LIFE IS HARD and will become even more so, a 20-year ongoing global survey has revealed.
In 1989, a person faced an average of seven problems a day. In 1996, it was 13. Today the average is 27. Some examples are not having enough time to study, being picked on by a teacher, and having an argument with your parents.
Paul Stoltz, who grabbed the world's attention in 1997 with his book on 'adversity quotient' (AQ) in 1997, conducted the survey. The findings point to the increasing importance of AQ - what it takes to get things done in difficult times.
Dr Stoltz, who is also the president of a California-based consulting firm, was recently in town to discuss possibilities of working with local academics on similar research. He said people were facing an increasing number of difficulties, and the nature of these difficulties was changing.
Nowadays 'the 27 problems are a swamp of mosquitoes'.
'They are disturbing, annoying and sucking your blood all day long,' Dr Stoltz said.