psychosocial_risks.jpg

Psychosocial risks

Psychosocial risks are aspects of the design and management of work, and its social and organisational contexts, that have the potential for causing psychological or physical harm. Work-related stress is one of the health risks most frequently identified by workers in Europe. The factors that can cause stress for workers and influence their health and well-being can be related to the following: job content; work intensity and job autonomy; working time arrangements and work–life balance; social environment, including interpersonal relationships at work and social support; job insecurity and career development. 

Topic

Recent updates

be-presidency-stacked-logo.png

Belgian presidency 2024: Eurofound's contribution

From January to June 2024, Eurofound supports the work of Belgium's presidency of the Council of the EU, providing valuable research results on specific topics linked with the presidency priorities.

Web page
es-presidency-logo.png

Spanish presidency 2023: Eurofound's contribution

From July to December 2023, Eurofound supported the work of Spain's presidency of the Council of the EU, providing valuable research results on specific topics linked with the presidency priorities.

Web page

Definitions

European Industrial Relations Dictionary 

Eurofound expert(s)

sara-riso-2023.png

Sara Riso

Sara Riso is a research manager in the Working Life unit at Eurofound. She is involved in research projects in the areas of employment change and restructuring. She joined...

Research manager,
Working life research unit
Oscar Vargas Llave

Oscar Vargas Llave

Oscar Vargas Llave is a research manager in the Working Life unit at Eurofound and manages projects on changes in the world of work and the impact on working conditions and related...

Research manager,
Working life research unit
Publications results (22)

Ψυχοκοινωνικοί κίνδυνοι για την ευημερία των εργαζομένων: διδάγματα που αντλήθηκαν από την πανδημία COVID-19

Using data from the European Working Conditions Telephone Survey 2021 and building on a theoretical model that differentiates between job stressors and job resources, this report examines key psychosocial risks in the workplace and their impact on health.

23 November 2023
Publication
Research report
Psychosocial risks
Συνθήκες εργασίας και βιώσιμη εργασία
Health and well-being at work
Τηλεργασία
COVID-19
Χρόνος εργασίας
Discrimination at work
ef21065_card_cover.png

Διαβίωση, εργασία και COVID-19 στην Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση και σε 10 γειτονικές χώρες

Η έρευνα σχετικά με τη διαβίωση, την εργασία και τη νόσο COVID-19, που δρομολογήθηκε για πρώτη φορά από το Eurofound στις αρχές του 2020, αποσκοπεί στην αποτύπωση του εκτεταμένου αντικτύπου της πανδημίας στην εργασία και τη ζωή των πολιτών της ΕΕ. Ο πέμπτος γύρος της έρευνας του Eurofound, ο οποίος

07 December 2022
Publication
Research report
Living and working in Europe
Skills and training
Social policies
Social inclusion
Psychosocial risks
Νεολαία
Working conditions
Τηλεργασία
Subjective well-being
Ισορροπία μεταξύ επαγγελματικής και προσωπικής ζωής
COVID-19
Συνθήκες διαβίωσης και ποιότητα ζωής
ef22042_card_cover_v2.png

Πέμπτος γύρος της ηλεκτρονικής έρευνας για τη ζωή, την εργασία και την COVID-19: συνθήκες διαβίωσης σε μια νέα εποχή αβεβαιότητας

Στον πέμπτο γύρο της ηλεκτρονικής έρευνας του Eurofound, που διεξήχθη από τις 25 Μαρτίου έως τις 2 Μαΐου 2022, σκιαγραφείται η κοινωνική και οικονομική κατάσταση των πολιτών της Ευρώπης δύο χρόνια μετά τον εντοπισμό του πρώτου κρούσματος COVID-19 στην ευρωπαϊκή ήπειρο. Επίσης, εξετάζονται οι

07 July 2022
Publication
Research report
Stand with Ukraine
Psychosocial risks
Νεολαία
Τηλεργασία
Subjective well-being
Trust
Ισορροπία μεταξύ επαγγελματικής και προσωπικής ζωής
Unemployment
Health and well-being at work
COVID-19
Living conditions
Συνθήκες διαβίωσης και ποιότητα ζωής
Image of teacher and students communicating using sign language in the classroom

People with disabilities and the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from the Living, working and COVID-19 e-survey

