Rutgers survey nearly one-quarter of the state is stressed out

State residents are stressed out, according to the results of a new state Health and Well-Being poll conducted by Rutgers Center for State Health Policy on the stress levels of New Jerseyans.The poll found that roughly 1.5 million people – nearly one-quarter of the state’s population – have a great deal of stress in their lives. Specifically, state residents feel very stressed about paying their bills. Additionally, many of them said that they don’t have enough time for their jobs or for the things that they want or need to do.

Women are more stressed then men in general in the state, particularly when it comes to having enough time or money to pay bills and live. Family health care issues also are a particular point of stress, the survey found.

Family is more of a comfort than a significant source of stress. Just 15 percent said that family members caused them a great deal of stress, while 56 percent said family caused not much or no stress at all.

The survey also found that blacks and Hispanics generally feel more stress than other racial groups in the state, and residents in southern New Jersey generally feel the most stress.

This comes despite strong economic numbers for the state.

According to the latest Census data, the state’s median household income was $76,126 in 2016, compared to the national median of $57,617. The wealth was mostly concentrated, however, in just three counties: Morris, Hunterdon and Somerset counties.