Stress-factors leading to mental problems and burnout in IT-industries

According to health insurances, employees in IT-industries are very fit. By using an online-survey, Technische Universität Dortmund monitored this statement in cooperation with some freelancer-networks. Results indicate that this is due to the phenomenon "presentism"- meaning IT-employees do not appear in health insurance statistics as they continue to work even when they are ill. Actually, the sample reported on distinct health problems- predominantly musculoskeletal problems and mental afflictions.

Freelancers are affected to an even higher degree than permanent employees. 65 per cent of the freelancers complain of presumably work-related musculoskeletal disorders and 52 per cent of presumably work-related mental problems. More than half of the interviewed freelancers suffer from fears and negative emotions. All these are typical symptoms of a burnout.

The jobs are so highly demanding that merely 30 per cent of the freelancers and approx. 40 per cent of the permanent employees assume to resist this workload until the retirement age of 65. Referring to the DGB (German Trade Unions Confederation)- index "Gute Arbeit" (good work), the work in IT-industries would be classified as "bad work".

10 per cent of the permanent employees and 14 per cent of the freelancers even suppose not to be able to endure the stress until the age of 50- they say "Actually, I should stop right now"- with an average age of 43. Main reasons are mental problems.

But stress and work-related emotions are not only valued in a negative way. One out of four does not feel exhausted or unable to regenerate. Two thirds of the self-employed state high or very high positive achievement orientation- they enjoy the work-related stress, feel responsible, have great expectations towards themselves, have pleasure doing their work and are proud of their performance. Referring to the permanent employees it is less than half of them (43 per cent). Obviously, there are plenty freelancers who perform their work with pleasure and commitment, who are able to relax and who are not exhausted by their work.   Equally, another big part pushes to far and loses their pleasure of working and commitment. They crossed the line between high commitment and burnout.

They survey considered the question which factors of work lead to mental problems. Astonishingly, it is not long working hours. It is rather the kind of tasks together with the relations to colleagues and customers and- especially for freelancers- the lack of separating work and private life. The hierarchy of the stress-factors leading to mental problems and burnout revealed in the survey is as follows:

1. Tasks difficult to manage
2. Pointless tasks: "My commitment is not worth it"
3. Marginal appreciation from superiors and/ or customers
4. Inexplicable structured tasks
5. Pressure for outcomes
6. Marginal possibilities for exchange with colleagues
7. Inappropriate pay
8. No breaks at regular intervals
9. Time pressure
10. No temporal separation between work and private life

Furthermore, the survey reveals that freelancers practice considerably more health prevention. But concerning enterprise-initiated prevention, they are often left out. Freelancers are on their own for prevention activities. Therefore they ask for adequate support more often than permanent employees.

Based on the results of the survey Technische Universität Dortmund reacted by developing a concept for a burnout-prevention-centre.

Special about this approach is:

• All services concerning the topics prevention and treatment of burnout will be under one umbrella or rather bundled in one network (One shelter for all questions and problems around burnout)
• Analyses of burnout-risks and prevention consulting are the base for intervention instruments of various disciplines (psychology, medicine, labour studies, law…)
• The offered prevention services are addressed equally to affected people and enterprises, for which the working conditions are the focus for analysis and intervention.

First pilot networks are currently built in the Münsterland region, the Ruhr area and the Rhineland (for information and contact: www.burnon-zentrum.de)

Context of the project:

The project "pragdis- Preventive Work- and Health Safety in Discontinuous Work Biographies " (funding no. 01FM07003-05) deals with prevention strategies for elusive target groups (freelancers, intelligent mobile workers and discontinuous employees) who are in danger to fall through the cracks of industrial health and safety standards. Together with the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München and the Team Gesundheit GmbH, Technische Universität Dortmund acquire approaches for innovative prevention on the individual, enterprise and network level.

pragdis is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the European Union (European Social Fund).