How australians are coping with life

Social media in the context of this report is defined 

as the use of the internet and mobile technologies to 

turn communication into social interactive dialogue. 

It excludes activities like work texting and email

‘

Sample sizes

Adult respondents

  Teen respondents

Main Survey:

Stress and Wellbeing Survey

1521

N/A

Sub-sample within Main Survey:

Social Media Engagement Questionnaire (SMEQ)

1077

N/A

Stand alone Survey following the Main Survey:

FoMO Questionnaire 

740

210

Table 1: Sample Sizes for Main Survey and Standalone FoMO Survey

Australian Psychological Society Stress and wellbeing in Australia survey 2015

Stress & wellbeing

9

The following tables describe the FoMO sub-sample proportions used in this analysis. Heavy social media users 

in this report are all those who connect to social media five or more times a day and light users are those who 

connect to social media less than five times a day.

Table 2: Sample Proportions for Teen Connection to Social Media 

Teen Connection to Social Media 

(from FoMO Questionnaire

n

%

Heavy Social Media User (n=118)

Constantly

More than 10 times per day

About 5 - 10 times a day

53

25

40

25%

12%

19%

Light Social Media User (n=92)

About 1 - 4 times day

Several times a week

Once a week

Once or twice a month 

Less than once a month

50

31

10

0

1

24%

15%

5%

0%

0%

Total

210

100%

Adult Connection to Social Media 

(from FoMO Questionnaire

 %

Heavy Social Media User (n=170)

Constantly

More than 10 times per day

About 5 - 10 times a day

6%

5%

12%

Light Social Media User (n=570)

About 1 - 4 times day

Several times a week

Once a week

Once or twice a month 

Less than once a month

36%

23%

9%

5%

4%

Total

100%

Table 3: Sample Proportions for Adult Connection to Social Media 

Australian Psychological Society Stress and wellbeing in Australia survey 2015

3.4.  Data analysis 

The data presented has been selected on the basis of a preliminary analysis of noteworthy findings. The 

approach to data analysis in this report replicates the approach of previous years. Appendix B of this report 

provides further information on specific scales, such as the derivation of summary scores.

3.5.  Demographic variables

Analyses were run for the total sample and across all key demographic variables and where sub-sample sizes 

permitted. Preliminary analyses for various combinations of age, gender, employment and marital status 

generated a number of significant findings, with sample sizes between all relevant groups and sub-samples 

sufficient to permit reporting and inclusion in further data exploration. Where no significant findings were 

uncovered for given groups or demographic variables, results were omitted from this report. 

The following tables detail the demographic breakdowns used in this analysis.

Teen gender

 n

Male

103

Female

103

No gender nominated

4

Total

210

Table 4: Sample Sizes for Teen Gender 

Teen age groups

 n

13-15

120

16-17

90

Total

210

Table 5: Sample Sizes for Teen Age Group 

Adult gender

 n

Male

705

Female

813

No gender nominated

3

Total

1521

Table 6: Sample Sizes for Adult Gender 

* Four individuals did not nominate a gender

* Three individuals did not nominate a gender

10

Australian Psychological Society Stress and wellbeing in Australia survey 2015

Stress & wellbeing

3.6.  Life stage segment variables

Where indicated, the analysis has been conducted to segment respondents into various life stage cohorts. 

These cohorts have been generated from the data collected on respondents’ age and relationship/marital 

status/living arrangements. The cohorts are shown in Table 8 (below):

Life stage segment

Criteria

 n

Young singles (YS)

Aged 18-35 without a partner

109

Young couples (YC)

Aged 18-35 with a partner and no child(ren) under 18

38

Young families (YF)

Aged 18-35 with a partner and child(ren) under 18

209

Young sole parents (YSP)

Aged 18-35 without a partner and child(ren) under 18

65

Older singles (OS)

Aged 36-65 without a partner and child(ren) under 18

119

Older couples (OC)

Aged 36-65 with a partner and no child(ren) under 18

105

Established families (EF)

Aged 36-65 with a partner and child(ren) under 18

89

Older sole parents (OSP)

Aged 36-65 without a partner and child(ren) under 18

255

Single retirees (SR)

Aged 56 and above single and retired

145

Couple retirees (CR)

Aged 56 and above with a partner and retired

284

Table 8: Life Stage Segments and Criteria for 2015 

Table 9: Sample Sizes by Survey Year 

3.7.  Cross-year data 

To make comparisons between data gathered from 2011, 

2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, either one-sample t-tests or 

univariate ANOVAs (with Tukey’s HSD post hoc tests as year-

on-year samples were of equivalent sizes) were performed to 

determine whether the mean levels of variables of interest 

were significantly different at the 95 per cent confidence 

level. 

