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Stress a Way of Life Amidst Pandemic

Stress a Way of Life Amidst Pandemic
Stress a Way of Life Amidst Pandemic

It’s hard to find someone who hasn’t experienced some stress resulting from the pandemic, but consumers and employers are conjuring up ways to cope.

Life has turned upside down for most Americans since the pandemic began in March. In addition to the 24-hour news coverage about the health crisis, consumers have had to deal with stay-at-home orders and economic anxiety. Health and wellness company Medifast surveyed consumers to find out how these events have impacted their overall outlook.

An overwhelming 88% of respondents said they have experienced stress during the pandemic, and 82% of those surveyed said at least one aspect of their physical or mental health has been negatively impacted by current circumstances. However, most of those respondents are proactively looking for ways to improve their sense of well-being.

Women more affected than men

Everyone responds to crises differently, and the pandemic appears to be hitting women harder than men. In fact, 50% of women respondents reported being concerned about their stress levels compared to 34% of men, which could be likely tied to increased childcare responsibilities during lockdowns.

There are a number of factors that could contribute to consumers’ emotional well-being. One ValuePenguin survey cited that loneliness has become more prevalent for some consumers because of social distancing, with another noting that 68% of Americans are worried about how the pandemic will impact health care costs.

Many respondents to the Medifast survey are concerned about unhealthy habits they’ve picked up during the pandemic. For example, 57% were concerned about either their weight, their tendency to overeat or their lack of exercise in the early days of the outbreak.

Nearly half — 46% — said they have had difficulty sticking to healthy eating habits. Among those respondents struggling with their diet:

  • 34% worried about snacking too much

  • 26% worried about sticking to a healthy diet

  • 19% worried about eating healthy-sized portions

Women were more likely to be worried about engaging in unhealthy eating habits and gaining weight than their male counterparts. However, half of respondents overall reported that exercising and eating healthy foods was helping to manage their stress levels.

Consumers, employers tackle stress head-on

With the awareness that they are experiencing more stress, 75% of survey respondents said they were proactively taking steps to manage it, such as reaching out to others in their social networks and leaning on their family and friends.

Employers are also helping consumers better manage the emotional stress. Clutch, a company that provides business ratings and reviews, conducted a survey of workers to find out how they are faring during the pandemic, and how their companies are responding.

According to the findings of the Clutch survey, more than half — 57% — of employees are having mental or emotional support offered by their employers in some way. When it comes to the type of support employees have received from employers:

  • 28% said they’ve been given a more flexible work schedule

  • 23% said they’ve received advice about working remotely

  • 21% said they’ve gotten access to therapy or professional counseling

  • 14% said they’ve received additional paid time off or sick leave

  • 13% said they’ve had employee goals or metrics adjusted

  • 11% said they’ve been given access to virtual social or community events

Methodologies: Medifast surveyed 1,327 adults between April 23 and April 24, 2020.

Clutch surveyed 301 workers in May 2020, with 88% identifying as full-time employees and 12% identifying as part-time.