You thought work was bad? Spouses cause 'more stress than our bosses'

Spouses are a bigger source of stress than bosses, research shows. There may be no place like home, but if you want to relax then you might be better off at work, according to the survey.



The poll of 3,000 men and women also found that husbands are more likely to send their wives' blood pressure soaring than the other way round. Overall, 58 per cent of those surveyed said their spouse or partner was among those who put them under pressure.



Just 43 per cent said the same of their manager. And 18 per cent of women said their partner added a lot of stress to their life – compared with just 12 per cent of men.



There may be no place like home, but if you want to relax then you might be better off at work, according to a survey. (Posed by models)

Cary Cooper, professor of health psychology at Lancaster University, said it appeared that people were taking their work troubles home with them.

Fears about job losses during the recession are likely to be making matters worse. He said: 'One coping strategy people have when they are feeling insecure is to take it out on their spouses.



'One of the causes of stress is the long hours culture. If you consistently put in long hours, it will damage your health and also your relationship at home.'



The professor added that juggling family duties and a career can mean that women are under more stress than men. However, they cope with it better, mainly because they find it easier to talk to others about their feelings.



The poll, by electronics and healthcare manufacturer Philips, also found that women worry more about their weight than their earnings. Almost half said their weight was very important to their health and wellbeing, compared to 27 per cent who said the same about their salary.



Women were also twice as likely to worry about the effect of obesity on their future health than the impact of high cholesterol or even cancer. Just 36 per cent of men thought their weight was very important to their health and wellbeing, while 33 per cent said it had more to do with wages.



Those polled were optimistic about the future, with almost half believing they will outlive the average life expectancy of 79. Three per cent expect to reach 100, with many believing that by the time they get seriously ill, advances in medical technology will provide the cure.