Table 9 (right) shows the sample sizes for each year used in 

summary or comparison statistics:

Year

 n

2011

  1537

2012

 1550

2013

  1548

2014

  1548

2015

 1521

Total

  7672

Adult age group

 n

18-25

184

26-35

290

36-45

312

46-55

269

56-65

42

66 and above

223

No age nominated

3

Total

1521

Table 7: Sample Sizes for Adult Age Group

11

Australian Psychological Society Stress and wellbeing in Australia survey 2015

12

3.8.  Between-group comparisons

For comparisons between different groups (e.g. males/ females, different age groups, heavy/ light social 

media users, etc.), a combination of parametric and non-parametric statistical techniques were applied. These 

included omnibus F-tests for one-way ANOVAs for independent variables of interest (e.g. testing for effect of 

age on level of wellbeing), and Games-Howell multiple comparison tests to test for sub-group differences (e.g. 

segment differences), as this test does not assume equal variances nor equivalent sample sizes.

 

Analysing associations between nominal or categorical data involved Chi-square tests of independence (eg. 

gender differences and strategies used to manage stress). 

 

3.9.  Prevalence percentage

 

Unless otherwise indicated, prevalence percentage includes those participants who rated scale items as either, 

‘moderately well’, ‘quite well’ or ‘extremely well’, or ‘somewhat’, ‘quite a bit’, or ‘a great deal’.

3.10.  Data presentation, significance and sub-sample sizes

All the data in this report has been summarised and reduced for ease of reading and interpretation. 

Percentages have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Mean values for stress and wellbeing scales have 

been rounded to one decimal place. Where necessary and practicable, statistical significance is reported and 

denoted by an asterisk (*) for differences between groups and an alpha level is given in either the footer of the 

relevant table/ figure or in the text descriptor for the table/ figure. As a rule of thumb, significance will always be 

indicated for the larger of two groups, indicating that a particular group is significantly larger than its comparator. 

Sub-sample numbers are displayed in sections 3.3, 3.7 and 3.8 and these should be referred to where testing 

for significant differences between groups occurs. Since not all questions in the survey are compulsory the sub-

samples may not always sum to the total sample (n). 

   

3.11.  The report

What follows is a report detailing the key findings and results from the 2015 Stress and Wellbeing in Australia 

Survey and the FoMO Survey. The report is broken down into two key components:

1.  The review of the relevant results from five years of the survey along with multiple cross year comparisons; 

with a supplementary evaluation of the 2015 results as a standalone examination; and 

2.  The analysis of the special topic on social media and FoMO.

Australian Psychological Society Stress and wellbeing in Australia survey 2015

Stress & wellbeing

13

4.  FIVE YEARS OF STRESS AND WELLBEING

4.1.  Across five years in Australia

Australians’ levels of stress, distress, anxiety and depression were examined over the five years from 2011-

2015, with mixed results. While fewer Australians reported distress in 2015 (the lowest level recorded), 

Australians’ anxiety and depression symptoms increased over the five years, with anxiety symptoms peaking in 

2015. The results reported are within the normal range for each of the respective measures.

Figure 1: Aggregate Measures of Stress, Distress, Depression and Anxiety, 2011-2015

NOTE: Interpretation and scoring criteria for the PSDS, K10 and DASS-21 scales can be found in Appendix B. 

Sample sizes: 2011 n=1537, 2012 n=1550, 2013 n=1548, 2014 n=1548,  2015 ne=1521. Total N=7672

Australian Psychological Society Stress and wellbeing in Australia survey 2015

14

4.2.  Prevalence of various levels of distress, depression symptoms, and anxiety symptoms 

Over the last five years (2011-2015), 35 per cent of Australians reported experiencing distress, 36 per cent 

experienced depression symptoms and 26 per cent anxiety symptoms. Of those, 13 per cent experienced severe 

levels of distress, 12 per cent severe to extremely severe depression symptoms and 11 per cent severe to 

extremely severe levels of anxiety symptoms.

Figure 2: Average Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-10) Category Prevalence, 2011-2015 

Figure 3: Average DASS-21 Depression Scale Category Prevalence, 2011-2015

NOTE: The percentages in the above figure represent the proportion of people falling into the predefined K10 Scale categories as 

noted in the legend, ranging from normal to severe levels of distress.

NOTE: The percentages in the above figure represent the proportion of people falling into the predefined DASS-21 Depression Scale 

categories as noted in the legend, ranging from normal to extremely severe levels of depression symptoms.

