Study finds clear link between job satisfaction and health

Workers who are dissatisfied with their jobs are more likely to become ill, according to a study carried out by Lancaster University Management School and Manchester Business School.

The research, which involved over 250,000 individuals, is the largest-ever study into the links between job satisfaction and physical and mental well-being, and found that job satisfaction has a major effect on employee health.

"Many jobs are becoming more automated and inflexible. Organisations are reducing their permanent workforce and converting to 'outsourcing', which is increasing feelings of job insecurity," said Professor Cary Cooper, co-author of the study. "These trends have contributed to a 'workaholic' culture throughout the UK and Europe - a climate that is impacting negatively in the levels of enjoyment and satisfaction employees gain from their work."

People with low job satisfaction are most likely to experience emotional "burnout", have reduced self-esteem and increased anxiety and depression, the researchers found. Even taking account of environmental factors, which can contribute to the incidence of many diseases, they detected a clear link between job satisfaction and mental health.

To tackle the problem, they advised employers to develop stress management policies that can identify and eradicate work practices that cause most job dissatisfaction (such as hours of work, management style, workload and levels of work control).

"Employers should seriously look at tackling the consequences of job dissatisfaction and related health problems with innovative policies," said Cooper. "Workers who are satisfied by their jobs, and more likely to be healthier as well as happier."

EB Faragher, M Cass and CL Cooper, "The relationship between job satisfaction and health: a meta-analysis", Occupational Environmental Medicine, volume 62, pages 105-112, 2005