Mexico ranks as the country with the highest levels of work-related stress

Mexico has been ranked as the country with the highest level of work-related stress, according to a study by the Internet Association MX and OCC Mundial. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the aftermath of the disease, has led to increased levels of stress and anxiety among Mexican citizens.

The study 'Stress at work in Mexico' indicates that 60% of workers in Mexico have suffered from stress or anxiety at some point, while 23% suffer from it on a daily basis. The research found that 47% of those interviewed say they have suffered stress occasionally, triggered by specific situations in their lives; 30% say they have rarely suffered stress. 

"By segments, women are the people who suffer most from work-related stress, accounting for 65%, as well as the age group between 30 and 49 years, almost 70%," the report adds.

Symptomatology is common among those interviewed, who say that work-related stress manifests itself in headaches. Seventy-three per cent report anxiety and irritability, 65 per cent say they suffer from constant and long-lasting tiredness, while 55 per cent combine stress with anxiety. In addition, 44 per cent suffer from stomach aches, gastritis and other digestive complaints, according to the study by the Internet Association MX and OCC Worldwide. 

Stress manifests itself physically and psychologically, affecting lack of motivation in 51% of respondents, generating muscle aches and insomnia, which also triggers changes in body weight in 22% of people, as well as skin problems and depression.

Mexico has 75% of stress in the workplace, placing the country as the main affected country among the world's major economies, with China at 73% and the United States at 59%, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

 Increased hours

One of the reasons that particularly affects Mexican workers is that the country has one of the longest working hours in the world, despite the pandemic. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Mexicans work about 2,124 hours a year, in contrast to the average in other OECD countries of 687 hours a year.

During the study, 55% say that the increase in working hours is due to continuous requests from their bosses, 39% say that the workload at home has increased, while 30% say that they postpone tasks and end up doing them outside their schedule.

The study also revealed that "half of the companies do not take action to reduce their people's work-related stress, so it is the employees themselves who seek ways to reduce it through rest (53%), physical activities (48%) and recreational activities (28%)".

Consequently, to the situation experienced by Mexican workers, the IMSS director announced the holding of the International Congress 'Work Environments, Safe and Healthy' for the next 14 and 15 July 2022, in Monterrey, to address the problems of employers and workers and try to change the widespread approach that health is the absence of disease.

Americas Coordinator: José Antonio Sierra.