Survey shows more Filipinos 'living under daily stress'

As the world observes World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10, a nationwide survey shows that more Filipinos are living under daily stress as they cope with financial, health, work, and family pressures.

- By ELLALYN DE VERA-RUIZ

The Social Weather Stations (SWS) Third Quarter 2025 survey found that 34 percent of adult Filipinos experience stress "frequently" in their daily lives, up from 27 percent recorded in the fourth quarter of 2019, just before the pandemic.

Another 32 percent said they "sometimes" feel stressed (down from 37 percent in 2019), 30 percent "rarely" (down from 34 percent), and 4 percent "never" experience stress (roughly unchanged from 2 percent).

The survey also examined the magnitude of stress related to specific aspects of daily life.

The Third Quarter 2025 Social Weather Survey was conducted from Sept. 24 to 30, through face-to-face interviews with 1,500 adults nationwide, aged 18 and above.