Despite the proliferation of devices such as smart phones and tablet PCs designed to streamline and simplify our lives, modern living only seems to be getting more stressful, busy and hectic. This being said, between trying to balance work, family and the responsibilities and obligations that come with both, has become more challenging than ever.

Living under constant stress can obviously wear on your mental wellness, focus, and concentration, however, can work stress actually make you physically sick? When you feel that you are under pressure at work, and hence, stressed out, does it have the possibility of increasing your chances of actually becoming physically ill? Health and fitness researchers have been asking that very question for decades, and more and more clinical studies are beginning to come to the same conclusion.

Feeling Under the Weather? Stress at Work Could Be Playing a Role

Although individuals have long assumed that work-related stress can lead to sickness, what is more surprising is that medical research is now indicating that the type of stress you are under may be directly correlated to the specific type of illness that you contract.

Over 70 Studies Analyzed

Researchers have now analyzed over 70 studies regarding the relationship of work-related stress and physical illnesses. In general, they found that heavy workloads and long hours were directly and clearly linked to illness. More specifically, however, they found that certain types of work-related stress were more likely to be associated with certain types of illness than others.

1. Role conflicts, such as when your department head assigns you to one task while your direct supervisor assigns you to a different task, were most commonly linked to gastrointestinal problems.

2. Organizational constraints, which are more broad in definition, were linked to gastrointestinal problems as well, though tiredness was an even more common symptom. Organizational constraints include lacking the power and authority to complete the tasks assigned to you, as well as the materials or time to do the same – basically, anything that prevents you from getting your work completed in a timely fashion.

   The stress caused by an overwhelming workload was most closely correlated with symptoms of fatigue. This one makes perfect sense given that larger workloads usually equate to more hours spent working and less time spent sleeping and otherwise relaxing.

3. Interpersonal conflicts, such as when you engage in an argument with a coworker or when you feel like you’re being bullied, were typically correlated with sleep disturbances. Depending on your level of tolerance, something as minor as a coworker accidentally taking your soda from the refrigerator could fall into this category.

4. Role ambiguity, such as when you’re not exactly sure of what’s expected of you on a long-term or day-to-day basis, was most closely related to fatigue.

   Surprisingly, work hours (or more accurately, an overabundance of them) had very little to do with whether a subject felt any physical symptoms. When a correlation was found, it was typically related to symptoms of eye strain and not the ailments you might expect, such as tiredness, fatigue and sleep disturbances.

5. Lack of control also had little correlation with symptoms of physical illness, but when it did, it was most closely associated with back pain and sleep disturbances.

Can Work Stress Make You Sick?: The Bottom Line

Researchers were quick to point out that their study findings only point to correlation, not causality. In other words, role ambiguity does not necessarily cause fatigue, despite the fact that the two elements were closely related in many of the study participants.

Regardless of this, one thing is clear: work can make you stressed, and stress can make you physically sick. Since mental health is a crucial pillar of your overall health, fitness and well-being, it’s imperative that you identify the things that are contributing most heavily to your stress levels and minimize or at least neutralize them.

Getting regular exercise and maintaining a healthy diet can help to minimize stress levels, but there’s still no replacement for cozying up with a good book or spending quality time with friends and loved ones.