The GW4 PUP Community: Performance Under Pressure Understanding Occupational Stress: Performance, Health & Wellbeing in High Pressure Environments

Background

Occupational stress has been identified by the WHO as a 21st century global health epidemic, given its links to 7/10 leading causes of death. Stress can also have acute performance and productivity effects; a study of 15,000+ workers found 28% report that occupational stress affects work performance. Occupational stress also accounts for 37% of work-related ill-health, 45% of lost working days, and an estimated cost of 10% of GNP.

HSE report that jobs which show the highest stress are those required to perform under high pressure. For employees within these performance domains, performance is critical yet difficult to maintain often with high stakes involved. Example domains include sport, performing arts, business, and high-risk professions. Across these, work stress encountered can, paradoxically, be the “kiss of death” or the “spice of life”; since successful adaptation can enable individuals and organizations to flourish.

Project summary

The community hosted three sandpit events which were attended by a wide representation of academics and industry partners. Along with online meetings, these sandpits helped to identify and delve much deeper into the complexities of the “issue” that is occupational stress (across domains) and the research which needed to be conducted to address it. These meetings particularly helped to build and cement strong academic-industry partnerships. Following on from this, the community submitted several external grants, published three papers and obtained a PhD studentship to examine the occupational stress experienced by trainee medics.

The community were awarded a Generator Award in 2022 for a project which evolved from these sandpits.