WASHINGTON: Psychological stress tends to lower productivity and
performance among workers, says a new study.
"There is a large economic cost and a human cost," said Debra Lerner, director
of the Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies at Tufts
Medical Centre, who led the study.
Depression has a greater effect on attendance and productivity than the "vast
majority" of other health conditions with the exception of musculoskeletal
problems and insomnia, said Ronald Kessler, professor in health care at Harvard
Medical School.
Researchers screened 14,268 adult employees and ultimately compared 286
depressed workers to 193 who were not depressed. They recruited participants
between 2001 and 2003 from doctors' offices.
"They're often very fatigued and have motivational issues. They also may have
difficulty handling the pacing of work, managing a routine, performing physical
job tasks and managing their usual workload," said Lerner.
The findings suggest that there is a link between productivity and an employee's
ability to control his or her work, according to a Tufts university release.
"The workplace does play an important part," Lerner said.
The study is slated for publication in the January/February issue of the
American Journal of Health Promotion.
Source : The Economic Times
