It has never been done before and the first-ever historical comparison of stress levels across the US have given researchers data that many of us have already suspected for years. We are a lot more stressed out today that we were 25 years ago.

Carnegie Mellon University analyzed data from more than 6,300 people between 1983 and 2009, finding a 10 to 30 percent increase in stress in almost every demographic category. Specifically, stress went up 18 percent for women and 24 percent for men.

Lower income women and people with less education are more likely to be stressed, the study also found that white, middle aged men with college degrees were most affected by stress.

But there is a silver lining: the older we get, the less stressed we tend to be — perhaps because with experience, we learn what’s really worth worrying about.

More From Cars 108