perceptions issues

Teen unemployment is 23 percent. More than half of college graduates cannot find work or are underemployed. Student debt tops $1 trillion. No wonder that Millennials, ages 18-33 are losing sleep over stress-related issues. On a 10-point scale, Millennials report an average stress level of 5.4, compared to the national average of 4.9, according to a “Stress in America” survey from the American Psychological Association.

"Many of these young people have come out of college or graduate school with horrendous student debt into a job market where there are not very many jobs," Katherine Nordal, executive director for professional practice of the APA, told NBC News. "This has put their life plans, probably, on hiatus."

Thirty-nine percent of Millennials reported that their stress levels increased in 2012. They were also more likely than their older cohorts to display irritability or anger. A larger percentage also reported being diagnosed with anviety or depression, the APA survey concluded.

Millennial respondents to the survey cited work and job security as the primary causes of their stress. Less than one-fourth believe that their health care provider supports them a ‘lot or a great deal’ in their desire to make healthy lifestyle and behavior changes, while just 17 percent said the same about their health care providers’ stress management support,” the APA said in a press release.

Across all ages, money ranks atop the list of stressors, followed by work, the economy and relationships. Millennials and Gen-Xers said work, money and job stability were at the root of their high anxiety. For those 48 and older, personal and family health issues were the primary sources of their tension.

On a positive note, the survey found that stressed-out Americans are coping more with exercise, reading listening to music or spending quality time with family and friends than vices such as smoking and alcohol.