Op-Ed: Are you prepared for the stress of life? If you’re swamped with debt, probably not

A recent Gallup poll revealed that Americans are among the most stressed people in the world. One of the largest factors? Personal finances related to income. This is true for military families, seemingly successful business owners, students, and masses of ordinary citizens.

According to Gallup, “Income…plays a role with worry and stress, with the lowest income Americans carrying more of the emotional burden than the highest income Americans. Nearly seven in 10 Americans in the poorest 20 percent of the population said they experienced stress the previous day, compared with less than half (48 percent) of Americans in the richest 20 percent. Similarly, 56 percent of Americans in the poorest group said they worried a lot, compared with 41 percent in the richest group.”