Americans may not have been as happy as they wanted to be in 2006, according to a survey by Insight Express for About.com Health (http://health.about.com). Eighty percent of respondents see the New Year as an opportunity to improve their happiness and 97 percent said that health, followed by family (95 percent) were the most important factors to becoming more satisfied in the New Year.

"While Americans are still clearly focused on typical resolutions, such as losing weight or quitting smoking, we've found that getting into better shape mentally is just as important as getting into better shape physically," said Dr. Kate Grossman, medical director, About.com Health.

When identifying priorities for 2007, focusing on personal relationships was also top-of-mind for respondents. Seventy-four percent said they would like to spend more quality time with family and friends. Those under the age of 45 are more likely to make a resolution aimed at improving personal relationships (67 percent) versus their older counterparts (48 percent).

Americans are also looking for ways to better manage stress in 2007. Fifty-eight percent of those interviewed said they are seeking ways to reduce overall stress in the New Year; 64 percent want to achieve greater control of their lives; and 61 percent would like to become better at not sweating the little things that go wrong on a daily basis. Generally, women feel more stressed than men - more than half (55 percent) of women reported feeling stressed on a daily basis compared to 34 percent of men. Generally, more women (66 percent) than men (55 percent) expressed that they would like to focus less on minor setbacks, 66 percent and 55 percent, respectively.

Body image is also top-of-mind for those looking to make a New Year's resolution. Sixty-one percent said they would like to be more comfortable with their body image. Those over the age of 45 are more likely (63 percent) than their younger counterparts (51 percent) to want to find a way to accept their body as is. Fifty-seven percent of those over the age of 45 would like to stop worrying about their weight and instead focus on their general health.

"Attitudes tend to shift dramatically based on gender and age," added Dr. Grossman. "For example, those over the age of 45 are more interested in coming to terms with who they are versus their younger counterparts. Those under the age of 45 are likelier to want to make more drastic life-changes in order to become happier."

Who Provides Inspiration For Resolutions?

When asked who they would turn to for help in keeping a resolution, respondents cited a spouse/partner (42 percent) and a friend (25 percent). In addition, mom and dad are identified as the individuals who best exemplify goal-worthy qualities (29 percent and 22 percent, respectively), followed by Oprah Winfrey (13 percent).

The online survey of 500 male and female adults (age 18 years and over) was conducted by Insight Express for About.com Health in December 2006. About.com Health, which consistently ranks as a top health channel according to Nielsen//NetRatings, has over 70 health Guides who cover a range of topics from asthma to pediatrics and stroke.

About About.com
Founded in 1996, About.com is a leading online source for original consumer information and advice and was acquired in March 2005 by The New York Times Company (NYSE: NYT), a media company with 2005 revenues of $3.4 billion. The New York Times Company includes The New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, The Boston Globe, 15 other daily newspapers, nine network-affiliated television stations, two New York City radio stations and 35 Web sites, including NYTimes.com and Boston.com. The Company's core purpose is to enhance society by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news, information and entertainment.