A poll by AMP Capital Shopping Centres shows Kiwis are becoming increasingly stressed at Christmas time under the pressure of the busy shopping period.

More than 450 people in the Tauranga area were surveyed by the business that owns Bayfair Shopping Centre.

Results show stress levels are on the rise with 23 per cent of people surveyed saying they are more stressed now than they were at the same time last year.

The rise dates back further though with the percentage increase in number of people stressed by Christmas from 2007 to 2009 just seven per cent.

AMPCSC senior marketing manager Desiree Clark says while this is a significant increase, Christmas is not all doom and gloom.

'Kiwis are feeling the pinch, but we seem to be in good shape by global standards,” says Desiree.

'It is shaping up to be a more prudent Christmas, but not a dark season at all.”

Eighty-eight per cent of people agreed that crowds in shopping areas was the number one cause of Christmas stress, followed closely by traffic and parking.

In a battle of the sexes, women were significantly more stressed and big-spenders during the Christmas period.

The survey indicated that women were stressed about financial pressure, post-Christmas bills, what gifts to buy for people and weight gain over the holiday period.

Men were mainly stressed about last minute Christmas Eve shopping.