Job strain is a form ofpsychosocial stress that occurs in the workplace. One of the most common forms of stress, it is characterized by a combination of low salaries, high demands, and low levels of control over things such as raises and paid time off.[1] Stresses at work can beeustress, a positive type of stress, or distress, a negative type of stress.[2] Job strain in the workplace has been proven to result in poorpsychological health, and eventually poor physical health. Job strain has been a recurring issue for years and affects men and women differently.[3]
Examples of positive causes of stress in the workplace include starting a new job and receiving a pay raise. Both of these situations improve performance.[2]
On the negative side, one cause of job strain is lowsalaries.[4] Low pay causes job strain due toliving expenses. Housing expenses are extremely high, which makes it difficult forminimum wage workers to afford housing. As the minimum wage increases, the cost of living increases as well.[5]
The second cause of job strain comes from excessiveworkloads. Being exhausted from overworking is a common stressor in the workplace and can often lead to poor communication between coworkers.[6] A 2019 survey by Cartridge People identified workload as the main cause of occupational stress.[7]
A lack of support from employers and employees may also cause stress. Making decisions and participating is a way of support from employers and employees.[8]
Men and women react differently when exposed to work situations involving stress. In 2012, a survey taken by Canadian Community Health showed that women experience higher job strain than men, and also that women feel they have lower levels of control and yet experience more coworker support than men.[13] Because women have lower levels of control at work, they experience more mental health risks such as depression and anxiety. Men tend to suffer from physical risks such as heart disease from carrying higher roles at work.
A 2022 study by McKinsey & Company concluded that women are 41% more likely to be subjected to a toxicworkplace culture and that their risk ofburnout is elevated.[14][15]
A 2021WHO study concluded that working 55+ hours a week raises the risk of stroke by 35% and the risk of dying from heart conditions by 17%, when compared to a35-hour to40-hour work week.[16]
^Berkman, Lisa F.; Treder, Kathryn (2020), Theorell, Töres (ed.), "Work and Health",Handbook of Socioeconomic Determinants of Occupational Health: From Macro-level to Micro-level Evidence, Handbook Series in Occupational Health Sciences, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 53–70,doi:10.1007/978-3-030-31438-5_31,ISBN978-3-030-31438-5
^ab"Coping With Stress at Work".American Psychological Association. American Psychological Association. RetrievedNovember 3, 2019.
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