Employees most invested in their jobs ‘have highest stress levels’

WASHINGTON - A new study by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) has suggested that a workplace’s key employees may be at the greatest risk of experiencing high levels of work stress.

In a survey of 2,737 workers, 18 per cent reported that their job was “highly stressful.”

The odds of having high stress were greater if workers were managers or professionals, if they thought their poor job performance could negatively affect others, or if they worked long or variable hours.

“The people who report high stress are the ones most invested in their jobs,” said Dr. Carolyn Dewa, Senior Scientist and Head of CAMH’s Work and Well-being Research and Evaluation Program.

The job characteristics associated with stress pointed to workers who were engaged and responsible. If workers felt their poor job performance could result in any physical injury, damage to company’s equipment or reputation, or a financial loss, they were twice as likely to report high stress.

Having a worksite remote from their home, or having to entertain or travel for their jobs also increased the odds of being stressed. So did variable hours such as being on call, doing shift work or having a compressed work week.

Chronic stress can lead to burnout, and can worsen existing mental health problems or physical disability.

The study has been published in International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. (ANI)