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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

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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.

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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.

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Definitions

European Industrial Relations Dictionary 

Eurofound expert(s)

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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)

Psychosociale risico’s voor het welzijn van werknemers: lessen uit de COVID-19-pandemie

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
Arbeidsomstandigheden en duurzaam werk
Health and well-being at work
Telewerken
COVID-19
Arbeidstijd
Discrimination at work
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Leven, werken en COVID-19 in de Europese Unie en tien buurlanden van de EU

De enquête “Leven, werken en COVID-19”, die begin 2020 door Eurofound werd gelanceerd, is bedoeld om de brede impact van de pandemie op het werk en het leven van EU-burgers in kaart te brengen. De vijfde editie van de Eurofound-enquête, die in het voorjaar van 2022 werd gehouden, werpt ook licht op

07 December 2022
Publication
Research report
Living and working in Europe
Skills and training
Social policies
Social inclusion
Psychosocial risks
Jongeren
Working conditions
Telewerken
Subjective well-being
Evenwicht tussen werk en privéleven
COVID-19
Levensomstandigheden en kwaliteit van het bestaan
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Vijfde ronde van de e-enquête “Leven en werken in tijden van COVID-19”: Leven in een nieuw tijdperk van onzekerheid

De vijfde editie van de e-enquête van Eurofound, die werd gehouden van 25 maart tot en met 2 mei 2022, gaat over de sociale en economische situatie van mensen in heel Europa twee jaar nadat COVID-19 voor het eerst op het Europese continent werd aangetroffen. Ook wordt ingegaan op het leven in een

07 July 2022
Publication
Research report
Stand with Ukraine
Psychosocial risks
Jongeren
Telewerken
Subjective well-being
Trust
Evenwicht tussen werk en privéleven
Unemployment
Health and well-being at work
COVID-19
Living conditions
Levensomstandigheden en kwaliteit van het bestaan
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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
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Gevolgen van COVID-19 voor jongeren in de EU

Na een lang herstel van de economische crisis (2007-2013) bleken jongeren in de EU kwetsbaarder voor de gevolgen van de beperkingen die zijn ingesteld om de verspreiding van de COVID-19-pandemie te vertragen. Jongeren liepen meer kans dan oudere leeftijdsgroepen op verlies van hun baan, financiële

09 November 2021
Publication
Research report
Social inclusion
Quality of society
Psychosocial risks
Jongeren
Subjective well-being
Trust
NEET-jongeren
European Pillar of Social Rights
COVID-19
Levensomstandigheden en kwaliteit van het bestaan
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Leven, werken en COVID-19 (update april 2021): Geestelijke gezondheid en vertrouwen in de EU afgenomen in tweede pandemiejaar

In februari en maart 2021 heeft Eurofound de derde ronde gehouden van de e-enquête, die licht doet schijnen op de maatschappelijke en economische situatie van Europeanen na bijna een volledig jaar van COVID-19-beperkingen. Het verslag bevat een analyse van de belangrijkste bevindingen en gaat in op

10 May 2021
Publication
Research report
Living and working in Europe
Psychosocial risks
Jongeren
Telewerken
Trust
Evenwicht tussen werk en privéleven
Health and well-being at work
COVID-19
Living conditions
Inequality
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Arbeidsomstandigheden en duurzaam werk: een analyse aan de hand van het kwaliteitskader voor banen

In dit vlaggenschiprapport worden beknopt de belangrijkste bevindingen weergegeven van het onderzoek van Eurofound naar de arbeidsomstandigheden dat is uitgevoerd in de programmeringsperiode 2017-2020. In het rapport wordt de vooruitgang geïnventariseerd die sinds 2000 is geboekt bij het verbeteren

26 February 2021
Publication
Flagship report
Psychosocial risks
Arbeidstijd
Arbeidsomstandigheden en duurzaam werk
Working conditions
Sustainable work
Undeclared work
Evenwicht tussen werk en privéleven
Work organisation
Employment relationship
Health and well-being at work
Gendergelijkheid
COVID-19
Baankwaliteit
Vergrijzende beroepsbevolking
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Leven, werken en 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
Salaris en inkomen
Psychosocial risks
Jongeren
Arbeidstijd
Arbeidsomstandigheden en duurzaam werk
Working conditions
Telewerken
Subjective well-being
Trust
Evenwicht tussen werk en privéleven
Unemployment
COVID-19
Living conditions
Levensomstandigheden en kwaliteit van het bestaan
Baankwaliteit

Leven en werken in tijden van COVID-19: eerste resultaten - april 2020

In slechts enkele weken tijd heeft de COVID-19-pandemie, veroorzaakt door het nieuwe coronavirus, het leven van mensen over de hele wereld radicaal veranderd. Afgezien van de verwoestende gevolgen voor de gezondheid van personen die rechtstreeks door het virus worden getroffen, heeft de COVID-19

06 May 2020
Publication
Research report
COVID-19
Trust
Levensomstandigheden en kwaliteit van het bestaan
Salaris en inkomen
Psychosocial risks
Arbeidstijd
Subjective well-being
Unemployment
Working conditions
Evenwicht tussen werk en privéleven
Living conditions
Telewerken
Arbeidsomstandigheden en duurzaam werk

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 februari 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 januari 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 december 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 december 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 november 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 oktober 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 oktober 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 oktober 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 september 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 september 2012
Article
Health and well-being at work
Job quality
Psychosocial risks
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work
Blogs results (5)
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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 maart 2023
Mary McCaughey
Blog
Psychosocial risks
Health and well-being at work
Gender equality
Employment and labour markets
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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 februari 2023
Viginta Ivaškaitė-Tamošiūnė
Blog
Psychosocial risks
Working conditions and sustainable work
Working conditions
Subjective well-being
Health and well-being at work
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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 januari 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
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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 oktober 2022
Eurofound
Blog
Living and working in Europe
Psychosocial risks
Health and well-being at work
COVID-19
Living conditions and quality of life
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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 juni 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

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