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A September SWS survey reveals that 34% of Filipinos say they feel stressed ‘frequently’ in their daily lives, citing these major stressors

MANILA, Philippines – If there’s one thing everybody experiences, it’s stress.

Defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), stress is “a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation.” Stress is a natural human response that can be helpful to a degree, pushing us to act on challenges or respond to life’s circumstances.

However, too much stress can be detrimental to both our mind and body, leading to physical and mental health problems in the future.

For World Mental Health Month, the results of a Social Weather Station (SWS) survey highlights how stress has been impacting Filipinos in their daily life. Amid today’s tumultuous political and economic landscape, how are Filipinos faring psychologically and mentally?

Survey says…

According to a SWS survey conducted from September 24 to 30, and released on October 10 for World Mental Health Day, 34% of Filipinos say they feel stressed “frequently” in daily life. There were 1,500 respondents for the survey, Filipino adults aged 18 and above nationwide.

This is a significant increase from December 2019, when only 27% reported frequent stress, indicating an upward trend.

In September 2025, 32% said they experience stress sometimes, 30% rarely, and 4% never.

Compared to the December 2019 survey, those experiencing stress sometimes fell by 5 points (from 37%), and those who rarely experience it dropped by four points (from 34%). Those who “never” experience stress remained almost the same (from 2% to 4%).

Sources of stress

Various factors can contribute to stress, but for the majority of Filipinos (53%), the biggest factor is one’s financial situation, according to the SWS survey.

It’s no surprise, since inflation in the country has been rising again — in September, it went up 1.7%, up from 1.5 % in August, amid higher fuel and vegetable prices.

Other major stressors of Filipinos include one’s health (42%), followed by one’s school or job performance (39%), and one’s family situation (38%).

The SWS survey said that these numbers offer “valuable insight into how different pressures affect daily life and overall mental well-being.”

Trying to handle stress on our own may become too daunting a task, so mental health professionals advise looking out for warning signs that you or a loved one may need professional guidance or support.

  • Significant changes in behavior, such as extreme anger outbursts or prolonged sadness
  • Withdrawal from friends, hobbies, or normal social activities
  • Neglecting grooming or personal hygiene
  • Confused thinking, inability to concentrate, or frequent lapses at work or school
  • Noticeable weight gain or loss, loss of appetite, or overeating
  • Thoughts or talk of harming oneself or others, whether active (“I want to end my life”) or passive (“I don’t want to wake up tomorrow”)

Survey methodology

The Third Quarter 2025 Social Weather Survey was conducted from samples of 300 respondents from Metro Manila, 600 from Luzon (areas outside the capital), and 300 each from the Visayas and Mindanao.

The survey results have a ±3% margin of error for national figures, ±4% for Luzon, and ±6% for Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao, according to SWS.

“The area estimates were weighted by the Philippine Statistics Authority medium-population projections for 2025 to obtain the national estimates,” SWS added. They also said that the survey was non-commissioned or conducted on SWS’ own initiative and released as a public service. – Rappler.com