Declining physical health putting a strain on Singapore workers’ mental well-being: study 

NEARLY one in six workers reported a decline in their physical health or having significant physical health challenges, with this decline taking a toll on their mental health, according to a recent study. Their mental health scores on the Telus Mental Health Index were 28 or more points below workers who report good physical health.

And despite most workers believing physical activity and good mental health are linked (86 per cent), nearly one-fifth (19 per cent) do not exercise at all. Those who don’t exercise have a score of 54.7 on the index, or over 14 points lower than those who exercise at least four times per week, and nearly seven points lower than the national average.

The study by Telus Health, a provider of health technology services, surveyed 1,000 people between Apr 3 and Apr 13 this year. The respondents lived in Singapore and were either employed at the time of the online survey or employed within the prior six months.

A higher score on the index means better mental health, with a score of 0-49 for distressed, 50-79 for strained and 80-100 for optimal mental health.

Respondents said the biggest barriers to exercising regularly are time (32 per cent) and a lack of motivation or energy (28 per cent). Females were nearly twice as likely as men to report not exercising.

Strain on the system

There were also differences across age groups in terms of motivations to exercise. Workers over 50 were 60 per cent more likely than those under 40 to exercise to improve or maintain their physical health. However, workers under 40 were nearly three times more likely than their counterparts over 50 to exercise to improve or maintain their appearance.

“The proportion of workers facing a decline in both physical and mental health could soon lead to a strain on the system,” Jamie MacLennan, senior vice-president and managing director, Asia Pacific, at Telus Health tells The Business Times.

“With exercise and a better work-life balance being fundamental to improving the mental well-being of workers, employers must prioritise creating a supportive workplace culture that values work-life balance, encourages open dialogue about mental health, and offers comprehensive wellness programmes.”

These include providing flexible schedules, access to mental health resources and promoting physical activity within the workplace. Employees also need to actively engage in self-care practices such as maintaining a balanced lifestyle, seeking help when needed and participating in wellness initiatives including regular exercise.

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For the second quarter of 2023, the overall mental index score is 61.5 out of 100, nearly unchanged from Q1. More than one-third (37 per cent) of workers in Singapore have a high mental health risk, while 47 percent have a moderate mental health risk and 17 per cent have a low mental health risk.

Negative workplace environment

“When an individual is measured as having a high mental health risk, they are more likely to be dispositioned to suffer from mental health ailments if gone untreated, such as stress-induced anxiety,” says MacLennan.

Meanwhile, mental health sub-scores for optimism, financial risk, general psychological health and work productivity have declined since January. In particular, work productivity continues to be the lowest sub-score.

This metric gauges employees’ assessment of their own productivity and sense of accomplishment in attaining personal objectives and completing daily work tasks. While numerous external influences can contribute to the decline in productivity, a significant correlation is a negative workplace environment, says MacLennan.

Big responsibility

“We know that people are less productive when they are unhappy, under stress or suffering anxiety. Following the Covid years, new stressors such as cost of living pressures increase that stress and anxiety, thereby negatively impacting productivity and engagement. This is a major challenge for businesses as workers’ output declines through presenteeism or absenteeism.”

One in six workers reported having a physical health problem that interfered with their work. Of this number, one in five said their employer was not aware of their physical health issue.

This could be because individuals who don’t feel supported are less likely to come forward about their health conditions – either due to fear of stigma, discrimination in the workplace or apprehension that their ailments could lead to job loss, says MacLennan.

“Company leaders have a big responsibility when it comes to the well-being of their employees,” he adds. “They must emphasise that support and resources are available to those who need them and create an environment where everyone feels supported and heard.”

Otherwise, Singapore employers may soon witness a rise in absenteeism and presenteeism, he warns.