Work Stress and Health Problems

Problems at work are more strongly associated with health complaints than are any other life stressor rating, higher than even financial problems or family problems ⁽⁹⁾. Researchers have found evidence that job stress increases an individual’s risk for:

• cardiovascular disease ⁽¹⁰⁾,
• metabolic syndrome ⁽¹¹⁾,
• back and upper-extremity musculoskeletal disorders ⁽¹²⁾,
• sleep problems ⁽¹³⁾, and
• impaired immune function ⁽¹⁴⁾.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has recognized stress at work to be one of the United States’ greatest health and safety problems ⁽¹⁵⁾.

• Health care expenditures are nearly 50% greater for workers who report high levels of stress and 150% higher for workers who report high levels of stress and depression ⁽¹⁶⁾.
• People in the United States who experience debilitating effects from stress and anxiety have more time lost from work than the time lost by workers recovering from all other nonfatal injuries or illnesses ⁽¹⁷⁾.

Continue reading? You are not alone »