When asked, "In general, how often do you experience stress in your daily life?" just 15 percent of Mexicans answered "frequently" - a far lower stress level than in the other countries polled - Australia, Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, South Korea and the United States.

And when asked how often they feel their lives are beyond their control, Mexicans were the least likely, at 21 percent, to say "never."

But that is not to say Mexicans do not have worries. Almost four in 10, 38 percent, blame finances as their biggest source of stress.

Several people interviewed in Mexico City pointed to the economy as the root cause of stress.

The economy may be facing its fastest expansion in six years with 4.8 percent projected growth, but many Mexicans, especially in more rural areas, continue to seek out better-paying jobs in the United States. About 50 million Mexicans live in poverty.

"My husband doesn´t want to give me money, and I have to find ways to survive on my own ... so I sell perfumes, makeup. I sell anything I am able to sell," said Natividad Márquez, 52.

Train conductor Jesús Ayala, 18, is married and has two children. He said he finds it difficult to juggle his need to provide for his family with his desire to pursue the higher education he knows is necessary to gain better-paying work.

"There are things you can control and things you cannot control," Ayala said.

While they quickly pointed to finances, Mexicans were also the least likely, at 20 percent, to blame their jobs for their biggest source of stress.

Or their family life. Just 12 percent found that most to blame.

Javier Juan, 35, a construction worker, said he experiences stress "almost never." The things that do bother him are the well-being of his family members, especially his wife and children.

"Their health and how I´m going to obtain money to cure them is the biggest worry, more then anything else," Juan said.

Oscar Quintana, 81, said he never feels stressed out, probably because of the job he held most of his life as a member of the Mexican Air Force.

In a country with uncertainties, including a passionately contested recent presidential election that led to fist fights, marches and two candidates claiming victory, stability is valued. "I am a happy man," Quintana said. "Maybe it was a good life because it was a military life for so many years."

The poll of 1,000 people conducted face to face in Mexico on Nov. 25-26 had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Associated Press writer Kathleen Miller in Mexico City contributed to this story.