Work-Related Psychological Distress and Its Management: The Perspective of Employees in the Financial Industry Compared With Those in Human Services

J Occup Environ Med. 2019 Aug;61(8):e348-e353. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000001632.

Abstract

Objective: Investigate psychological distress and its link to stress management interventions in the financial industry (FI) in comparison to the human services (HS) sector.

Method: Observational study across participating organizations in FI (66) and HS (81). Web-based version of depression anxiety stress scales (21 questions) and eight questions related to stress prevention interventions adopted by employers.

Results: Indicated that FI workers are twice as likely as HS employees to present with stress and depression. Differences emerged on the availability of support at the workplace: FI workers reporting total lack of psychological support, although other forms of wellbeing promotion were more frequent. Close to 60% of individuals in the HS group reported no support (48% in the FI).

Conclusion: Workers in the FI industry have increased levels of workplace stress that could be possibly attributed to absence of prevention interventions at the workplace.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anxiety / diagnosis
  • Anxiety / epidemiology
  • Anxiety / therapy
  • Cost of Illness
  • Cyprus / epidemiology
  • Depression / diagnosis
  • Depression / epidemiology
  • Depression / therapy
  • Female
  • Financial Management
  • Firefighters / psychology
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Industry*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nurses / psychology
  • Occupational Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Occupational Diseases / psychology
  • Occupational Diseases / therapy*
  • Occupational Health Services*
  • Occupational Stress / prevention & control
  • Occupational Stress / psychology
  • Personnel, Hospital / psychology
  • Pilot Projects
  • Prevalence
  • Psychological Distress*
  • Risk Factors