HSE Stress Research and Related Stress Reports
On this page you can access and download UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) stress research papers. Stress is now acknowledged as the most important work-related hazard to employee health and well-being (see this blog on long-term absence) in both manual and non-manual workers. Over the years, HSE have commissioned or funded a wide range of important stress research. Please check out HSE's stress site for further information on their recommended approach to managing stress.
HSE Management Standards Research
These stress research papers and reports all relate to the HSE Management Standards.
This paper from 2002 is a precursor to the later Management Standards. The researchers look at the existing evidence that might underpin the development of standards for managing work-related stress.
These stress research papers and reports all relate to the HSE Management Standards.
This paper from 2002 is a precursor to the later Management Standards. The researchers look at the existing evidence that might underpin the development of standards for managing work-related stress.
| review_of_existing_supporting_scientific_knowledge.pdf |
This paper from 2004 provides the research background into the development into the Management Standards and summarises the data that led to the 6 'Standards'.
| hse_management_standards_background.pdf |
This paper, also from 2004, discusses the practical developments related to the Management Standards' approach, including the use of the Work-Related Stress Indicator Tool, a tool for carrying out stress risk assessments based upon the Management Standards.
| hse_management_standards_practical_developments.pdf |
This important piece of stress research provides evidence about the effectiveness of the Management Standards' approach. The researchers looked at the links between the approach and a number of workplace well-being outcomes such as job satisfaction, job-related anxiety and depression and errors/near misses.
| hse_management_standards_and_stress_related_work_outcomes.pdf |
Historically important stress research papers and reports
The following stress research papers are historically very important, with regard to understanding the factors that increase the risks associated with stress at work.
The paper below, the Whitehall II Study, was hugely influential, because it scotched the myth of executive stress and showed that risks posed by work-related stress increased the lower down the career ladder you were. The key stress issue of course was control and the researchers, led by epidemiologist [now, Sir] Michael Marmot, also identified the recipe for stress most likely to cause serious illness: high workload demands combined with low control and a lack of support. The results have been replicated many times and the research was so significant because of the hugely rich body of longitudinal data that could be accessed around British Civil Servants (so there is something to be said for good old British bureaucracy!)
The following stress research papers are historically very important, with regard to understanding the factors that increase the risks associated with stress at work.
The paper below, the Whitehall II Study, was hugely influential, because it scotched the myth of executive stress and showed that risks posed by work-related stress increased the lower down the career ladder you were. The key stress issue of course was control and the researchers, led by epidemiologist [now, Sir] Michael Marmot, also identified the recipe for stress most likely to cause serious illness: high workload demands combined with low control and a lack of support. The results have been replicated many times and the research was so significant because of the hugely rich body of longitudinal data that could be accessed around British Civil Servants (so there is something to be said for good old British bureaucracy!)
| whitehall_ii_study.pdf |
| the_scale_of_occupational_stress_the_bristol_stress_and_health_at_work_study.pdf |
| the_scale_of_occupational_stress_further_analysis.pdf |
Case Study Research Papers
The papers below highlight a wide range of stress management case studies across different sectors.
The papers below highlight a wide range of stress management case studies across different sectors.
| beacons_of_excellence_2003.pdf |
This case below study features a large local authority's successful efforts to reduce the costs of stress-related absence. Just to warn you, it is a large file (8MB) and may take quite a while to download.
| business_case_somerset_cc_case_study.pdf |
The following case study looks at the psychosocial stress risks from working in Call Centres (often called Contact Centres nowadays). The research looked at the main risks but also what might be done to reduce the risk to staff well-being.
| call_centre_psychosocial_risk_factors.pdf |
The following research looked at stress related to team working. The researchers conducted longitudinal case studies of three types of team: flexible work teams, lean production teams and self-managed teams (the paper will be available here shortly)
| effective_teamworking_reducing_the_psychosocial_risks.pdf |
Other HSE-funded research
The research highlighted below is both recent and important. These stress-related research projects were part-funded by HSE. Please follow the links to other parts of this site to find out more about these projects.
Stress Management Competencies' research
You can access reports on all 4 phases of the research into stress management competencies on this page, where you can also access other tools and resources. If you're interested in the background to the stress management competencies, this page provides answers to FAQs.
Best Practice in Managing Stress-related Absence
You can access the recently completed guidance booklet and research report about managing long-term stress-related absence on our Managing Stress Absence page.
The research highlighted below is both recent and important. These stress-related research projects were part-funded by HSE. Please follow the links to other parts of this site to find out more about these projects.
Stress Management Competencies' research
You can access reports on all 4 phases of the research into stress management competencies on this page, where you can also access other tools and resources. If you're interested in the background to the stress management competencies, this page provides answers to FAQs.
Best Practice in Managing Stress-related Absence
You can access the recently completed guidance booklet and research report about managing long-term stress-related absence on our Managing Stress Absence page.