Figure 1 

 

 

 

Figure 2 

 

 

 

 

15.5

15.5

16.4

15.9

15.8

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Perceived Stress Scale

Perceived Stress Scale

Five Year Average

17.9

18.4

19.5

19

17.1

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Kessler Psychological Distress Scale 

(K-10)

Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-10)

Five Year Average

7.7

8.0

8.7

8.3

8.1

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

DASS-21 Depression

DASS-21 Depression

Five Year Average

5.1

5.3

5.9

5.7

6.3

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

DASS-21 Anxiety

DASS-21 Anxiety

Five Year Average

65% Australians 

reported non-

significant levels 

of distress 

(score: 10-19)

Mild (20-24), 14%

Moderate (25-29), 8%

35% Australians

reported certain

levels of distress

Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-10)

Severe (30-50), 13%

Australian Psychological Society Stress and wellbeing in Australia survey 2015

Stress & wellbeing

15

Figure 4: Average DASS-21 Anxiety Scale Category Prevalence, 2011-2015

NOTE: The percentages in the above figure represent the proportion of people falling into the predefined DASS-21 

Anxiety Scale categories as noted in the legend, ranging from normal to extremely severe levels of anxiety symptoms.

4.3.  Causes of stress

The top stressors in the lives of Australians (see Figure 5 on the following page) have remained the same over 

the life of survey. ‘Personal financial issues’, ‘health issues’, and ‘family issues’ have topped the survey year-on-

year. Interestingly, since 2012 when it was introduced as an item, the fourth most common cause of stress is 

‘issues relating to maintaining a healthy lifestyle’. 

In 2014, this topic was explored in-depth in the survey and many barriers to achieving a healthy lifestyle were 

identified, such as unexpected life events, loss of motivation, expense and lack of time (for the full results, 

please refer to the 2014 Stress and Wellbeing Survey report

2

). 

The fourth 

most common 

cause of stress 

is ‘issues 

relating to 

maintaining 

a healthy 

lifestyle’

2

 The 2014 full report is available on the APS website: https://www.psychology.org.au/Assets/Files/2014-APS-NPW-Survey-WEB-reduced.pdf

Australian Psychological Society Stress and wellbeing in Australia survey 2015

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Figure 5: Prevalence of Stressors, 2011-2015

^not asked in 

2011

NOTE: In the figure 

above prevalence 

is classified as 

the percentage of 

respondents who 

indicated that a 

stressor affected 

them either 

‘somewhat’, ‘quite 

a bit’ or ‘a great 

deal’.

 

53 %

45 %

43 %

41 %

30 %

31 %

31 %

23 %

26 %

17 %

16 %

15 %

48 %

45 %

46 %

40 %

38 %

32 %

28 %

26 %

25 %

21 %

21 %

16 %

13 %

13 %

52 %

43 %

47 %

41 %

38 %

34 %

33 %

26 %

24 %

24 %

25 %

16 %

18 %

14 %

49 %

42 %

45 %

39 %

36 %

32 %

31 %

30 %

29 %

22 %

26 %

18 %

16 %

14 %

45 %

44 %

43 %

39 %

37 %

31 %

31 %

26 %

25 %

25 %

25 %

20 %

18 %

14 %

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Personal financial issues (avg = 49%)

Health issues (avg = 44%)

Family issues (avg = 45%)

^Maintain a healthy lifestyle (avg = 40%)

Health of those close to you (avg = 38%)

Workplace issues (avg = 32%)

Relationships (avg = 31%)

The economy (avg = 28%)

The political climate (avg = 25%)

^Mental health (avg = 23%)

Friendship issues (avg = 25%)

Environment issues (avg = 17%)

Study issues (avg = 16%)

Personal safety (avg = 14%)

Prevalence of Stressors (2011-2015)

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Average

0 %

0 %

Australian Psychological Society Stress and wellbeing in Australia survey 2015

Stress & wellbeing

17

4.4.  Stress management

As well as highlighting what contributes to stress in our lives, the APS survey explores how people manage 

stress and also identifies the stress management behaviours reported to be most effective.

4.4.1.  How do we manage stress?

The most popular ways of managing stress (see Figure 6 on the following page) have remained consistent 

across the five years of the APS survey: ‘watching television or movies’, ‘focusing on the positives’, ‘spending 

time with friends and/or family’, ‘listen to music’ and ‘reading’. There has been an increase over the five years 

in the following as stress management behaviours (all figures as at 2015):

•  Eating - more than seven in 10 (66% in 2011 vs 75% in 2015);

•  Visit social media sites - one in two (37% in 2011 vs 51% in 2015);

•  Doing something relaxing (i.e. have a bath, go to a spa or have a massage) - close to one in two (31% in 

2011 vs 46% in 2015);

•  Video games - more than one in three (28% in 2011 vs 33% in 2015); and

•  Gambling - one in five (13% in 2011 vs 19% in 2015).

