Women more likely to be affected by work-related stress, according to new research

Women in Britain have higher levels of work-related stress than men, according to a new report.

Research by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), a UK watchdog for work-related health, safety and illness, found that between 2013 and 2016, there were 1820 cases of work-related stress among women – per 100,000 workers.

The figures were even higher within certain age groups, with 2250 cases among women aged 35-44 and 2170 among women in the 45-54 age group.

This compares with 1230 cases of work-related stress across all genders, industries and work groups, and 1190 cases among men, the Work-Related Stress, Anxiety And Depression Statistics In Great Britain 2016 report revealed.

The report said the higher levels of work-related stress among women “is likely to be a product of the proportion of females in the public services and vocational occupations such as teaching and nursing, and cultural differences in attitudes and beliefs between males and females around the subject of stress”.

Sectors with higher than average incidents of work-related stress include public administration and defence with 2030 cases; health and human services with 2020 cases and education, with 1780 cases.

Professions with high rates of work-related stress include nurses and midwives, with 3010 cases; teachers with 2530 cases; and welfare workers with 4990 cases.

Workplace stress was found to be more commonplace among those working for larger companies with 1710 cases in companies with more than 250 employees, compared to 990 cases in business with 50 or fewer staff.

Leading causes of workplace stress include a heavy workload, tight deadlines, too much pressure or responsibility, poor interpersonal relationships and changes at work.