Stress and Related Factors in the Thirties: A Questionnaire Survey of People in Their Thirties during Their Routine Medical Checkups in Town A

Abstract

　One's thirties are often a time of major life events, and these events can be associated with stress. In order to improve psychological public health, we sought to find causes of stress among people in their thirties, using a questionnaire distributed during periodic medical examinations in A town.

　Overall, men were found to report relatively less stress compared to women. Women were less confident in their abilities to deal with stress and adapt to situations than men were. The causes of stress were also markedly different based on gender: Work and study were stress factors for men, while child-raising, child education, work, and connections between family and children were common stress factors for women. Subjects who reported high levels of stress tended to report less ability to adapt to stressful situations.

　Those who reported greater ability to adapt to stressful situations tended to have higher self-esteem, higher self-reported health, and higher job and lifestyle satisfaction.

　Given these results and the family and job factors which cause stress among people in their 30s, people's environment and potential stress factors should be considered in order to recommend stress resolution strategies.

　This research indicates that in order to improve psychological public health, health counselors need to identify people with high risk of stress, and incorporate advice about stress based on subjects' gender and situation.