4.4.2.  How effective are our stress management activities and behaviours?

Across the five years the survey has been conducted the five most popular ways of managing stress (on 

average) are also some of those rated the most effective (see Figure 7 on page 19), including:

•  Watching television or movies (85% prevalence; 73% effectiveness);

•  Spending time with friends and/ or family (81% prevalence; 83% effectiveness);

•  Focusing on the positives (81% prevalence; 79% effectiveness; first asked in 2012); 

•  Listening to music (80% prevalence; 80% effectivenessfirst asked in 2012); and

•  Reading (75% prevalence; 78% effectiveness).

Note that even though ‘watch television or movies’ is the most popular way of managing stress it is not rated as 

the most effective way to manage stress.

Of concern is that some of the non-productive ways of managing stress such as ‘smoke cigarettes’ (18 per cent 

prevalence; 64 per cent effectiveness), ‘gamble’ (16 per cent prevalence; 47 per cent effectiveness) and ‘take 

recreational drugs’ (8 per cent prevalence; 67 per cent effectiveness) were rated as most effective.

Of concern is that some 

of the non-productive 

ways of managing 

stress such as smoking, 

gambling and taking 

recreational drugs were 

rated as most effective

‘

Australian Psychological Society Stress and wellbeing in Australia survey 2015

18

Figure 6: Ways of Managing Stress %, 2011-2015

^Not asked in 

2011

NOTE: In the figure 

above prevalence 

is classified as 

the percentage of 

respondents who 

indicated that they 

used one of the 

stress relievers 

either ‘sometimes’, 

‘fairly often’ or 

‘very often’.

79 %

0 %

75 %

0 %

69 %

0 %

66 %

60 %

0 %

64 %

47 %

50 %

37 %

31 %

40 %

28 %

25 %

16 %

13 %

7 %

85 %

81 %

82 %

79 %

77 %

72 %

69 %

70 %

63 %

63 %

57 %

53 %

41 %

39 %

40 %

30 %

28 %

18 %

15 %

7 %

88 %

81 %

82 %

81 %

77 %

73 %

76 %

71 %

67 %

62 %

60 %

59 %

49 %

43 %

41 %

34 %

30 %

19 %

15 %

10 %

87 %

81 %

83 %

80 %

76 %

75 %

75 %

73 %

66 %

66 %

60 %

54 %

50 %

44 %

39 %

33 %

33 %

18 %

18 %

9 %

86 %

80 %

81 %

78 %

76 %

73 %

75 %

71 %

64 %

65 %

61 %

56 %

51 %

46 %

40 %

33 %

32 %

18 %

19 %

9 %

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Watch television (avg = 85%)

^Focus on the positives (avg = 81%)

Spend time with friends family (avg = 81%)

^Listen to music (avg = 80%)

Read (avg = 75%)

^Adjust expectations (avg = 73%)

Eat something (avg = 72%)

Do something active (avg = 69%)

^Consciously avoid people (avg = 65%)

Do a hobby (avg = 64%)

Go shopping (avg = 57%)

Sleep (avg = 54%)

Social networking sites (avg = 46%)

Something relaxing (avg = 41%)

Drink alcohol (avg = 40%)

Play video games (avg = 32%)

Something spiritual (avg = 30%)

Smoke cigarettes (avg = 18%)

Gamble (avg = 16%)

Take drugs (avg = 8%)

Ways of Managing Stress (2011-2015)

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Average

Australian Psychological Society Stress and wellbeing in Australia survey 2015

Stress & wellbeing

19

Figure 7: Prevalence % vs Effectiveness % of Stress Management, 2011-2015

^Not asked in 2011

NOTE: In the figure above prevalence is classified as the percentage of respondents who indicated that they used one of the stress relievers 

either ‘sometimes’, ‘fairly often’ or ‘very often’ and rated them ‘moderately effective’, quite effective’ and ‘highly effective’ for effectiveness. 

This is a summary across all five years.

 

  

85%

81%

81%

80%

75%

73%

72%

69%

65%

64%

57%

54%

46%

41%

40%

32%

30%

18%

16%

8%

73%

79%

83%

80%

78%

75%

55%

81%

70%

80%

64%

60%

52%

80%

49%

67%

78%

64%

47%

67%

Watch television or movies

^Focus on the positives

Spend time with friends and/or family

^Listen to music

Read

^Adjust my expectations

Eat something

Do something active

^Consciously avoid people and/or situations that are stressful

Spend time doing a hobby

Go shopping

Sleep more

Visit social networking sites

Doing something relaxing

Drink alcohol

Play video games

Do something spiritual

Smoke cigarettes

Gamble

Take recreational drugs