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The Individual and Organizational Consequences of Stress, Anxiety, and Depression in the Workplace: A Case Study

Publication: Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
2 January 2007

Abstract

This study examines the business case for well-being interventions in the workplace by examining the individual and organizational outcomes of stress, anxiety, and depression. A case study of 2,507 employees from a financial services firm provided data to examine the firm-specific relations between psychological distress and outcome variables. Canonical correlation analyses found that burnout, negative productivity, life satisfaction (-), and physical health (-) were all related to stress, anxiety, and depression. More specifically, stress and depression showed the strongest positive associations with burnout and negative productivity. The results suggest that a strong business case can be made for trying to alleviate psychological problems in the workplace by focusing attention on the costs associated with burnout and reduced productivity. We argue that tailored business-case rationales are needed at the firm level in order to advance meaningful and sustained intervention strategies.

Résumé

Cette étude présente une analyse de rentabilisation des interventions de bien-être au travail en examinant le stress, l'anxiété et la dépression et leurs conséquences pour l'individu et l'organisation. Une étude de cas de 2 507 employés et employées d'une compagnie offrant des services financiers a fourni des données pour examiner les rapports au niveau organisationnel entre la détresse psychologique et divers résultats. Les analyses de corrélation canonique ont révélé que l'épuisement professionnel, la productivité négative, la satisfaction de vie (-) et la santé physique (-) étaient reliés au stress, á l'anxiété et à la dépression. Plus spécifiquement, le stress et la dépression ont démontré les associations positives les plus importantes avec l'épuisement professionnel et la productivité négative. En mettant en évidence les coûts liés à l'épuisement professionnel et à la productivité négative, l'analyse suggère que des interventions pour réduire les problèmes psychologiques pourraient devenir rentables. Nous maintenons qu'un exposé raisonné lié à la rentabilisation au niveau organisationnel est nécessaire afin d'avancer des stratégies d'intervention significatives et soutenues.

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Published In

cover image Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
Volume 25Number 2September 2006
Pages: 143 - 157

History

Version of record online: 2 January 2007

Authors

Affiliations

Steven A. Murphy
Eric Sprott School of Business, Carleton University, Ottawa
Linda Duxbury
Eric Sprott School of Business, Carleton University, Ottawa
Christopher Higgins
Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario, London

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