Americans are sad three days a month

Down in the dumps? Americans reported spending an average of three days a month feeling “sad, blue or depressed,” according to a government survey released Wednesday.

The survey also found that the more days a month people were sad, the more likely they were to take risks such as going on a drinking binge or not wearing seat belts.

Women reported feeling blue 3.5 days a month - about a whole day more than the men reported.

Young adults felt the worst, with 18- and 19-year-olds saying they were sad an average of 3.6 days a month.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveyed 166,000 adults in 38 states by telephone between 1995 and 2000.

Provided by ArmMed Media
Revision date: July 6, 2011
Last revised: by Sebastian Scheller, MD, ScD