Stress at work has become an important issue for men as it has a negative effect on health, performance and absenteeism. The age of information has brought about rapid change in work practices, with a quick voicemail, email, fax, pager or mobile phone message shifting the focus of your work several times a day.
Increasing pressures from traffic to and from work, computers, long working hours, conflicts with co-workers, deadlines and the increasing threat of redundancy are just a few of the sources of workplace stress. For many men, work is closely tied to their identity and self-esteem, and this can be undermined by workplace stress.
Workplace stress is generally a combination of high demands with a low level of control over the changes in your job. While some stress is normal, too much stress can have a negative effect on not just your work, but can also put a strain on your relationships with family and friends.
A 14 year study published in 2006 of more than 10,000 civil servants found that prolonged exposure to work stress may contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome (a combination of medical problems that increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes).
You are thought to have metabolic syndrome if you are overweight with any of the two following factors: raised blood pressure, high blood triglycerides, low levels of high density lipoproteins (HDL or the ‘good’ cholesterol) and impaired fasting glucose (elevated blood glucose levels).
Men with chronic work stress had nearly double the odds of developing metabolic syndrome compared to those with no exposure to work stress. The researchers also found that the association between metabolic syndrome and exposure to health damaging behaviours was stronger among men than women, suggesting that men suffer more serious health effects when they experience workplace stress.
Many of your body’s negative responses to stress can be offset with positive responses from healthy lifestyle behaviours. While the most effective way to fight stress will vary for each individual, here are some helpful tips:
There are a number of lifestyle solutions you can adopt to counteract workplace stress, such as regular exercise, getting enough sleep, eating well, and learning time and stress management techniques.
References available on request