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Sharing the Problem
A new academic study finds that people who get along with their co-workers are less likely to suffer from depression and are better equipped to deal with the stresses of today's working life than those who don't. So why don't we all just get along?
Good news for those social butterflies who float throughout the office cubicles all day: They are stronger than you may think. A newly published academic report examining the association between psychological work-stress and major depressive episodes finds that people who are friendly with their co-workers are in a better position to handle office stress than those who are not. The research was published in the American Journal of Public Health and was co-authored by Emma K. Robertson-Blackmore, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, N.Y. "Establishing and maintaining [a] supportive relationship with someone else who is in that shared work environment, [who] knows the dynamics and the people involved," says Robertson-Blackmore, "is literally sharing the problem. Having someone provide practical support -- helping prepare a report, proofreading, photocopying something for you -- as trivial as these things sound, they alleviate sources of stress, which [in turn] aids workers. "Sharing good things with coworkers -- you were ahead on a deadline, had a great day, something went well -- is contagious and recognizes and celebrates good things rather than focusing on what is not going well," she adds. The report, Major Depressive Episodes and Work Stress: Results from a National Population Survey, was based on data derived from the Canadian Community Health Survey 1.2, a population-based survey in 2002 of 24,324 employees. It found that about 5 percent of the workers in the survey suffered from depressive episodes, and that men who faced heavy job stress at their workplaces were twice as likely to suffer from depression than men who faced only minimal job pressures. The researchers also found that women who had more power in making decisions at work were half as likely to suffer from depression as women who had little or no decision-making powers at work. While those results may not seem surprising, what did give the researchers pause was evidence that the workers who said they felt supported by their co-workers in times of crisis were less likely to suffer from job stress. It also found that a perceived lack of social support at work was significantly associated with depression in both men and women. So why aren't American companies encouraging more social interaction among their employees? "It appears, in my own personal opinion and experience, that socializing is somehow frowned upon in a North American work setting, and I'm not sure why," says the British-born Robertson-Blackmore. "If you think about an individual who is experiencing stress, frustration or is overwhelmed -- having a supportive co-worker or a supportive supervisor is scientifically shown to reduce the likelihood of them experiencing mental or physical illness, or significantly reduces the number of sick days taken," she says. "I think that there is a misconception that socializing at work means that you're standing around not doing your job, but being happy at work is linked with increased productivity. ... Happy workers are productive, even if they spend a portion of their day chatting with a co-worker." Stephen Balzac, president of 7 Steps Ahead, a Stow, Mass.-based organizational development firm, says preventing work friendships also prevents teams from reaching maximum potential. "Social connection is the grease that makes teams function smoothly," he says. "At a very basic level, we trust most the people we know." Irina Firstein, a New York-based therapist with 20 years of experience working with corporations such as American Express, agrees that good office relationships are vital to the success of a company. "It is my experience that having friendships at work or generally getting along with co-workers is beneficial, as it makes the workplace a more desirable place and destination," she says. "We want to go to work and stay there if we have good relationships there." But on the flip side, Firstein says, "not getting along with co-workers is a negative, as too much energy is spent on trying to figure out how to handle these types of difficult or hostile situations. Not getting along with co-workers is stressful and produces negative emotions, which lead to lower productivity and absences." Robertson-Blackmore says HR leaders have an important role to play in fostering positive working relationships among co-workers. "In terms of HR, my co-authors and I agreed that one of the most helpful things is for a worker to know who they can go to if they have a problem -- who is their supervisor? And if they don't like that person, where else can they go?" She says that having someone in a supervisory or management position to listen to and acknowledge a problem is so beneficial -- even if that problem can't be solved. "Frustration arises when people feel that their concerns aren't listened to or taken seriously," she says. She says HR should encourage conversation in communal areas -- such as a coffee station or cafeteria -- and support co-workers who stop by their colleagues' offices to talk about both positive and negative events. That allows workers to deal with issues as soon as they arise, and the individual usually gets an immediate response, Robertson-Blackmore says. "Think of it like this: Do you sit and stew about a phone call for an hour, during which time you're not actually doing anything, or do you take 10 minutes to go and chat it over with someone, get their opinion and then move on?" Having readily available resources for stress management, as well as information on where to go for help for mental-health problems is also key, she says. "Other than that, having an environment where supervisors are willing to listen and help and that encourages good support structures can help to mediate psychological symptoms," she says. As for the lead author of the study, Robertson-Blackmore says she generally likes her co-workers, but notes that one in particular is instrumental in helping her through her work days. "My social support comes in the shape of a wonderful co-worker [named] Steph who I chat with nearly every day," she says. "We share, brainstorm and laugh an awful lot. She gives me perspective and honesty in five minutes flat -- and I move on with a plan. "Allegedly, I do the same for her," she adds.
December 22, 2009 Copyright 2009© LRP Publications |
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