Nearly half (44%) of respondents are currently suffering with stress, according to research by healthcare insurer Bupa.
Its research, which surveyed more than 10,000 Britons, found that 28% have experienced stress for more than a year, and that 27% regularly feel close to breaking point.
The research has been published to coincide with National Stress Awareness Day, which is 6 November.
The main causes of stress identified by respondents include money worries (20%), followed by day-to-day working (18%), family life (8%) and living with long-term illness (7%).
The research also found stress levels to be most prevalent among female respondents, with nearly half (49%) stressed compared to 39% of men.
Stress is also prevalent among 45-to-54 year olds, with 50% revealing that they are stressed, while just over a third (38%) of over-55s currently feel stressed.
The research also found:
- More people in the Midlands admitted to being stressed (46%) than any other region.
- Of those respondents that feel stressed, only 61% would only seek help if they cannot cope with daily life.
Doctor Martin Baggaley, medical director at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This research shows stress is extremely common in this country. It’s concerning to see that so many people are experiencing sustained and relentless stress.
“If left unchecked for a prolonged period of time, stress can cause much more serious long-term mental and physical illnesses, such as anxiety and depression.
“There is a growing problem of long-term stress in this country, which needs to be addressed.”
