The damaging effects of stress on work and the men who do it has been demonstrated once again in a UK survey of 2,300 men.
It has heightened concerns about the traditional role of men as the main breadwinner and their increasing job dissatisfaction, which is at the root of much of the stress.
The poll found 96% of men are experiencing from work-based stress with many turning to alcohol to try and blot out their problems.
Many felt that their quality of life was being damaged with 10% stating that they were losing interest in their families and friends.
Lancaster University stress expert Professor Cary Cooper told the researchers from a pahrmaceutical company: ‘Stress in the workplace is a serious problem and something needs to be done about it. The fact that one in six men have been to their doctors regarding their stress levels highlights how serious this problem is.’
Cooper regards the long working hours culture to be particularly problematic for men's health.
He said: ‘People in the UK have the longest working hours in Europe. Employees are more autocratically managed and as a result are intrinsically more insecure. These changing patterns of work seem to be having their negative effect on men's health.
‘Employers need to end the long hours culture, begin to manage people by reward and praise and stop constantly fault-finding,' he said, calling for a better work-life balance for men and women.
Cooper warned that if employers don't get it right then national productivity could be adversely affected.
Some professions are more likely to induce stress than others. Topping the scale, 38% of banking professionals report severe stress.
