Stress in India - statistics & facts
In the past two decades, India’s disease epidemiology has transitioned from a high burden of communicable diseases to an increased burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). According to an estimate by the World Health Organization (WHO), NCDs account for 74 percent of deaths worldwide and 66 percent in India. NCDs, are chronic diseases that can be attributed to physiological, genetic, environmental, or behavioral factors. Stress is known to be a major contributing factor to NCDs.
While the body and mind can deal with brief, limited bouts of stress, it is long-term stress that positively correlates with the etiology of NCDs, consequently, leading to chronic health issues. In India, the most widely used techniques to cope with stress have been meditation and yoga. During the pandemic, 44 percent of Indians used meditation to lower their anxiety levels and alleviate stress. While the number of people who meditate in India has increased, the duration of meditative practices has decreased since 2020.
Further, psychological stressors were one of the leading contributors to disease burden in India. Estimates point to every seventh person suffering from some form of mental disorder. The WHO estimates that India could suffer economic losses of up to 1.03 trillion dollars from psychological health conditions between 2012 and 2030. For instance, older populations belonging to the lower wealth quintile showed a higher vulnerability for stressful life events and therefore, were a high-risk group for mental disorders. This is attributed to the correlation between socio-economically disadvantaged groups and multi-morbidity including poor cognition and disability.
While the COVID-19 pandemic may be in its final stages, its aftermath has had a ripple effect on the impact of work in the county. India’s workforce is significantly higher than the global average. Research from developed countries informs the benefits and positive outcomes of counselling, mindfulness practices and stress management programs for employees. While current figures indicate an increase in the number of Indians who seek counselling, extrapolations of interventions relative to stress management tailored to an Indian context could deem effective at the workplace. Workplace stress is said to be the next growing epidemic, and if neglected could have dire consequences for India’s economy.
Stress and its common symptoms
While the response to stress is a subjective experience and can manifest itself differently among different demographics, surveys carried out among the Indian population reveal that some of the common stress symptoms include, but are not limited to headaches, stomach problems, increased heart rate, disturbance in sleeping patterns, difficulty with concentration, and an exacerbation of pre-existing health conditions. In addition, some of the behavioral symptoms among Indians allude to increased alcohol and tobacco intake along with other drugs. There is an inextricable link between chronic stress and lifestyle-related diseases such as ischemic heart disease, obesity, diabetes, elevated blood pressure, and problems related to the thyroid.Further, psychological stressors were one of the leading contributors to disease burden in India. Estimates point to every seventh person suffering from some form of mental disorder. The WHO estimates that India could suffer economic losses of up to 1.03 trillion dollars from psychological health conditions between 2012 and 2030. For instance, older populations belonging to the lower wealth quintile showed a higher vulnerability for stressful life events and therefore, were a high-risk group for mental disorders. This is attributed to the correlation between socio-economically disadvantaged groups and multi-morbidity including poor cognition and disability.
Work-related stress
Organizational stress is becoming an issue of growing concern, specifically for developing countries due to globalization and consequently, the significant changes in work that comes with it. A recent survey reflected that close to 90 percent of Indians felt that information overload along with scattered information contributed to highest levels of stress among working professionals. Individual susceptibility, increased demands at work along with poor work environment and culture contribute to increased stress on the organizational front.While the COVID-19 pandemic may be in its final stages, its aftermath has had a ripple effect on the impact of work in the county. India’s workforce is significantly higher than the global average. Research from developed countries informs the benefits and positive outcomes of counselling, mindfulness practices and stress management programs for employees. While current figures indicate an increase in the number of Indians who seek counselling, extrapolations of interventions relative to stress management tailored to an Indian context could deem effective at the workplace. Workplace stress is said to be the next growing epidemic, and if neglected could have dire consequences for India’s economy.
