Self-Reported General Health, Overall and Work-Related Stress, Loneliness, and Sleeping Problems in 335,625 Swedish Adults from 2000 to 2016

Abstract

The prevalence of poor health, in particular stress-related mental ill-health, is increasing over time and birth cohorts. As rapid societal changes have occurred in the last decade and still are occurring, there is an interest in investigating the trends in health-related factors. The aim of the present study was to investigate trends in self-reported general health, overall stress, work-related stress, feelings of loneliness, and sleeping problems in 335,625 Swedish adults across categories of gender, geographic regions, length of education, and age from 2000 to 2016. On population level, sleeping problems and poor general health have increased markedly and significantly, while experiences of work stress decreased between 2000 and 2016 (p < 0.05). Overall stress and level of loneliness were unchanged (p > 0.05). The risk of having ≥3 symptoms (any of poor or very poor general health, often or very often perceived overall stress, loneliness, or sleeping problems) has increased significantly from 2000 to 2016 (ß = 1034 (1027–1040)). This increase was significantly higher in young (ß = 1052 (1038–1065)) and individuals with lower education (ß = 1056 (1037–1076)) compared to older and high length of education.

Trends in anxiety among adults in the United States, 2008–2018: Rapid increases among young adults

“…On a population level, our findings are consistent with recent data from Sweden reporting that adults, and young adults in particular, experienced an increase in poor sleep, stress and poorer general health from 2000 to 2016 ( Blom et al, 2020 ). Data from US adults also suggest increased levels of stress, with work and money articulated as the most common reasons for anxiety ( American Psychological Association, 2014 , 2016 ).…”

Energy expenditure early after liver transplantation: Better measured than predicted

“…A study aiming at investigating trends in self-reported general health, showed that the risk of having ≥3 symptoms increased significantly from 2000 to 2016 (179). The increases in symptoms were significantly higher in young and individuals with lower education (179). This is in accordance with our observation that the younger population reported more symptoms.…”

“…A previous study of self-reported somatic and psychological symptoms showed that women reported higher total symptom prevalence than men and a trend was found showing an increase in symptom reporting from 1985 and onwards (178). A study aiming at investigating trends in self-reported general health, showed that the risk of having ≥3 symptoms increased significantly from 2000 to 2016 (179). The increases in symptoms were significantly higher in young and individuals with lower education (179).…”

Workplace sitting is associated with self-reported general health and back/neck pain: a cross-sectional analysis in 44,978 employees

“…Self-reported general health, defined as perceived overall physical and mental health, is associated with all-cause mortality and morbidity [ 21 , 22 ]. During the last decades poor self-reported general health has increased markedly in all age groups and education groups in the working population in Sweden, [ 23 ]. Studies indicate different relationships between domain specific sitting time (work, transport and leisure time) and self-reported quality of life [ 19 ] but to our knowledge, studies are lacking concerning domain specific sitting in the working population and its association with self-reported general health.…”