Study reveals Indian working women to be more stressed than men, highlights age and gender disparities

A recent study has confirmed a widely suspected trend: working women in India are more stressed than their male counterparts. The "Emotional Wellness State of Employees" report by YourDost, a mental health platform, surveyed over 5,000 professionals across various sectors and found notable differences in stress levels between genders.

According to the survey, 72.2% of women reported high-stress levels at work, compared to 53.64% of men. Women also struggled more with work-life balance, with 18% finding it challenging to juggle personal and professional responsibilities, while only 12% of men reported the same issue. The leading causes of stress for women included lack of recognition, low morale, and fear of being judged.

The report also revealed that 20% of women always felt low, in stark contrast to 9.27% of men. This emotional strain is particularly pronounced among employees aged 21 to 30, with 64.42% of them experiencing high levels of stress. This group is closely followed by those aged 31 to 40, with 59.81% reporting high stress.

Interestingly, the least stressed age group is 41 to 50, where only 53.5% of employees reported high workplace stress."The shift in workplace dynamics, the evolution of remote and hybrid work models, has had an impact on the 21-30 age demographic. To support them, organizations should prioritize regular communication and engagement,” said Dr. Jini Gopinath, Chief Psychology Officer at YourDost.

These findings underscore the urgent need for better support systems in the workplace, especially for young and female employees. The study covered various sectors, including IT, manufacturing, transportation, tech and media, legal services, and business consulting, highlighting a widespread issue across industries.