Research on work place mental health and work-life balance

Dr George BeatonExecutive Chairman

Beaton Research + Consulting

• Annual pro bono research studies donated to independent institutions

• 2011 with beyondblue – ~18,000 white collar Australians

• 2009 with Carleton University, Canada – ~12,000 white collar Australians

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Perception of someone with depression

Question: Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statements regarding someone with depression. People with depression. Base: All Respondents (n=17,980)

1.9

3.05

4.35

4.33

9.75

10.59

8.61

9.04

10.37

19.09

28.19

28.03

28.03

40.77

3.32

4.18

7.32

9.16

11.77

12.62

13.57

13.54

13.55

25.75

23.86

29.7

36.69

53.16

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Are not really worth investing in (e.g.training)

Should keep the matter tothemselves

I n high positions of responsibilityshould quit their jobs

Should be screened out in the jobselection process

Are not as strong minded as others

Are unreliable

Should pull themselves together

Are more of a liability than an assetfor a company

Can't be trusted in positions of highresponsibility (e.g. doctor)

Are unlikely to perform adequately attheir jobs

Feel that they are wasting theirgeneral practitioners' time

Are unpredictable

Are less likely to be viable candidatesfor job promotions

Should identify the cause of theirdepression and remove the cause

%

Male

Female

• Women are significantly less likely to agree with negative statements about people with depression

• Men are significantly more likely to agree with negative statements about people with depression

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Levels of understanding

• High levels of awareness and knowledge regarding depression, but not of anxiety disorders

• Low levels of stigmatising attitudes towards people with depression

• Low levels of confidence in managing mental health issues in the workplace

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Levels of comfort

• Most comfortable with ‘having someone with depression move into their street’ and least comfortable with ‘having them marry into their family’

• 26% were uncomfortable with ‘managing someone with depression’s work performance’

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Work-life balance: Rhetoric vs reality

• Professor Linda Duxbury elucidated the Work-life balance Work-life conflict continuum

• Components of work-life conflict1. Role overload2. Work interferes with family3. Family interferes with work4. Caregiver strain

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Key findings, 1

• WLB and WLC no longer just about childcare Eldercare is now a major issue Childcare remains very much a woman’s job Men are more likely to care for elderly

dependents than children

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Key findings, 2

• Knowledge workers spend long hours at work Organisational anorexia Corporate culture Technology Globalising competition Fear of not being seen to contribute Striving to perform

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Further information

Beaton Research + Consulting www.beatonglobal.comDr George Beaton +61 3 9829 0011george.beaton@beatonglobal.com