A survey which assessed Y2K knowledge, concern and preparation plus items addressing technological attitudes and demographic characteristics was administered to 1.071 adults in the urban Southern California area between February 1 and February 8, 1999, with the following demographic characteristics, indicating a good cross-section of this multi-cultural region of the United States (click here for demographic table).

Overview:

We have been studying people's reactions to technology for over 15 years. We have noted that as technology plays an ever-increasing role in our lives, we find ourselves feeling more and more frustrated, uncomfortable, and stressed. That experience is called TechnoStress. In our book, TechnoStress: Coping With Technology @Work @Home @Play, we describe how technology adds stress to our lives on an individual, group and societal basis. From our extensive studies, we identify seven areas of TechnoStress and offer easy-to-use techniques to overcome the stress so that technology stays a benefit and not a liability:

• Learning TechnoStress
• Boundary TechnoStress
• Time TechnoStress
• Communication TechnoStress
• Family TechnoStress
• Workplace TechnoStress
• Societal TechnoStress

For current research reports click here. For summaries and full text of publications, click here. For newspaper articles click here.

The entire issue surrounding the Year 2000 is the latest manifestation of Societal TechnoStress. Y2K is adding a tremendous amount of TechnoStress to people's lives. This survey provides a preliminary examination of those stresses. Additional follow-up surveys are planned for Fall 1999 and early Spring 2000 to track public attitudes toward the Y2K Issue.

Result Highlights:

• Most know little or nothing about Y2K:
  • 42% stated that they knew "a little" or "nothing at all" about the Y2K issue.
  • only 22% claimed to know "much" or "very much" about the issue.
• Most get their information from the media, particularly television:
  • 35% obtain most of their information about Y2K from television.
  • 28% from newspapers and magazines
  • 16% from friends and relatives.
  • very few gaining Y2K information from radio (7%) or the Internet (2%).
• Over half are concerned that government computers, banks, utilities, medical services and more will likely have Y2K problems:

  POTENTIAL TECHNOLOGY PROBLEM AREAS	Percentage of Sample Expressing Concern*
  Government Computers	60%
  Credit Cards	60%
  Bank Accounts	59%
  Personal Computers	59%
  Social Security Computers	56%
  Internal Revenue Service	55%
  Airlines	51%
  Medical Insurance	47%
  Electronic Mail	44%
  Hospitals	43%
  Medical Services	43%
  Pharmacies	40%
  Electrical Services	39%
  Fax Machines	38%
  Home Security Systems	38%
  Voice Mail Systems	36%
  Telephone Service	36%
  Water Utility Service	35%
  Food Supply	33%
  Entertainment Technology	24%
  Kitchen Appliances	21%
  *Percentages are based on people who expressed a "fair amount of concern"," much concern" or "very much concern"

• People are most concerned about problems with Governement Computers, Financial Systems, followed by Airlines, Medical Services and Supplies, Home Technology and Home Appliances.
• Many people are already certain that they will have extra food and cash on hand when the clock turns January 1, 2000:
  • 34% are certain they will have extra cash and another 38% are considering it.
  • 32% are certain they will have extra food and another 31% are thinking about it.
• There were several demographic differences in concern about the Y2K crisis:
  • Younger adults fear more Y2K problems.
  • People who are married know more about the Y2K issue.
  • Eager Adopters of technology know more about Y2K, but the Hesitant "Prove Its" and Resisters are more concerned about potential problems. The percentages of Eager Adopters (24%), Hesitant "Prove Its" (62%) and Resisters (14%) matched prior studies of reactions to technology with three-fourths of the population being either hesistant or resistant toward technology.
  • Eager Adopters are more certain that they will have an extra food supply.
  • Both Eager Adopters and Resisters are most likely to have extra cash on hand.
  • Overall, younger, amrried people with more knowledge of Y2K but less understanding of Cyberspace have more concern about potential Y2K problems.

[NOTE: For further information about Eager Adopters, Hesitant "Prove-Its" and Resisters click here]

RECOMMENDATIONS:

On an individual level:

1. Recognize that you are in control of your technology, not the other way around.
2. Be proactive and take control of technology and its role in your life.
3. Make a list of all technology in your home and at work. Contact the manufacturer and get their word (in writing or off their website) that their product is Y2K compliant.
4. Keep copies of bills from any services for whom you anticipate problems. Our recommendation is to keep a notebook with dividers for each service and place copies of statements, bills, correspondence, website declarations, etc. That way you have clear past performance records to compare to any future statements or bills in question.
5. Prepare, don't panic. Prepare just as you would for an earthquake, hurricane, winter storm or any other natural disaster. Remember, there may not be a problem.
6. Make your plans and then let go of the concern and worry. Once people have compiled a natural disaster survival kit, they are able to push their concerns about how they will fare during and after the disaster out of their minds. Help yourself prepare for potential Y2K problems and you will feel relieved, not scared.


On a Societal Basis:

1. Help others learn about potential Y2K problems and assist them with their Y2K Plan.
2. Filter the media. As the year progresses, you will hear and see an increasing amount of sensationalized media proclaiming the potential disasters that will strike on January 1, 2000. Read each with an eye toward how much you feel a particular problem might affect your life and then examine your plan to see if you are adequately prepared.

General Recommendations:

Read our book TechnoStress: Coping With Technology @Work @Home @Play. We teach you how to recognize and eliminate the TechnoStress in your personal life, your communication, your family interactions, your workplace environment and your surrounding community and society. Heed our advice and become TechnoStress-Free. Let's all have a successful transition into the new millennium.

Read more about our research on a potential International Y2K Crisis

Return to TechnoStress Home Page

More information on related topics can be found at either Dr. Weil's or Dr. Rosen's web sites.

E-mail Dr. Weil or Dr. Rosen.