– One third of managers’ sick days are due to fatigue, anxiety and depression, which are primarily linked to work-related stress, which emphasises the need for deeper insights into the importance of social support in managing work-related stress, says Ulrika Westrup, researcher at the Department of Service Studies, who together with Alina Lidén, researcher at the Department of Service Studies and Magnus Lindén, researcher at the Department of Psychology, has investigated factors that are important for managers to handle work-related stress.
Using survey responses from public sector managers in Sweden, the researchers were able to show that support from other managers, support from a network of managers within the organisation and a supportive communication climate are important for how stress levels are managed. In particular, the support of a network of managers within the organisation emerged as the most influential support.
– The study helps to offer guiding insights into how organisations can support managers in managing their work-related stress, says Ulrika Westrup.
Read the article in Scandinavian Journal of Public Administration.