Risky Choices Revealed: The Top 100 Dilemmas Stressing People Out

In a groundbreaking study, researchers in Switzerland have uncovered the 100 most common real-life dilemmas people grapple with on a daily basis. The study, conducted in 2025, surveyed over 4,000 Swiss adults to understand the sources of modern anxiety.

The findings reveal that work-related decisions, such as whether to change jobs or accept a new position, are the most prevalent risks people face, accounting for nearly a third of the reported choices. Health-related decisions, including whether to undergo surgery or get vaccinated, were the second most common, followed by financial concerns.

Interestingly, the study found that the types of risks people worry about shift significantly throughout their lives. For older populations, particularly women over 60, health-related choices became just as prevalent as work-related ones. This highlights the evolving nature of the challenges people face as they age.

The study also challenged the notion of people being inherently "risk-takers" or "risk-averse," finding that an individual's willingness to take risks can vary dramatically depending on the category of the decision. For example, a person may be adventurous in their recreational activities but highly conservative when it comes to their health.

As the world continues to grapple with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the researchers found that the overall distribution of risks across different categories remained largely stable, indicating that the fundamental sources of modern anxiety have not been significantly disrupted by global crises.