London - Women are far more likely to feel the strain than men as they balance a career with the demands of motherhood, doctors warn.
The number experiencing work-related stress is 50 percent higher than for men of the same age, figures show.
Psychiatrists say women are struggling to combine a job with the pressures of raising children and caring for aging parents.
The “have-it-all” generation may also feel more insecure at work as they spend less time networking with colleagues in the pub after work.
Figures from the Health and Safety Executive for 2014/15 show an estimated 68 000 women aged 35 to 44 in the UK are stressed at work. This compares with only 46 000 men of the same age. A further 78 000 women aged 45 to 54 are stressed at work – compared with 58 000 men – according to the organisation, which regulates safety at work.
Overall there were 590 cases of stress per 100 000 for males and 920 cases for females, meaning that women workers are one and a half times more likely than men to be stressed.
Dr Judith Mohring, who is based at the Priory’s Wellbeing Clinic in central London, where patients are treated for stress, anxiety and addictions, said: “In professional terms, women’s place in the world has been transformed over the last 50 years.
“Perhaps what women haven’t managed so well is to transfer responsibility for some of the more traditional roles. So while they might excel at work, they’ll usually pile the pressure on at home too – and that can lead to major stress. Women with children will know all too well the tension between being a hands-on mum and managing a busy job.”
High-achieving women, in particular, had traits that made them more prone to stress and anxiety, including perfectionism and being self-motivated, she added. “They often go hand in hand with being sensitive and a tendency to lack self-confidence, which can tip over,” she said.
The figures are based on a survey of 48 000 men and women, with the results extrapolated to give an estimate for the UK as a whole. Stress and depression tend to be more common in women, with a quarter receiving treatment at some point in their lives, compared with a tenth of men.
But experts say this is partly because women are more inclined to admit they are stressed and seek help.
Government figures show an estimated 70 million working days a year are lost to stress, depression and anxiety – at a cost to the UK economy of up to £100-billion a year.
Dr Iris Elliott, head of policy and research at the Mental Health Foundation said: “At various stages in life people face greater risks of developing mental health problems, and the evidence tells us that women are more likely to self-report anxiety, stress and depression. In part this is because of the strain many women are under in juggling the responsibilities of income earner and carer.
“It is important to address the root causes of stress experienced by women by providing affordable childcare and offering flexible working arrangements.”
Daily Mail