More stress at home than at work

Study: Stress is higher at home than in the office

07/02/2014

Private life is more stressful for many people than the job. This was the result of a US study in which the stress load of 122 subjects was examined at different times. The conclusion of the researchers: Do not step in the job shorter, but provide more relaxation at home. Women, in particular, are often very stressed in their private lives, such as the newspaper's online edition „Frankfurter Rundschau“ reported.

At home, the stress factor is greatest
A research team led by Professor Sarah Damaske of Pennsylvania State University refuted a widespread prejudice with her latest study: It is not at work that most people feel the greatest stress, but at home. „At home, most of us believe, the place where we recover from work“, quotes the newspaper Damaske. But the study leaves the trusted home in a completely different light.

For their investigation, in the journal „Social Sciences & Medicine“ The researchers from 122 subjects took saliva samples six times a day to determine the cortisol level. Coritsol is a hormone that is released especially during stress. On the basis of this value, the scientists concluded on the emotional burden of the subjects. As it turned out, the concentration of the „Stress Hormone“ always particularly high when the study participants were at home. Thus, the job is more relaxed for many people than their private lives. This result was confirmed in women and men. Also, the level of employment and education did not matter, according to the newspaper's online edition.

Asked by the researchers if they felt happier at home or at work, most men said they were happier at home, while women were more likely to call the workplace.

Especially women are less stressed in the workplace than at home
„We were surprised that even parents - both fathers and mothers - had a lower stress level at work than at home“, commented Damaske on the website of the „Council on Contemporary Families“ the study.

The reason for the high level of stress on women at home, according to researchers, is that they are still doing more household and child-raising tasks than men. In addition, their efforts were often not perceived or recognized. „Paid work is more appreciated by society“, said the scientist the Wall Street Journal. „Household work is monotonous and not very satisfying. "And she never stops because there is always something to do. „You can not pause and say to your toddler 'Mommy needs a break'.“

According to Damaske, the study results underline older research results. Professionals are therefore physically and mentally healthier than people who did not work. And mothers working full-time in their twenties and thirties had better mental and physical health at the age of 45 than undocumented mothers or working part-time.

How can stress be reduced at home??
„Our findings suggest that in the long term, it may not be a good idea to advise working people to cut back on their jobs to resolve the conflicts between their family and work lives“, Damaske. Instead, employers would need to become more flexible in working hours and places.

„Make your home a little like your job“, advises psychologist Richard Levak in the Wall Street Journal. These include, among other things, the setting of fixed limits. Similar to the office, concerns that did not fall within their own area of ​​responsibility could be dealt with by one „No“ to be warded off. In addition, mothers should make it clear to their children that they need to be on their own without interruption for a certain amount of time each day. „Everyone will try to get around this. They want your availability all the time, "explains Levak. „You have to be aware that the spouse or the children may feel rejected.“ The psychologist advises the family on the „little break“ by explaining when and how long the daily break should last. (Ag)