Researchers confirmed that there are many factors that contribute to work burnouts besides job stress.
The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Montreal and Concordia. The researchers noted that mental health at work has a direct impact on our home life. Experiencing stress at work can cause burnouts but it's not the only reason behind bad mental health. Other influencing factors include impossible deadlines, demanding bosses, abusive colleagues and unpaid overtime.
For the study, researchers surveyed 1,954 employees from 63 different organizations and showed that a multitude of issues contribute to mental health problems in the workforce. Through this survey, researchers were able to measure factors like parental status, household income, social network, gender, age, physical health and levels of self-esteem.
The study authors noted that mental health in workplaces also affects a person's day-to-day life. The researchers found that fewer mental health problems are experienced by those living with a partner, in households with young children, higher household incomes, less work-family conflicts and greater access to the support of a social network outside the workplace.
"This is a call to action," senior author Steve Harvey, professor of management and dean of Concordia's John Molson School of Business, said in a press statement. "Researchers need to expand their perspective so that they get a full picture of the complexity of factors that determine individuals' mental health."
"To maintain a truly healthy workforce, we need to look outside the office or home in simple terms to combat mental health issues in the workplace," added lead author Alain Marchand, professor at the University of Montreal's School of Industrial Relations.
Researchers also noted that support at work also reduced the number of mental health problems. This was also true among people who were recognized for their contribution at work and those that felt their jobs were secure. Previous studies have already established that lower levels of mental problems like depression result in a higher level of skill use.
The study was published online in the journal Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. The project was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Fonds de recherche du Québec - Santé.
