The best way to keep anxiety and psychological distress at bay in any workplace is for employers to offer job flexibility and security to their employees, according to a new study published in JAMA Network Open. When employees were allowed to tweak their work schedule to prioritize important things in their lives and make space for their family, along with being provided with advance notices of their work hours, it was associated with significantly lower odds of experiencing anxiety and severe psychological distress.
“Job flexibility and job security can be modified through a number of organizational approaches, such as expanding flexible work schedules, providing remote or hybrid work options, enhancing tenure-based benefits, and investing in training and upskilling programs to develop and retain talent,” the authors explained.
The study included over 18,144 adults working full-time jobs in the United States of America. Lead author Monica Wang from the Boston University School of Public Health and team analyzed each individual’s data from the 2021 National Health Institute Survey (NHIS). They focused on three outcomes: work absenteeism, mental health, and whether the study participants had access to mental health care.
Of the 18,144 study participants, 3% were experiencing serious psychological distress, 31.4% experienced anxiety symptoms a few times a year and another 12% said they felt anxious every day. Close to 61% were receiving mental health counseling and only 11.4% said they were not going for therapy in the last 12 months.
Wang and colleagues found that greater job flexibility and job security were associated with 26% and 25% lower odds of experiencing serious psychological distress and anxiety, respectively, on a daily, weekly, and annual basis.
“Job flexibility, such as the ability to adjust work hours or work remotely, can help employees better balance work and personal life commitments and priorities. This can reduce stress and anxiety associated with managing competing demands, leading to improved mental well-being. Flexible job arrangements also allow employees to have more control over their schedules, making it easier to meet personal and family obligations. This balance can reduce burnout and psychological distress and promote better mental health,” they explained.
“Job security may lead to lower work absenteeism due to higher work satisfaction, decreased job-related stress, and financial security. Employees with higher job satisfaction are less likely to experience mental health problems and absenteeism. The association between job flexibility, security, and absenteeism may also differ depending on individual needs, priorities, and workplace culture, as expectations on in-person presence and taking sick, medical, and personal time can vary greatly across organizations,” the authors added.
On the other hand, job insecurity and unemployment have repeatedly been linked to the onset of depressive symptoms. Instability in work schedules also increases the likelihood of psychological distress and job absenteeism. Since the Covid-19 pandemic began in late 2019, it has exacerbated job insecurity. According to the US Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey, there were 4.2 million fewer jobs in October 2021 than in February 2020. Low-wage jobs accounted for 59% of all jobs lost in that period.
