Bad working conditions burden the psyche

Study: Poor working conditions place more strain on the psyche than unemployment

21.03.2011

The mental stress of a bad job is stronger than that of unemployment. Researchers at the National University of Australia in Canberra came to this conclusion as part of a comprehensive long-term study comparing the mental well-being of more than 7,000 adults with their job situation.

A bad job puts more strain on the mental health situation than persistent unemployment. In many cases, the negative effects of unemployment on the psyche have been scientifically proven. However, an Australian long-term study has shown that mental health suffers more from a poor job than from being unemployed.

Mental stress due to bad working conditions
Over a period of seven years, Australian National University scientists compared the mental health of more than 7,000 adults to their occupational situation. Researchers not only considered whether those affected were gainfully employed, but also paid particular attention to working conditions such as pay, job security, job requirements and workplace support. Overall, it has been shown that unemployed people were generally in worse mental condition than working study participants. But in particularly bad working conditions, the psychological stress is even greater than in case of persistent unemployment, emphasized the scientists of the Australian National University.

Psyche: Unemployment better than bad working conditions
The researchers found in their long-term study that while gaining employment usually improves the mental health of those affected, if they take on a badly felt job, the mental state often falls to a new low. A bad job puts even more strain on the psyche than unemployment, the scientists at the National University explained. Their analysis revealed that the mental condition of employees depends substantially on the quality of their job. Those who suffer from unsatisfactory working conditions were therefore often in much worse mental condition than unemployed study participants. The results of their study show how crucial good working conditions are for the psyche of employees, write the researchers of the National University in the current issue of the journal „Occupational and Environmental Health“.

Politics should take into account burdens of bad working conditions
According to the scientists based „the policy of 'main work' (...) on the view that every job is better than none because it enhances the economic as well as the personal well-being“. However, this assumption has disproved the results of the long-term study. „The psycho-social quality of work is a fundamental factor that must be taken into account when planning and implementing employment and social policies“, emphasized the researchers of the National University. In politics, however, it is not the mental well-being of those affected but rather the economic aspect of unemployment that is the focus of discussion. The fact that the psychological stress caused by poor working conditions in recent years has led to ever-increasing absenteeism due to mental illness and that this has brought considerable economic costs is still rather neglected.

Stress as the cause of mental stress
As one of the biggest mental stress at work, many employees feel the stress associated with their work. This can be caused not only by the performance pressure on the ground but also for example by problems with colleagues and the fear of losing a job. Those who suffer from particularly high levels of stress at work can try to counteract this with appropriate relaxation exercises such as yoga, autogenic training or tai chi. Also massage or acupuncture can serve the relaxation. If it is not possible to get a grip on the work stress, it is advisable to those affected to seek psychotherapeutic help or - as the result of the current study suggests - simply to resign. (Fp)

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Picture: Gerd Altmann