CHICAGO -- Feeling stressed, unable to cope? Perhaps you should turn off your television.

According to a new study, fans of the "Oprah Winfrey Show" have higher stress levels than those who are not fans. According to the study, 5 percent of the country's adult population, or 9 million people, said they feel so much stress that they can no longer cope. Half of those said they were fans of the show.

SURVEY Do you watch Oprah? Yes, and I am stressed out. Yes, but I'm not overly stressed. No, and I'm still stressed out. No, and I'm not overly stressed. Results  |  Disclaimer

The study was commissioned by Hale Dwoskin, author of "The Sedona Method", which offers readers methods to relieve anxiety in preparation for the release of his book, according to a news release announcing the study. The study, conducted via a random telephone survey of 1,015 households, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent.

"Either watching 'Oprah' leads to anxiety, or severely stressed Americans are drawn to her show to look for solutions," said Dwoskin in the release. "However, the most likely conclusion we can make is that people who seek out Oprah's life-affirming TV are probably just more aware, open and honest with their emotions."

The study also found that 76 percent of fans said they wished their lives were calmer, almost 20 percent higher than non-fans. Fans of the show were also twice as likely as non-fans to say that they were unable to cope with the stress in their lives.