Poll: Nearly Half of Americans Want a ‘Low Stress, Low Achievement’ Life

ashley.rae | September 7, 2016
DONATE
Font Size

Nearly half Americans would rather live a life with few accomplishments if achievement requires them to be under stress to be successful.

 YouGov asked 1,000 Americans whether they would prefer to live a low stress life with few achievements, or a life with high stress or with many achievements.

The poll found 43 percent of respondents stated they would rather live a “low stress, low achievement life” than a “high stress, high achievement life.” Only 28 percent of Americans claimed they would choose to a life with “high stress, high achievement.”

Wealth appears to be correlated with work ethic. The poll shows 39 percent of people who stated they make over $100,000 a year would prefer a “high stress, high achievement life,” compared to 31 percent of those who make between $50,000 and $100,000, and 26 percent of respondents who said they made under $50,000.

Those under 30 were more likely to respond that they want a “high stress, high achievement life” (43 percent) than those between 30-44 (31 percent), 45-64 (21 percent), and over 65 (22 percent).

The YouGov poll was conducted from Aug. 23-24 via Web-based interviews. The margin of error is ± 4.7% (adjusted for weighting).

donate