Britain in the grip of a stress epidemic because of 'always on' culture, survey finds
British adults are suffering a stress "epidemic" because of the "always on" workplace culture, a survey has found.
Pressure at work, financial worries and concerns about health all contribute to the culture of stress, the new report warns.
Four out of five adults feel stressed during a typical week, while almost one in 10 were stressed all the time, a survey of 4,000 people by insurance giant Axa found.
Workplace stress was linked to the "always on" culture, with most people taking calls or checking emails in the evenings and at weekends.
More than two out of three were worried about their salary prospects, while almost as many were concerned about paying household bills.
At a glance | What is stress?
Men were more likely to be stressed about work, the study revealed. Many of those questioned said they watch TV, listen to music, read a book, exercise or drink alcohol to help combat stress.
Cardiff was said to be the most stressed city, followed by Belfast, Sheffield, London and Leeds, while people were least stressed in Brighton, Newcastle, Liverpool, Cambridge, Birmingham and Leicester.
Dr Mark Winwood, of Axa, said: "These findings illustrate the worrying scale of the UK's stress epidemic, occurring both in the workplace and at home, impacting people up and down the country.
"As well as work and finances, health seems to be a concern for a large number of Brits. People are not only worried about their own well-being but also the general health of their loved ones.
"It is encouraging to see a third of people exercising as a way to combat their stress, which is obviously a much healthier way of unwinding than smoking or drinking. Physical activity is proven to have a positive impact on mental health, even if it is just a walk around the block instead of a trip to the gym."