A new European Disability Strategy was launched in 2021 with the aim of intensifying progress on ensuring the full participation of people with disabilities in society. The increase of EU policy focus on people with disabilities is timely: the COVID-19 pandemic magnified the challenges they faced in

21 March 2022
Publication
Policy brief
Public services
Psychosocial risks
Subjective well-being
Trust
Health and well-being at work
COVID-19
Disability and chronic disease
Living conditions and quality of life
ef20036_card_cover.png

Επιπτώσεις της πανδημίας COVID-19 στους νέους στην ΕΕ

Έπειτα από μια μακρά πορεία ανάκαμψης από την οικονομική κρίση (2007-2013), αποδείχθηκε ότι οι νέοι στην ΕΕ ήταν πιο ευάλωτοι στις επιπτώσεις των περιορισμών που τέθηκαν σε εφαρμογή για την επιβράδυνση της εξάπλωσης της πανδημίας COVID-19. Οι νέοι είχαν περισσότερες πιθανότητες από τις ομάδες ατόμων

09 November 2021
Publication
Research report
Social inclusion
Quality of society
Psychosocial risks
Νεολαία
Subjective well-being
Trust
ΕΕΑΚ
European Pillar of Social Rights
COVID-19
Συνθήκες διαβίωσης και ποιότητα ζωής
ef21064_card_cover.png

Διαβίωση, εργασία και COVID-19 (Επικαιροποίηση Απρίλιος 2021): επιδείνωση της ψυχικής υγείας και υποχώρηση της εμπιστοσύνης σε όλες τις χώρες της ΕΕ καθώς η πανδημία συνεχίζεται για ένα ακόμα έτος

Ο τρίτος γύρος της ηλεκτρονικής έρευνας του Eurofound που διενεργήθηκε τον Φεβρουάριο και τον Μάρτιο του 2021 εστιάζει στην κοινωνική και οικονομική κατάσταση των ατόμων που ζουν στην Ευρώπη, ένα σχεδόν ολόκληρο έτος μετά την επιβολή των περιορισμών λόγω της πανδημίας COVID-19. Στην παρούσα έκθεση

10 May 2021
Publication
Research report
Living and working in Europe
Psychosocial risks
Νεολαία
Τηλεργασία
Trust
Ισορροπία μεταξύ επαγγελματικής και προσωπικής ζωής
Health and well-being at work
COVID-19
Living conditions
Inequality
ef20021en_card_cover.png

Συνθήκες εργασίας και βιώσιμη εργασία: Ανάλυση με τη χρήση του πλαισίου ποιότητας της εργασίας

Η παρούσα βασική έκθεση συνοψίζει τα βασικά πορίσματα της έρευνας του Eurofound σχετικά με τις συνθήκες εργασίας που διεξήχθη κατά την περίοδο προγραμματισμού 2017-2020. Χαρτογραφεί την πρόοδο που επιτεύχθηκε από το 2000 όσον αφορά τη βελτίωση των συνθηκών εργασίας και εξετάζει κατά πόσον το σύνολο

26 February 2021
Publication
Flagship report
Psychosocial risks
Χρόνος εργασίας
Συνθήκες εργασίας και βιώσιμη εργασία
Working conditions
Sustainable work
Undeclared work
Ισορροπία μεταξύ επαγγελματικής και προσωπικής ζωής
Work organisation
Employment relationship
Health and well-being at work
Ισότητα των φύλων
COVID-19
Ποιότητα εργασίας
Γηράσκον εργατικό δυναμικό
ef20059-card.jpg

Ζωή, εργασία και COVID-19

This report presents the findings of the Living, working and COVID-19 e-survey, carried out by Eurofound to capture the far-reaching implications of the pandemic for the way people live and work across Europe. The survey was fielded online, among respondents who were reached via Eurofound’s

28 September 2020
Publication
Research report
Αμοιβή και εισόδημα
Psychosocial risks
Νεολαία
Χρόνος εργασίας
Συνθήκες εργασίας και βιώσιμη εργασία
Working conditions
Τηλεργασία
Subjective well-being
Trust
Ισορροπία μεταξύ επαγγελματικής και προσωπικής ζωής
Unemployment
COVID-19
Living conditions
Συνθήκες διαβίωσης και ποιότητα ζωής
Ποιότητα εργασίας

