Older Workers Report Lower Levels of Work-Related Stress

A study conducted by the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research (ISR) finds that older workers generally report low levels of work-related stress. ISR researcher Gwenith Fisher and her colleagues presented the results of their research at the annual meeting of the Gerontological Society of America. Based on 2006 data from 1,544 participants, the study examined the prevalence of different kinds of job stressors reported by participants between the ages of 53 and 85.

Just over half agreed or strongly agreed that they have competing demands being made on them at work, and 47 percent agreed that time pressures are a source of job stress.

Only 19 percent of older workers indicated that they have poor job security, however. "Given what we know about the extent of age discrimination at work and the current economic climate regarding unemployment, this is a surprisingly low number," said Fisher.

For older and younger workers facing work-related stress, Fisher recommended a few basic guidelines:

• taking good care of oneself--getting enough sleep and regular physical exercise; and
• engaging in active time management--keeping track of tasks and set priorities and establishing clear boundaries in order to set aside some time that isn't available for any work.

Source: University of Michigan News Release (November 19, 2007)