Holidays are not happy time for everyone, finds study

Holidays are the favourite part of the year, people meet and spend time together. This happy time might not be the same for everyone, some of them find it distressing and difficult to spend time with people or go out to social gatherings.

A survey by the American Psychological Association (APA; 2023) found that 89% of U.S. adults said they felt stressed at the holidays and 41% said their stress increased during this time compared with other points in the year. The National Alliance on Mental Health (2023) reported that 64% of people living with a mental illness felt that their conditions worsened around the holidays. For women and those with lower income, the holidays can be particularly stressful.

Holiday stress is caused by 4 major feelings: Overwhelm, Social isolation and Loneliness, Depression, Grief.

The survey was conducted among 2,061 adults by The Harris Poll between Nov. 14 and 16, 2023.

This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of APA from Nov. 14–16, 2023, among 2,061 adults ages 18 and older. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within + 2.7 percentage points using a 95% confidence level.

Financial concerns were most often cited as a cause of stress during the holidays, with 58% of U.S. adults saying that spending too much or not having enough money to spend causes them stress. This was followed by finding the right gifts (40%) and the stress of missing family or loved ones during the holidays (38%). Households earning under $50K annually especially feel under pressure at this time of year and were more likely to rate their stress levels as high compared with households earning more than $100K annually (24% vs. 18%, respectively).

To manage the stress of the holiday season, nearly nine in 10 adults who reported experiencing stress at this time (88%) said they have coping mechanisms that help them handle it. A majority of adults who experience stress (70%) said they are comfortable talking with others about their stress during this time—although only 41% said they actually do so—while others focus on strategies such as managing their expectations (38%), reminding themselves that the season will pass (35%) or volunteering to help others (16%).

The holidays are often seen as a time of merry-making, brimming with love, celebration, and good cheer. But when someone isn’t feeling particularly cheery, all that cheer can double down on their sadness and despair. Whether it’s us feeling the “holiday blues” or someone we care for, it’s important to be mindful of how we are holding our feelings and what we do in response.

Reference: Even a joyous holiday season can cause stress for most Americans; American Psychological Association, Press Release Nov 2023.