Ζωή, εργασία και COVID-19: Πρώτα πορίσματα – Απρίλιος 2020

Σε διάστημα μόλις λίγων εβδομάδων, η πανδημία COVID-19 που προκλήθηκε από τον νέο κορονοϊό άλλαξε ριζικά τις ζωές των ανθρώπων ανά την υφήλιο. Εκτός από τις καταλυτικές επιπτώσεις στην υγεία των ανθρώπων που επλήγησαν από τον ιό, η πανδημία COVID-19 προκάλεσε σημαντικές επιπτώσεις στη ζωή και στην

06 May 2020
Publication
Research report
COVID-19
Trust
Συνθήκες διαβίωσης και ποιότητα ζωής
Αμοιβή και εισόδημα
Psychosocial risks
Χρόνος εργασίας
Subjective well-being
Unemployment
Working conditions
Ισορροπία μεταξύ επαγγελματικής και προσωπικής ζωής
Living conditions
Τηλεργασία
Συνθήκες εργασίας και βιώσιμη εργασία

Burnout in the workplace: A review of data and policy responses in the EU

This report looks at the extent of burnout experienced by workers in the EU, based on national research. As a starting point, the report sets out to consider whether burnout is viewed as a medical or occupational disease. It then examines the work determinants associated with burnout and looks at

10 September 2018
Publication
Research report
Disability and chronic disease
Health and well-being at work
Psychosocial risks
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work
Working time
Online resources results (233)

Work-related mental stress focus of research and policy debate

An annual Absenteeism Report (in German) [1] has looked at the impact of flexible working on employees’ levels of stress and related health risks. The 2012 research was jointly compiled by WidO [2], the research institute of public health insurer AOK [3], and Bielefeld University [4]. The study was

14 Φεβρουάριος 2013
Article
Psychosocial risks
Working time
Work-life balance
Work organisation
Health and well-being at work
Working conditions
Living conditions and quality of life
Working conditions and sustainable work

Well-being at work in the healthcare sector

A report, Development and protection of well-being and organisational health in healthcare (in Italian, 3.88Mb PDF) [1], is being promoted by the Italian Federation of Hospital and Local Health Agencies (FIASO [2]) with the aim of establishing a shared protocol for assessing the risks of work

8 Ιανουάριος 2013
Article
Psychosocial risks
Living conditions and quality of life
Work organisation
Work-life balance
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work

Women workers and managers more prone to headaches

Headache is a very common health problem. The worldwide point prevalence of headache, regardless of type, has been estimated to be as high as 46% in the general adult population (Stovner et al, 2007).

16 Δεκέμβριος 2012
Article
Health and well-being at work
Psychosocial risks
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work

Low levels of company allegiance among employees

GfK [1] is a leading market research agency. Its survey on employee engagement, pressure and stress related to employment, the GfK International Employee Engagement Survey [2], was conducted by the agency’s Custom Research sector [3] in April 2011. The survey was carried out across 29 countries, and

16 Δεκέμβριος 2012
Article
Psychosocial risks
Work-life balance
Living conditions and quality of life

Playing the game to tackle work-related stress

Work-related stress is one of the most serious occupational hazards in the Netherlands. It is caused by a variety of factors, including the content and organisation of work, the management style of supervisors and the organisational culture.

15 Νοέμβριος 2012
Article
Skills and training
Psychosocial risks
Health and well-being at work

Emotional exhaustion may trigger cut in working hours

With labour shortages expected in the coming years, the Dutch Government is searching for opportunities to increase the number of hours each person works.

23 Οκτώβριος 2012
Article
Psychosocial risks
Working time
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work

Effects of work environment and family–life balance

The Work and Family–Life Balance Barometer 2012 (/Barómetro de Conciliación/) was created using data collected from 710 questionnaires completed by Spanish employees. Using these data, the business services consultancy firm Edenred [1] and IESE Business School [2] have published a report (in Spanish

17 Οκτώβριος 2012
Article
Job quality
Employment and labour markets
Psychosocial risks
Living conditions and quality of life
Work-life balance

New research on work-related cardiovascular diseases

A recent study, Arbetsmiljöns bidrag till hjärt-kärlsjukdom (1.88Mb PDF) [1], commissioned by the Swedish Work Environment Authority (AV [2]), investigated the extent to which the working environment is an underlying factor in the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and stroke in Sweden. The study

