At least 16% percent of Filipino adults said they cope with stress through prayer or spiritual activities, making it the most common way to manage stress, according to a latest survey published by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).
This is followed by resting or sleeping at 14% and going out or taking leisure trips at 11%.
Those are the top three coping methods commonly used by individuals who experience daily stress, as well as those facing significant stress related to their financial situation, health, job or school, and family.
Praying as a coping mechanism is particularly pronounced among women, with 20% practicing this compared to 15% of men.
By region, the tendency to pray for stress relief is more pronounced in Balance Luzon (19%) and Metro Manila (16%), followed by Mindanao (15%) and the Visayas (10%).
In Mindanao, 19% of respondents cope with stress by resting or sleeping, while 11% report using positive thinking as a strategy. In the Visayas, 15% cope by resting or sleeping, and 11% do so by going out.
The SWS also noted that outside the top three, 7% of respondents use positive thinking, 6% focus on work or school, and 6% resort to ignoring or forgetting about their problems. Additionally, 5% cope with stress by spending time with family, and another 5% by exercising or going for a walk.
The nationwide survey was conducted from September 24 to 30, with 1,500 respondents aged 18 and above, and has a margin of error of ±3% for national percentages.
