Mental factors

In publications from known (statutory) health insurance funds and in the daily press one can read time and again that the sickness figures have fallen considerably in the last four to five years. At the same time it is said that mental illnesses are constantly on the increase and result more and more in work incapacity. The trend is also unmistakable in new early retirement cases.

The reasons for this development can be found in the rising (inappropriate) mental loads to which people are subject. For Germany and other countries in the EU, however, there is no sound knowledge available to support this view.

The tasks in many areas are substantially more complex today without any relevant expansion of the resources which would be needed to cope in health terms, for example organisation resources, scope for design or human resources in terms of a targeted in-service and continuous training.

An additional aggravating factor is that resources postulated over many years against stress, such as scope for free movement or social support from colleagues and superiors, are no longer effective given the considerable compression of work in various areas of industry, or they can no longer be perceived as a source of relief by those occupying the workplaces.

Given the great effort expended by many workplace incumbents, the conduct of superiors and acknowledgment of personal dedication and the work performed play an important role. Unfortunately most superiors hold hack when it comes to giving praise and recognition. Often recognition is also not possible in monetary form. The disappointments experienced normally lead among workers to declining motivation and frustration in the short terms. In the medium term work dissatisfaction and psychosomatic complaints increase, and work commitment declines. In the long term the result is "working to rule", the experience of burnout, more absenteeism and staff turnover where alternatives are available. Rigid hierarchies and a lack of promotion opportunities boost these effects.

Definition

Mental load is the sum of all mental effects acting on a person from outside (see DIN EN ISO 10075).

Mental strain is the direct (not long-term) effect of mental load in the individual as a function of his lasting and present qualities, including the individual coping strategies (see DIN EN ISO 10075).

Further information is only available in German.