11 Οκτώβριος 2012
Article
Health and well-being at work
Psychosocial risks

Impact of cost-cutting strategies on working conditions in hospitals

A recent study called Restructuring in hospitals and its impact on working conditions (in German, 368Kb PDF) [1] has been carried out by the Working Life Research Centre (FORBA). [2] It focuses on the impact of new management strategies in hospitals on the working conditions of employees. [1] http:/

27 Σεπτέμβριος 2012
Article
Pay and income
Work organisation
Psychosocial risks
Working time
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work

Survey finds men more exposed to physical risks at work than women

The report Health and Morbidity in Denmark 2010 – & developments since 1987 (in Danish, 12.12Kb PDF) [1], is the fifth study conducted by the Danish National Institute of Public Health (NIPH [2]) among the adult Danish population since 1987. [1] http://www.si-folkesundhed.dk/upload/susy_2010_til

18 Σεπτέμβριος 2012
Article
Health and well-being at work
Job quality
Psychosocial risks
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work
Blogs results (5)
image_ef23042.png

No one left behind? Gender segregation in the workplace sees women losing out

'Women belong in all the places where decisions are made', to borrow from the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg. These decisions are made everywhere and at every level: in the home and at the workplace; in the boardroom and on the shop floor. Which is why it is of such serious concern to see the ongoing deep

8 Μάρτιος 2023
Mary McCaughey
Blog
Psychosocial risks
Health and well-being at work
Gender equality
Employment and labour markets
image_ef23039.png

Violence in the workplace: Women and frontline workers face higher risks

Women and frontline workers are most exposed to the risks of adverse social behaviour at work, such as burnout, exhaustion, anxiety and depression. This is according to the European Working Conditions Telephone Survey 2021 (EWCTS). In this data story, we dive into EWCTS data (EU27) to examine the

27 Φεβρουάριος 2023
Viginta Ivaškaitė-Tamošiūnė
Blog
Psychosocial risks
Working conditions and sustainable work
Working conditions
Subjective well-being
Health and well-being at work
A worker sitting on the floor

Job quality is pivotal in addressing today’s workplace and societal challenges

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we live and work. With the lifting of restrictions across the globe, we are now able to examine the many repercussions on the world of work. In particular, the unique demands of the last few years have shone a harsh spotlight on the pressures brought to bear

17 Ιανουάριος 2023
Barbara Gerstenberger
Blog
Pay and income
Psychosocial risks
Working conditions and sustainable work
Working conditions
Subjective well-being
Health and well-being at work
Job quality
ef22075.png

High risk of depression persists following COVID-19 pandemic: Data behind the mental health crisis

Lower levels of health, increasing financial pressure and a significant degree of unmet healthcare: these are the findings of the fifth round of the Living, working and COVID-19 e-survey: Living in a new era of uncertainty – a report that presents an overview of responses from over 200,000 people

6 Οκτώβριος 2022
Eurofound
Blog
Living and working in Europe
Psychosocial risks
Health and well-being at work
COVID-19
Living conditions and quality of life
image_blog_ef20065_covid_and_gender_03062020.png

COVID-19 fallout takes a higher toll on women, economically and domestically

​​​​​​​While women appear to be more resilient than men to COVID-19 in terms of health outcomes, that is not the case when it comes to the economic and social fallout. Measures taken by governments to control the spread of the virus are exacerbating gender divides in unemployment, domestic labour

3 Ιούνιος 2020
Massimiliano Mascherini
Blog
COVID-19
Psychosocial risks
Living conditions and quality of life
Unemployment
Work-life balance
Gender equality
Teleworking
Upcoming publications results (1)

ICT-based asocial behaviours at work: a review of research findings, policies and legislation

Over the last decade, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have changed the way employees work and communicate with each other. Despite the many benefits of digitalisation of work, the widespread access to digital devices in working life provides an alternative medium for new forms of a

September 2024
Forthcoming
Publication
Research report
Digitalisation
Health and well-being at work
Psychosocial risks
Working conditions and sustainable work

Disclaimer

When freely submitting your request, you are consenting Eurofound in handling your personal data to reply to you. Your request will be handled in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data. More information, please read the Data Protection Notice.