A survey was commissioned by Ciphr in August 2024 of 2,000 nationally representative UK adults using OnePoll uncovers how frequently people feel stressed in a typical month.
The survey results showed that:
- 86% of people in the UK feel stressed at least one day a month
- 91% of women in the UK feel stressed at least once a month
- 80% of men in the UK feel stressed at least once a month
- On average adults felt stressed around 10.3 days a month
- 60% of adults reported feeling stressed five or more days each month
- Over a third of adults (37%) feel stressed 11 or more days a month.
- 11% of people – 1 in 9 in the UK say they feel stressed every single day
April is Stress Awareness Month.
The main aims for stress awareness month are to:
- Educate the public about the causes and effects of stress.
- Promote effective stress management techniques to enhance mental health and wellbeing.
- Encourage open conversations to reduce the stigma surrounding stress and mental health issues.
- Provide resources and support to help individuals and organisations manage stress effectively.
Which age groups are most likely to be affected by stress?
The people that are most stressed out of all though, are UK women aged between 35 and 54 years old. Nearly one in six (17%) of this group report being stressed every day; compared to 12% of women ages 25 to 34, 13% of women over 55, and 7% of younger women (aged 18-24 years)
According to the data, UK men aged over 65 are the least stressed. Two in five (40%) men in this age group say they never feel stressed, compared to just one in five (19%) women over 65.
Where are people the most stressed in the UK?
The Ciphr survey found that:
London
The second most-populated UK region, with 8.8 million residents – has the highest share of people who say they feel stressed at least once a month (91%).
Scotland and North West England
Scotland has 5.4 million residents and North West England has 7.5 million, where around 88% of people say the same.
Yorkshire and the Humber
The area where people experience stress on the most regular basis, however, is Yorkshire and the Humber, home to 5.5 million people. One in seven (13%) adults in this region say they feel stressed every single day.
| Average number of days that people feel stressed a month | |
|---|---|
| North East | 11.3 |
| South West | 11.1 |
| Northern Ireland | 11.0 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 10.8 |
| South East | 10.6 |
| West Midlands | 10.4 |
| UK average | 10.3 |
| East of England | 10.3 |
| North West | 10.3 |
| Scotland | 10.1 |
| Wales | 9.9 |
| London | 9.7 |
| East Midlands | 8.4 |
Work-related stress
Looking at the causes of workplace stress by job role with the survey it reveals that:
- Over a third of UK employees say that work in general, and their workloads, causes them stress (37% and 35% respectively)
- One in four (23%) employees are stressed out by their working hours
- Around one in five employees say their boss (21%), workplace culture (20%), commuting (19%) and work colleagues (19%) contribute to their stress levels
- Nearly half (45%) of employees in non-management positions, supervisors and junior managers report being stressed about their finances
- Junior and middle managers are the most likely to say their workload is a cause of stress (39%)
Stress by industries
Charity, voluntary work and teaching and education
People doing charity and voluntary work, as well as those working in teaching and education, are much more likely to find their workload a stressor (42% and 41% respectively, compared to the survey average of 35% for all employees)
Social care
Social care workers are the most likely to cite working hours as a cause of their stress (30%, compared to the survey average of 23%)
Property, construction and legal sector
Those employed in property and construction, and the legal sector, are the most likely to say their bosses cause them stress (42% and 40% respectively, compared to the survey average of 21%)
Poor workplace culture is a stressor for those working in the legal sector, as well as transport and logistics (30% and 27% respectively, compared to the survey average of 20%)
Public sector and administration
Half (50%) of workers in public services and administration are stressed out by work in general (the survey average is 37%)
What are the main causes of stress?
Here are the top 10 causes of stress in the UK
| Cause | Result |
|---|---|
| Not getting enough sleep | 41% |
| Money | 38% |
| Family/ relationships | 34% |
| Health | 32% |
| Work in general | 30% |
| Workload | 28% |
| The news | 27% |
| Weight | 25% |
| Cleaning/ household chores | 23% |
| Busyness of life | 23% |
This year’s Stress Awareness Month Theme: #LeadWithLove
This year’s theme is #LeadWithlove. This is a call to action to encourage us to approach ourselves and others with kindness, compassion and acceptance, to embrace empathy, and prioritise understanding.
Here are some ways we have come up with that you can #LeadWithLove in the workplace:
- Create a culture of psychological safety – Encourage open discussions about stress and mental health. Sharing personal experiences and coping strategies can help others feel heard and validated.
- Check in with your colleagues – This could be something as simple as a “how are you really doing?”. Follow up with genuine care.
- Recognise and acknowledge your employees’ or coworkers’ contributions.
- Encourage and promote a work-life balance by supporting flexible schedules, respect other’s personal time and advocate for breaks to avoid burnout.
- Practice compassionate leadership – Make a conscious effort to lead with empathy.
Here are some ways that Ciphr have stated could be useful based on their survey’s findings:
- Free healthy food in the workplace and discounts on gym memberships. 32% of respondents stated their health is a big cause of stress.
- Healthier working hours. The most common cause of stress reported was due to feeling tired or not getting enough sleep. It may be beneficial to encourage staff to switch off out of hours.
- Financial advice and planning sessions. 38% reported that they worry about money. It may be beneficial to organise drop-in sessions with a financial advisor.
In personal life
- Be present and listen. Offer undivided attention to loved ones when they share their struggles.
- Prioritise self-care time. Prioritise your own mental well-being by setting boundaries, engaging in self-care, and being kind to yourself.
- Perform random acts of kindness. Small gestures like checking in on a friend can have a profound impact.
- Promote open conversations. Talk openly about mental health and stress with friends and family to help break the stigma.
