(RxWiki News) It's no secret that taking on new responsibilities at home and at work can be stressful, but the consequences can be dangerous. A new study shows that the more stress a person has, the worse habits they tend to develop.
Stress is one of the many evils that plaque a number of adults. Researchers found it to be an indicator for poor health habits and risks for health problems.
"Take advantage of any health facilities your office offers."
Principal study author, Mathew Clark, Ph.D., from the psychiatry and psychology department at the Mayo Clinic, found seventeen percent of all participants reported the highest level of stress. This in turn affected eating habits, overall health and activity levels.
Participants who were more stressed out had poorer eating habits, worse health, more fatigue and lower activity levels compared to participants who were not so stressed.
The higher the stress level the less likely the employees were to even sign up for the wellness center and most likely to drop out completely.
The study included over 2,000 employees who joined an employer’s wellness center. The employers were asked to participate in a questionnaire that was used to assess stress levels, health status, quality of life, tobacco use and physical activity.
Wellness centers used to be known simply as fitness centers, but are now starting to include a range of topics that affect quality of life like stress reduction, nutrition, spirituality, sleep, work-life balance and relationships, Clark says.
These types of facilities are great for employees because it gives them an opportunity to stay active at work which might make them happier and less stressed, Carolyn Dewa, Ph.D., from Toronto’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, says.
The research will be published in the American Journal of Health Promotion in September/October.
