What Is Stress and Anxiety Doing to You and Your Family -- Quiz Reveals Shocking Answers!

What is stress doing to you and your family? Stress and anxiety issues are a hot topic lately and many families are showing signs of stress related symptoms. While the causes of stress and anxiety in families are many and varied, perhaps the best way to begin to get a handle on familial stress is to take the following “Family Stress Management Quiz.”

Simply answer the following statements by asking yourself how each relates to you and your family. Rate each statement as being either:

A=Always True, O=Often True, S=Sometimes True, N=Never True

1. Tension in our home is unusual.
2. It feels like somebody's usually mad at somebody else.
3. Everybody in the family has their chores to do and does them without being nagged about it.
4. I just can’t seem to be able to get my children to do anything around the house.
5. Our jobs are important, but our family is the first priority.
6. It feels like everybody argues a lot.
7. We have meals with each other every day.
8. We seldom listen to each other enough.
9. I know what my children think is important.
10. (Couples) Sometimes being married is a disappointment.
11. (Single parents) I feel comfortable with being single.
12. The school has asked me to come in to discuss my kid's behavior.
13. My children are doing fine in school.
14. I work too much and it gets to me.

Score each of your answers (A, O, S and N) accordingly: A=3, O=2, S=1, N=0. Once you’ve given a score to each of your answers, add up the total score for just the odd numbered questions, and then add up the total score for just the even numbered questions (you’ll have two totals – one for evens and one for odds).

Total of 17 or more for odds, OR 8 or less for evens: Great! You have a well adjusted family and a relatively stress free life!

Total 12-16 for odds, OR 9-12 for evens: Good start! Keep doing what you’re doing with an eye towards getting even better.

Total 9-11 for odds, OR 13-16 for evens: You are under stress. Consider solutions to these questions and take action.

Total 8 or less for odds, OR 17 or more for evens: You need to take serious action to improve your family’s stress and anxiety levels.

There are many positive steps that you can immediately take to lessen the effects of stress and anxiety on you and your family. Now that you have a better idea of where you stand, you can begin to make meaningful changes. Perhaps the most important thing you can do is to open up the lines of communication between you and your family members. Next, research and experiment with the many stress management tips and techniques that are available, especially on the internet. With just a little bit of effort you can avoid falling victim to the effects of family stress and anxiety.