A groundbreaking investigation into the prevalence and impact of work-related anxiety across multiple countries has shed new light on an often-overlooked facet of occupational health. Conducted by researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), this study introduces a novel measurement tool—The Occupational Anxiety Inventory—that quantifies job-related distress in a manner distinct from traditional stress or burnout assessments. The results reveal a complex interplay between workplace culture, managerial support, and employee mental health that challenges prevailing narratives about work absences and psychological well-being.
Central to the research findings is the nuanced differentiation between general stress and anxiety that is intrinsically tied to the workplace environment. Stress is typically transient, associated with elevated workloads or deadlines, whereas anxiety manifests persistently, infiltrating personal lives and affecting sleep quality, cognitive functions, and physical health. The NTNU team highlights that work-related anxiety is characterized by a pervasive sense of threat and entrapment, conditions which intensify the psychological burden on affected individuals. This form of anxiety is not merely a byproduct of demanding work conditions but represents a distinct mental health challenge demanding targeted interventions.
Quantitatively, the study’s multinational survey spanning England, Norway, the United States, and South Africa reveals stark discrepancies in the prevalence of work-related anxiety. England reported the lowest incidence at 3.6%, followed closely by Norway at 4.2%. The United States exhibited a moderate rate of 5.7%, while South Africa saw significantly higher levels at 9.4%. These variances underscore the influence of sociocultural, economic, and organizational factors in shaping employee experiences of anxiety, and signal the need for country-specific policy and workplace strategies to mitigate these risks.
Delving deeper, the NTNU researchers emphasize the substantial scale of work-related anxiety within Norway alone, where approximately 11.2% of the workforce experiences reduced occupational capacity owing to anxiety symptoms. Given Norway’s workforce numbers approaching three million, this translates to over 120,000 individuals grappling with disabling anxiety features such as impaired sleep, memory lapses, concentration difficulties, and somatic complaints like muscle pain. These manifestations illustrate that work-related anxiety exacts a profound toll on both individual health and overall productivity.
Critically, the study exposes a significant gap between clinical diagnoses of anxiety and functional impairments caused by subclinical symptoms. Many workers manifest moderate anxiety that hinders their job performance and well-being despite not meeting formal diagnostic criteria for anxiety disorders. This revelation challenges occupational health frameworks that typically focus on severe cases, advocating for a broader conceptualization of workplace mental health that accommodates varying symptom severities and their progressive impact on workforce sustainability.
The origins of work-related anxiety, as elucidated by the researchers, are multifaceted. While predisposition to generalized anxiety contributes to some cases, workplace-specific factors often trigger anxiety episodes in previously unaffected employees. These include exposure to bullying, harassment, traumatic events, and critical failures in job tasks. Such experiences engender feelings of vulnerability and helplessness, compromising psychological safety and precipitating a cycle of escalating anxiety that disrupts professional engagement and career aspirations.
Foremost among the workplace conditions linked to elevated anxiety levels is the presence of bullying combined with a culture lacking in respect and civility. This toxic environment fosters chronic stress and erodes trust, creating fertile ground for anxiety to flourish. Compounding this are conflicts between work demands and private life responsibilities, which exacerbate emotional strain. Furthermore, employees frequently cite restricted autonomy in task execution and a deficiency of psychological support from management as significant contributors to their anxiety experiences.
Job insecurity emerges as another powerful mediator of work-related anxiety, wherein uncertainties about future income or employment continuity destabilize workers’ sense of stability and control. This insecurity triggers chronic worry that perpetuates anxiety symptoms and undermines motivation and engagement. In such climates, the absence of supportive leadership and a failure to cultivate psychological safety amplify the detrimental effects on mental health, emphasizing the critical role of managers in fostering resilient work environments.
The vicious feedback loop of anxiety is particularly troubling; individuals become anxious about their anxiety, intensifying the symptom cycle and leading to avoidance behaviors. Such avoidance can manifest as declining career advancement opportunities, like refusing a promotion involving public speaking or leadership responsibilities, limiting personal growth and reinforcing perceived threats. This insidious pattern highlights how anxiety not only impairs current functioning but also curtails future prospects, trapping workers in roles they find safer but less fulfilling.
Providing a way forward, the research underscores the necessity for systematic interventions aimed at dismantling workplace bullying, enhancing managerial psychological support, and ensuring job security to break the anxiety cycle. These structural measures need to be complemented by accessible mental health resources, including psychotherapy, which the researchers affirm can be highly effective and swift in reducing symptoms. Notably, therapy equips individuals to recalibrate their perceived threats and regain autonomy, offering practical strategies to manage anxiety and restore occupational functioning within months.
Moreover, the research advocates for a paradigm shift in workplace mental health discourse to acknowledge that employment itself can be a source of psychological distress. Challenging the conventional wisdom that views employment solely as beneficial for mental health, this study calls for a more nuanced understanding that recognizes the workplace as a double-edged sword—both a provider of stability and a potential instigator of debilitating anxiety disorders.
It is imperative that employers and policymakers heed these findings to cultivate psychologically safe environments where employees feel secure, valued, and supported. Implementing evidence-based practices to eliminate bullying, promote respect, and provide meaningful psychological support must be integral to organizational cultures. Only through proactive engagement can the prevalence of work-related anxiety be curtailed, preserving workforce well-being and optimizing productivity in an increasingly complex global economy.
This seminal research not only contributes a validated tool for measuring occupational anxiety but also elevates an urgent call to transform how mental health is prioritized within workplace settings. By illuminating the hidden burden of work-related anxiety and its consequences, the NTNU study galvanizes a new frontier in occupational psychology dedicated to preventing distress before it manifests into chronic impairment and fostering resilience among workers worldwide.
Subject of Research: People
Article Title: The occupational anxiety inventory: A new measure of job-related distress.
News Publication Date: 21-Aug-2025
Web References: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/str0000371
References:
Bianchi, R., De Beer, L. T., Engelbrecht, G. J., van der Vaart, L., & Schonfeld, I. S. (2025). The occupational anxiety inventory: A new measure of job-related distress. International Journal of Stress Management. Advance online publication, 21 August 2025.
Image Credits: Photo: Anne Sliper Midling
Keywords: work-related anxiety, occupational mental health, psychological safety, workplace bullying, job insecurity, anxiety measurement, occupational psychology, employee well-being, mental health intervention, workplace culture
