Mentale Gesundheit und psychische Belastungen am Arbeitsplatz: Einflussfaktoren und Auswirkungen auf die Produktivität von Mitarbeiter:innen

Abstract

Mental health and work-related psychological stress have become key challenges in today's working world. Numerous studies show that stress, overload, and a lack of psychosocial support not only impair individual well-being, but also jeopardize the productivity and competitiveness of companies. Despite the growing importance of the issue, the actual implementation of effective workplace strategies often lags behind scientific recommendations. Companies are faced with the task of recognizing the mental stress of their employees, reducing it appropriately, and thus creating a healthy, productive work environment in the long term. This thesis addresses this issue by examining which workrelated psychological stress factors influence mental health, how these are related to productivity, and to what extent workplace stress management programs are effective. The thesis is divided into a theoretical and an empirical analysis. First, key terms and theoretical models for the development and management of psychological stress are presented. This is followed by a systematic literature review summarizing current international research findings on psychological stress, its effects, and workplace health management. In the empirical part, four guided interviews with company experts were conducted, transcribed, and evaluated using the content-structuring qualitative content analysis method developed by Clarke and Braun. The codes and theme clusters were developed iteratively, taking into account both theoretical guidelines and empirical peculiarities. The analysis enabled a differentiated assessment of stress factors, coping strategies, and organizational conditions. The results show that mental stress in the workplace has many causes and encompasses both individual and organizational factors. High time pressure, unclear role expectations, a lack of social support, and a deficient communication and leadership culture have a particularly stressful effect. Psychological stress has been shown to lead to increased absenteeism, loss of motivation, and declining productivity. Workplace stress management programs are most effective when they are developed in a participatory manner, communicated to the target group, and systematically embedded in the corporate strategy. The interviews underscore that an open culture of error and health, transparent communication, and the continuous involvement of employees are key success factors for sustainable workplace health promotion. In conclusion, the study recommends anchoring health management as an integral part of corporate strategy and consistently promoting cultural change toward open, supportive, and reflective working relationships.

Date of Award	2025
Original language	German (Austria)
Supervisor	Silke Preymann (Supervisor)