Men and Women and Work-Related Stress

New research shows that women are more likely to be stressed by workplace relationships while men are more affected by change and workload.

Roger Rowland*’s study, conducted between 2003 and 2007, examined 907 people suffering from work-related stress. Clients were employed in both the private and public sector services, with 525 women (58%) and 382 men (42%). The author used clinical notes from the therapy sessions to identify each employee's primary reason for seeking psychological therapy.

His research shows that the sexes do not have the same triggers for workplace stress, and suggests that employers should approach them differently.

The research also suggests that women relish change but cannot get on with each other, while men do not care about each other but struggle to cope with change.

Primary Reasons for stress
	Female	Male
Change in job situation	35 (4%)	95 (25%)
Work relationships	220 (42%)	29 (8%)
Workload & related issues	105 (20%)	120 (32%)
Bullying/harassment	65 (12%)	26 (7%)
Organisational/ employment issues	19 (4%)	35 (9%)
Work conditions	10 (2%)	5 (1%)
Traumatic incidents	15 (3%)	25 (6%)
Violence/assault	5 (1%)	6 (2%)
Work-related health	26 (5%)	11 (3%)
Career issues	14 (3%)	15 (4%)
Formal proceedings	11 (2%)	15 (4%)

*Roger Rowlands, is a therapist in the NHS Primary Care Mental Health Services, Occupational Health (Capita Health Solutions), and works for a number of employee assistance programme providers. He is also a part-time senior lecturer in mental health at the University of Central Lancashire

(this information is taken from an article that appeared in Personnel Today, 1 September 2008, having first appeared in Occupational Health magazine)

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