Top holiday stressor: Money

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WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 (UPI) -- Most U.S. adults say their top holiday stressor this year is money -- spending too of it, that is -- a survey by the American Psychological Society found.

The survey indicates 61 percent said money topped their list of holiday stressors, followed by 42 percent who said they are stressed by the pressure of gift giving, 34 percent who said lack of time was their biggest stressor and 23 percent who said credit card debt topped their list of holiday stressors.

The survey indicates 81 percent of adults age 35 and younger say they are most worried about money and 54 percent of the same age group says gift giving is their top worry.

One in five Americans say they are worried that holiday stress could affect their physical health and 36 percent say they either eat (22 percent) or drink alcohol (14 percent) to cope with holiday stress.

However, others rely on more healthful ways to deal with stress. Forty-five percent say they rely on exercise, 44 percent say they turn to religious and spiritual activities to relieve stress and 14 percent turn to massage and yoga.

The survey of 1,134 U.S. adults was conducted by Harris Interactive Aug. 3-27. No margin of error was provided.