Work Stress Assessment

We spend a large chunk of our waking lives working, so it makes sense that our work environments have a big effect on our overall mental health. Use this tool to assess how your work impacts your wellbeing.

Most people of working age spend a great deal of their time at work – so it makes sense that our quality of life, mental health, and physical and emotional wellbeing are heavily shaped by where we work and what we do.[1] Our relationships with our coworkers and supervisors, physical working environment, job security, sense of purpose and achievement, and workplace culture can all have positive or negative impacts on our day-to-day lives. 

Studies have found strong correlations between depressive symptoms and work-related problems, and have also found there is “circular causality” here – if your job is causing you stress, you’re more likely to develop depressive symptoms, and conversely, if you are suffering from depression or other mental health challenges, it’ll be more difficult to find enjoyment or fulfillment in your work.[1]

Evolving work environments, particularly in advanced economies, have led to a decline in complaints related to exposure to toxic substances, heat, cold and noise, and other physical hazards.[2] Simultaneously, though, employment has become increasingly precarious, and fewer workers are covered by protections offered by employment standards legislation, trade unions, or secure contracts. It’s common for younger people in particular to be working multiple insecure jobs that aren’t necessarily in their chosen field, just to make ends meet.[3]

Making decisions about your career, income, or what jobs to take or apply for can be both stressful and exciting. An important first step is to assess what relationship exists between your job now and your mental health.

The self-assessment below will give you an overall score, and should also help you to identify any areas of concern from five key domains. After completing the survey, we’ll offer some specific advice based on your responses.

Disclaimer

This assessment is based on the Psychological Inventory of Financial Scarcity (PIFS), a psychometrically-validated tool that is used in clinical and research settings to assess the psychological impact of real and perceived financial scarcity. While this is a metric used by doctors and mental health professionals to assist with diagnoses and as a part of health assessments, this survey should not be used on its own as a self-diagnosis. The advice given here is based on your responses to survey questions, but as we do not know the details of your financial or social situation, you should act on it only in accordance with your own needs and abilities.

References

  1. Cummins, R. A. (2000). Personal income and subjective well-being: a review. Journal of Happiness Studies, 1, 133-158.
  2. Sargent-Cox, K., Butterworth, P., & Anstey, K. J. (2011). The global financial crisis and psychological health in a sample of Australian older adults: A longitudinal study. Social Science & Medicine, 73(7), 1105–1112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.06.063
  3. van der Velden, Peter G., Contino, C., Muffels, R., Verheijen, M. S., & Das, M. (2023). The impact of pre- and post-trauma financial problems on posttraumatic stress symptoms, anxiety and depression symptoms, and emotional support: A prospective population-based comparative study. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 96, 102714-102714. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2023.102714
  4. Evans, G. W., & Cassells, R. C. (2014). Childhood poverty, cumulative risk exposure, and mental health in emerging adults. Clinical Psychological Science, 2(3), 287-296. https://doi.org/10.1177/2167702613501496