Do you frequently visit your doctor? According to a recent study published by Concordia University, workplace stress results in increased visits to health care professionals. A closer look at the connection between prescriptions, the workplace and this 21st century ailment.
A new study by Concordia University economists has found that increased job stress causes workers to increasingly seek help from health professionals for physical, mental and emotional ailments linked to job stress.
The study’s conclusions are based on nationally representative data from the Canadian National Population Health Survey (NPHS) gathered from 2000 to 2008, which analyze the physical condition of workers for seven categories of occupations. Its findings are unequivocal—the number of visits to health care professionals by 18 to 65-year-old workers in high stress jobs is up 26%, vs. colleagues in lower stress jobs. This is a significant gap, and a sign that stress clearly has consequences.
Stress can be costly. . .
As co-author Mesbah Sharaf—a PhD candidate in the Concordia Department of Economics— says, “There is medical evidence that stress can adversely affect an individual’s immune system, thereby increasing the risk of disease. Numerous studies have linked stress to back pain, colorectal cancer, infectious disease, heart problems, headaches and diabetes. Job stress may also heighten risky behaviours such as smoking, drug and alcohol abuse, discourage healthy behaviours such as physical activity, proper diet and increase consumption of fatty and sweet foods.”
The consequences of too much stress at work are also economic, factoring in the cost for each consultation and prescription.
Co-author Sunday Azagba, also a PhD candidate in the Concordia Department of Economics, explains: “Previous research has found that aging populations and prescription drugs increase the price of health care. Yet few studies have so far correlated workplace stress rates on health care costs.”
Health care spending in Canada represented 10.1% of gross domestic product in 2007, up from just over 7% in 1980. The solution? “Improving stressful working conditions and educating workers on stress-coping mechanisms could help to reduce health care costs,” suggests Azagba.Such a strategy could also foster other economic advantages, such as increased productivity, and reduced absenteeism and turnover. Combating stress—a virtuous circle.