Only 40 per cent of Canadians use exercise to cope with stress, according to a review of government statistics. The Canadian Community Health survey included nearly 40,000 people 15 years and older.
Canadians’ stress levels ‘very high’
More than 20 per cent said they were quite a bit or extremely stressed. Another 40 per cent said they had at least a bit of stress in their lives. John Cairney, a professor of family medicine at McMaster University studied the figures and found them to be “very high.”
Among the coping behaviours people listed problem-solving, optimism, relaxation, talking to friends, wishing problems away, praying and almost 96 per cent blamed themselves for their stress.
‘Physical activity is so beneficial’
Out of 13 coping behaviours or strategies to cope with stress, respondents ranked exercise eighth. “It’s really at the low end,” says Cairney. “Although it’s ahead of some really negative behaviours like using alcohol or drugs to deal with stress, it’s still pretty low on the list. It’s a little bit disarming given that we know physical activity is so beneficial to health and well-being.”
Women are more likely to use exercise to deal with stress, as are people who are not married, those with higher income and education levels and those in the early to mid-adult age group. These people were also more likely to use other positive coping strategies.
This information can be used to better target information and other campaigns to get people to exercise, says Cairney. “Clearly we have work to do in getting the message out, and continuing to get the message out about the many, many positive benefits of physical activity, not only in relation to stress reduction but overall health and well-being.”
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