easy to read, reference-style • Extended Interview with stress

packaging & design expert Dr. Melissa Stoppler (PDF)
• Two one-on-one 20-minute personal • ACQYR Growth eBook and ACQYR

coaching sessions with the author Change the World & Boost Business
(via phone).* eBook (PDF)
• ACQYR Stress Relief 16-page full- * For a limited time.

color, illustrated booklet that gives See latest offer on the website.
you the fundamentals of stress

What People Are Saying
“ACQYR’s skills series consist of clear and practical resources that tackle everyday work
related stresses. Thought provoking facts and quotes, proven theory and interesting
interviews are used to reinforce concepts that we can all use to make our work life more
enjoyable.”
-Christine Arsenault, Co-op Management Program Manager at the University of Toronto
“Stress now comes as standard - there’s no escaping it. But how much is useful? And how
much is damaging? ACQYR Stress Relief is a useful primer that gives an overview of the
different forms of stress and some actions you can take to reduce it.”
-Michael Bungay Stanier, Box of Crayons, 2006 Canadian Coach of the Year
“I just want to say that I really appreciate you taking the time to see how things are going
and offering me such great suggestions for reducing my stress. Not too many people in my
life do that. Everyone is so busy these days, you know? Doing what, I have no idea!
Everybody is running around stressing themselves out even more in my opinion.”
-Melissa F., Canada
“I can’t thank you enough for your support. You have been extremely encouraging and have
helped me stay balanced during what has turned out to be a very tough week mentally. I
used to say to people that on tough days if I didn’t have a heart attack that day, I’d never
die! But this week tested me and I’m still here at the end of the week. Thanks again.”
-David O., USA
“As a Professor who teaches courses in business and management, and as a consultant
who runs training workshops, I am impressed with ACQYR’s brief and colourful workbooks.
These inform and educate in an entertaining way, and the worksheets are sure to be useful
to any management trainer looking to engage and involve course participants.”
-Chris Bovaird, University of Toronto and Bovaird & Associates Management Training

About ACQYR
ACQYR is a privately-held provider of skills development reports, training, coaching and
seminars for individuals, teams and organizations. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada,
ACQYR collaborates with management consultants, conflict resolution experts and
medical researchers to provide its series of reports on transferable skills.
In October, 2006, ACQYR launched Stress Busters, a stress management program. The
program retails for $197 US.
“Canadian companies need to provide employees with stress-management training and

tools. The cost of work lost to stress is worth $12 billion annually,” stated Ronnie Nijmeh,
president of ACQYR, a Toronto-based company specializing in stress management.
Nijmeh is also the author of the Stress Busters toolkit.
Learn more at www.acqyr.com.
Contact ACQYR
President: Ronnie Nijmeh
1.877.438.3048
364 Old Kingston Road, Box 97578
Toronto, ON M1C4Z1
questions@acqyr.com
http://www.acqyr.com

Stress How Are We Coping December 2006

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Stress How Are We Coping December 2006

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Stress:

How Are We Coping?

A Survey Report by ACQYR

ACQYR 364 Old Kingston Road, Box 97578 Toronto, ON M1C4Z1

Meditation & Breathing Techniques and/or Prayer 6

Talking to Friends & Family 6

Stress Busters: The ACQYR Solution 9

What People Are Saying 10

Stress – How Are We Coping? 1

How Are We Coping?

However, what was unexpected was that

A significant percentage of respondents’

Stress – How Are We Coping? 1

11% of Ontario workers book

The results of the survey presented here are based on an

Stress – How Are We Coping? 2

Table A: Education Table B: Age

Some College/University Less than 18 years old

Stress – How Are We Coping? 3

A significant percentage of respondents’ occupations (31.7%) fell under the cover of

Table C: Stress Frequency

Stress – How Are We Coping? 4

Table D: Do You Feel Adequately Trained In Stress Management?

The survey then launched several open-ended questions designed to encourage

Stress – How Are We Coping? 5

Meditation & Breathing Techniques and/or Prayer

Many respondents listed meditation, yoga and breathing techniques as useful

Talking to Friends & Family

In almost equal amounts as meditation, breathing techniques and/or prayer,

Stress – How Are We Coping? 6

“Grit my teeth and bear it.”

“Poorly, I tend to get migraine headaches when there is more stress.”

“I act it out physically, whether it is by hitting someone or by breaking things.

Stress – How Are We Coping? 7

How Are We Coping?

Survey Conclusions answered positively that had stress

Stress is unavoidable and the survey

Survey respondents seemed to have a

Stress – How Are We Coping? 8

Stress Busters: The ACQYR Solution

Learn more at www.acqyr.com.

STRESS BUSTERS HIGHLIGHTS

• 180-pages, color, in a binder format including stress myths and

• Easy to read, reference-style • Extended Interview with stress

• Two one-on-one 20-minute personal • ACQYR Growth eBook and ACQYR

• ACQYR Stress Relief 16-page full- * For a limited time.

Stress – How Are We Coping? 9

What People Are Saying

-Christine Arsenault, Co-op Management Program Manager at the University of Toronto

-Melissa F., Canada

-David O., USA

Stress – How Are We Coping? 10

“Canadian companies need to provide employees with stress-management training and

Learn more at www.acqyr.com.

364 Old Kingston Road, Box 97578

Stress – How Are We Coping? 11

You might also like